[bearmann]

Hi,
I'm in search of a DAC with the following features...

1. No proprietary drivers needed (or very good support for at least Win and Unix)
2. <$350
3. USB
4. dedicated DAC chip (no PCM270x/PCM290x chip as USB receiver and DAC chip)
5. headphone out (nothing fancy) must be independent from line/pre out.
6. balanced out would be nice
7. doesn't need to be a new device for this price...

I'm listening with ATH-W100 and KRK Rokit RP6 G2.
My favorites at this moment are the Matrix mini-i or the EMU 0404 USB. Sadly the EMU needs drivers and the Matrix has no independent headphone out (pre out and headphone out are regulated concurrently).

Any ideas? What would be your choice?

best regards,
bearmann

 

[bearmann]

anyone?

 

[lybbert]

well i have good news for you it looks like the 0404 should be working with ubuntu with only 2 problems at this time

Quote:

Macdelaney, E-mu0202/0404USB is almost full functional. Comparing with Win-driver, main differencies are: 1)Manual sample-rate selector(alsa-driver patch should be applied first); 2)Record at 176kHz and 192kHz produce nothing, but "white noise" (MacOS-driver has similar limitation);

more info can be found [all variants] EMU 0404 USB new thread - Page 17 - Ubuntu Forums

Hopefully this helps you as i was exited to hear it from a buddy at work.

-Lybbert