[cruizin caleb]

What is the next noticable/satisfactory upgrade from the uDAC?
 
Must be compatible with a Macbook.
 
My amp is Little Dot I+ my headphones are the Grado RS-1. At some point I may add Sennheiser 600 or 650s.
 
 
Edit: I've been looking at the Dac-EXTASY (only $110 now... hmm), V-DAC, Little Dot Dac, and the DacMagic (DacMagic might be a bit pricey for me though... it seems like it would give me more future options though due to all its 'features')

 

[MichealAngelo]

Whats your budget?

 

[pekingduck]

What's lacking with the uDAC?

 

[cruizin caleb]

my budget will be roughly $200 + i will sell my uDac.

 

[cruizin caleb]

I don't know. maybe optical? maybe i'm just curious. but maybe you're right - its a fine DAC. it works perfectly for me. the only thing i dislike is not being able to bypass the volume thing and the crackle when i move the volume past 75%ish. but i find that to be somewhat irrelevant i guess.
 
Quote:

What's lacking with the uDAC?

 

[MichealAngelo]

any dac with an optical input will work with your macbook. I'm a big fan of tube dac's but I don't think there is any within your budget.

 

[pekingduck]

I own the Little Dot DAC_I and it's a fine DAC for its price.
 
I used to own the uDAC too and the DAC_I is bit more neutral and detailed. Not to mention a plethora of input and output options.
 

 

[cruizin caleb]

how would the DACs you've mentioned compare with this Xindak DAC-5 (Which may be a bit out of my price range) and for that price would you suggest a different DAC?

 

[KnightK]

I noticed a big difference going from my uDAC to my Musiland Monitor 02 USD (~$120).

 

[cruizin caleb]

from what I understand, that does not work with Mac/Macbook.
Quote:

I noticed a big difference going from my uDAC to my Musiland Monitor 02 USD (~$120).

 

[kingtz]

I currently have the uDAC, also. I am looking to upgrade to either the V-DAC ($300) or the Dacmagic ($430).

 

[cruizin caleb]

I was thinking of those 2 as well.
 
Quote:

I currently have the uDAC, also. I am looking to upgrade to either the V-DAC ($300) or the Dacmagic ($430).

 

[clams]

For your budget I'd recommend the Audinst HUD-MX1. I upgraded from the HotAudio Destroyer. The soundstage definitely improves a lot to say the least. There's also a fairly good comparison on headfonia comparing the two (http://www.headfonia.com/nuforce-udac-and-comparisons/2/). For your reference I am using it with Matrix m-stage and AKG k702s on my Macbook Pro.

 

[kboe]

uDAC2 !

 

[Armaegis]

I have the HotAudio DacDestroyer (which is their budget dac) which I felt was better than the udac. I imagine the Dac-Extasy would be a very good step up, and that's a very good price on it.