[rikk009]

I needed a cheap DAC for now and stumbled upon a couple of articles which pointed out to these two DACs. I was wondering which sounds better? 
 
1. http://www.aliexpress.com/item/WM8740-DIR9001-PCM2704usb-DAC-Decoder-USB-Coaxial-Input-RCA-audio-output-AC-9-12V/32419271235.html
 
2. http://www.amazon.com/HiFiMeDIY-Digital-Analog-Converter-Optical/dp/B00AOH5JTQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444167679&sr=8-1&keywords=HifiMeDIY

 

[Guppy_]

  I needed a cheap DAC for now and stumbled upon a couple of articles which pointed out to these two DACs. I was wondering which sounds better? 
 
1. http://www.aliexpress.com/item/WM8740-DIR9001-PCM2704usb-DAC-Decoder-USB-Coaxial-Input-RCA-audio-output-AC-9-12V/32419271235.html
 
2. http://www.amazon.com/HiFiMeDIY-Digital-Analog-Converter-Optical/dp/B00AOH5JTQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444167679&sr=8-1&keywords=HifiMeDIY

wow for $50 bucks that sabre does have awesome reviews.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  I needed a cheap DAC for now and stumbled upon a couple of articles which pointed out to these two DACs. I was wondering which sounds better? 
 
1. http://www.aliexpress.com/item/WM8740-DIR9001-PCM2704usb-DAC-Decoder-USB-Coaxial-Input-RCA-audio-output-AC-9-12V/32419271235.html
 
2. http://www.amazon.com/HiFiMeDIY-Digital-Analog-Converter-Optical/dp/B00AOH5JTQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444167679&sr=8-1&keywords=HifiMeDIY

 
I'm fairly sure the Hifimediy DAC is the better choice (better detail).
 
The second listing is the Hifimediy USB DAC that normally sells for $42 (picture matchs to the $42 one).
The $57 Hifimediy DAC is the one i would go for.
http://hifimediy.com/DACs/ready-made-dacs?sort=p.price&order=ASC&limit=15

 

[rikk009]

   
I'm fairly sure the Hifimediy DAC is the better choice (better detail).
 
The second listing is the Hifimediy USB DAC that normally sells for $42 (picture matchs to the $42 one).
The $57 Hifimediy DAC is the one i would go for.
http://hifimediy.com/DACs/ready-made-dacs?sort=p.price&order=ASC&limit=15

Have you heard the 'U2' version? Is it really better? Some say asynchronous USB is just a gimmick and I have also read that the Sabre chip has inbuilt jitter correction. 

 

[rikk009]

  wow for $50 bucks that sabre does have awesome reviews.

Some reading for the Wolfson DAC.
http://www.musicservertips.com/product-reviews/usb-dac-diy/

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Have you heard the 'U2' version? Is it really better? Some say asynchronous USB is just a gimmick and I have also read that the Sabre chip has inbuilt jitter correction. 

 
I just do not mind paying at extra $15 for something that might last for years.
How much better is asynchronous, have no idea.

 

[jodgey4]

Also consider the Stoner Acoustics UD120 with its ESS chip. It's $50, with reviews that place it at or above the ODAC by most of what I've seen.

 

[Sam21]

+1 for HIFImeDIY, they recently made a DAC with the mobile version of ES9018 which is their flagship chip.
 
You will notice a big difference going from MOBO to the HIFIMEDIY ES9023 DAC.
 
Async mode is always a nice feature for a DAC to have.

 

[BobMonkhouse]

I have the cheaper version of the HiFimeDIY DAC and like it a lot. I use it without an amp to feed my easy to drive headphones. Correct me, if I'm wrong, I believe the asynchronous model doesn't change the quality unless there's a problem with the USB port. I consider buying their latest more powerful mobile model with the ES9018 chip but some say it sounds dryer and not that 'musical'. I don't know if it's true and how it compares to the warmer Wolfson and 9023.

 

[Sam21]

technically and on paper, it should be an improvement over the ES9023, what people subjectively perceive is another thing. The async mode is the way Data is transferred from the PC's USB into the DAC. Async mode is preferred because it makes the DAC bit-perfect meaning there is no "Wrong Data" in the digital signal just before the conversion. this wrong data is called "jitter".