Bottlehead Forum
Bottlehead Kits => Crack => Topic started by: fofo16 on May 21, 2020, 03:21:37 AM
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hello
DAC recommendation for HD650 and Bottlehead Crack speedball
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Take a look at the Topping D90. It is one of the few that uses the AK4499 DAC chip. The AK4499 is a superb DAC.
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I found great synergy with the Schiit Bitfrost Multibit.
Joe.
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I'll second the suggestion of the Schiit Bitfrost Multibit. It is one of the most natural sounding DACs out there at a great price. I've been running a Meridian Explorer2 which has MQA if you care and is fine sounding and portable to boot
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The Khadas Tone Board is up there for bang for your buck I think, if you dont want to drop €700 for the Topping D90
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Another vote for the Bifrost Multibit.
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Schiit Bifrost multibit for certain.
Modi is also good but placement of the power supply is much more critical.
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hello
DAC recommendation for HD650 and Bottlehead Crack speedball
You already got some great recommendations. But it might help to know your budget. There are some great, "bang for the buck" DAC's out there. But if you want to take it to the next level the options open up a bit.
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thank you for the recommendations
my budget around 500$
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The Topping D90 costs USD 699. There is also a Topping DX7 Pro available at USD 599. Both are excellent and very good value.
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To add a bit of perspective here, what is your source? Basically, all before the DAC.
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To add a bit of perspective here, what is your source? Basically, all before the DAC.
PC
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You can save some money from your your $500 budget. The new Schiit Modius costs only $199 plus tax and shipping. It is most certainly good enough.
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The new Schiit Modius is an excellent DS dac....
The Schiit Bifrost 2 is a very, very excellent MB dac...
Both will work well with your PC...$199 vs $699.
Both Balanced as well!
Alex
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From what I have read, just done some searching, the MB dacs tend to be more smooth and warm and perhaps more analog like than the DS ones. However, when combined with a valve amp which you might also consider smooth and warm. the combination may go a bit too far in the mellow direction. These are just thoughts and not based on listening to any stand alone dacs. I think that the Schiit Modius DS model would be fine for me.
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MB=Multibit, right?
DS=?
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Delta Sigma = DS
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From what I have read, just done some searching, the MB dacs tend to be more smooth and warm and perhaps more analog like than the DS ones. However, when combined with a valve amp which you might also consider smooth and warm. the combination may go a bit too far in the mellow direction. These are just thoughts and not based on listening to any stand alone dacs. I think that the Schiit Modius DS model would be fine for me.
I tend to agree with this and it has been my experience with the ModiMB. Just adding my voice so that you're not singing solo.
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Delta Sigma = DS
Thanks
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You can read about the challenges with multibit DAC's in a realtively short thread on diyaudio. The thread was started by one of TI's application engineers when TI released the new DAC11001A R-2R DAC. It is a single-channel, unbuffered DAC. Mouser has it for about $55.00. The thread has only 47 posts as of right now, but it still gets to most of the complications with R-2R multibit DAC's. Take a look for example at the THD vs. frequency plots that Paul posted on page 2.
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/vendor-s-bazaar/349809-dac11001-20-bit-2r-precision-dac.html (https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/vendor-s-bazaar/349809-dac11001-20-bit-2r-precision-dac.html)
This is not for the faint of heart.
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Another vote for the Khadas Tone Board. It's just $99 and measures better than many more expensive DACs (check out audiosciencereview if you haven't already). For me, it's more fitting with the Crack than the $699 Schiit Bifrost. Rather than spend $300-400 for the Crack and $699 for the Bifrost, I'd rather spend $699 for a Crackatwoa and $300 for a JDS Labs EL DAC 2 or something similar.
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Another vote for the Khadas Tone Board. It's just $99 and measures better than many more expensive DACs (check out audiosciencereview if you haven't already). For me, it's more fitting with the Crack than the $699 Schiit Bifrost. Rather than spend $300-400 for the Crack and $699 for the Bifrost, I'd rather spend $699 for a Crackatwoa and $300 for a JDS Labs EL DAC 2 or something similar.
I like the way you think. I've never heard of the Khadas Tone Board before. You have my attention though. I'm currently working on a project that could make use of this. I'm going to do a little digging.
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I'm running a Bluesound Node 2i, you get a network streamer and a DAC for $550. The phone app that controls the Node includes Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon Music HD to name a few. I think it sounds great, connects via WiFi or direct via LAN. Plus, with a USB, you can connect a hard drive and play music direct from the drive. It has optical and coax digital out if you ever want to upgrade to an external DAC.
David
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No love for Schiit Modi Multibit?