Feedback on PC USB DAC's

[fredrickj]

My only source for my music is a laptop Pc (Windows).  I am looking for a really good DAC for under $300.  What are you all using if you're using a USB DAC?

thanks

[Kris]

I use ODAC and I'm quiet impressed with the little guy.

[mcandmar]

The ODAC is very hard to beat for the money, it really is a bargain.  The Firefly is also highly rated, and costs roughly the same.  You could actually buy both for $300.

[kgoss]

I'm using a Musical Fidelity V-DAC while I wait on the Bottlehead DAC.  The  V-DAC is good but I'm sure the BH DAC will be much better. Much more expensive too.

[Alonzo]

Schitt Modi great sound and price.

[fredrickj]

I'm currently vacillating between the Schiit Modi and Bifrost.  Any one using the Bifrost?

[mcandmar]

The ODAC is a better DAC than the Modi so i would skip that one, the Bifrost is highly spoken of but considerably more expensive by the time you add USB and and the upgraded IV stage.  For that kind of budget i would be waiting to see what the Bottlehead offering is going to cost.

[fredrickj]

Any idea when BH will come out with their DAC?

[jboehle]

I haven't heard the ODAC but I am enjoying the pupDAC I built.

http://www.diyforums.org/PupDAC/PupDACoverview.php

[mcandmar]

Funny you should mention the pupdac kit, there is one in the mail on its way to me, going to use it with my portable setup for work

[mcandmar]

Finished building my PupDAC this evening and i am deeply impressed with it.  vs the ODAC it seems more refined, especially top end. Where the ODAC can sometimes sound flat and lifeless dynamically this little Pup has a deeper set of lungs.

Downside, for $120 is roughly the same cost as an ODAC, and its USB interface is limited to 16bit only.  I suspect it may not measure as well as the ODAC in THD and other measurements but it sounds better to me.  Really wasn't expecting that as i bought it to trow in my laptop bag and use in work. Now it might actually stay hooked upto the S.E.X. amp until the Botthehead DAC comes out.

Worth pointing out, if a Crack / S.E.X. amp is a 5/10 in difficulty, this is a 20.  SMD components are no fun at all to work with.

[jboehle]

Yeah, particularly the chips, those were a real pain in my ass.  Luckily I did not rush things.  I did the chips and then went to bed, checked them again with a magnifying glass in the morning sun and found a couple of bridges my tired eyes did not see the night before.  Just like any DIY, go slow, take your time, double & triple check connections, it will turn out okay

[hardisondan]

Finished building my PupDAC this evening and i am deeply impressed with it.  vs the ODAC it seems more refined, especially top end. Where the ODAC can sometimes sound flat and lifeless dynamically this little Pup has a deeper set of lungs.

Downside, for $120 is roughly the same cost as an ODAC, and its USB interface is limited to 16bit only.  I suspect it may not measure as well as the ODAC in THD and other measurements but it sounds better to me.  Really wasn't expecting that as i bought it to trow in my laptop bag and use in work. Now it might actually stay hooked upto the S.E.X. amp until the Botthehead DAC comes out.

Worth pointing out, if a Crack / S.E.X. amp is a 5/10 in difficulty, this is a 20.  SMD components are no fun at all to work with.

Is there a Bottlehead DAC coming out? Please say yes.

[hardisondan]

Sorry, my first ever post and I ask a dumb question!

2 seconds after I pressed post I saw the thread on the kickstarter DAC project.

Dan

[mcandmar]

Welcome.  There is a Bottlehead DAC in the works but it will be in the four digit price range so not really comparable to the above.

I made the comment above that i suspected the PupDAC wouldn't measure as well as the ODAC.  Since then i have played with RMAA and made a few measurements and found the opposite to be true.