help with budget dac

aragorn723 · 4519

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Offline aragorn723

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on: May 16, 2014, 02:55:29 PM
Hi,

I am looking for a budget dac for my system.  My buddy has an audioengine d1 that is really nice, and costs $170.  There are soooooo many dacs out there, the biggest thing i'm looking for besides good sound is an optical input (plan to use it with an apple tv eventually to wirelessly transmit lossless music from itunes to my quickie).  Are there any better options than the audioengine for less than $170??  Thanks,

Dave


Offline corndog71

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Reply #1 on: May 16, 2014, 04:42:00 PM
Musical Fidelity V-DAC 90 - $299  Yeah, it's a little more expensive but it's really good.

I have the previous version, V-DAC MkII and have no complaints.  It makes my HD Tracks 96/24 recordings sound amazing.  I could make you a deal on mine.  ;)

The world was made for those not cursed with self-awareness.

Rob

Offline aragorn723

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Reply #2 on: May 16, 2014, 05:08:22 PM
They do make some incredible products, that's definitely worth a look.  I used to have the Musical Fidelity X-can V3 headphone amp (tube) and definitely regret selling it  :P 


Offline autoformer

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Reply #3 on: May 16, 2014, 07:07:18 PM
I am a self-confessed DAC fanatic, and I've been especially interested in the action at the low end.

For the price, you can't beat the Wavelength...err...Audioquest Dragonfly. For just $149 at Crutchfield, you'd be simply amazed at how good it is. The Dragonfly was designed by Gordon Rankin of Wavelength Audio and it uses his "Streamlength" asynchronous USB interface code. It is such a good value at $149, they might as well be giving it away. I've been traveling with the Dragonfly and the Martin Logan Mikros 70 earbuds and it is a tremendous match. Maybe a little dark for some, but I personally like dark, especially for the 70s pop that I so enjoy.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_703DGNFLY2/AudioQuest-DragonFly-v1-2.html?showAll=N&search=dragonfly&skipvs=T

Moving up the scale, Wavelength has just reduced the price of the excellent Proton DAC to $599. This is a lithium ion powered USB DAC that is a little low on gain, but it has a transparency that you will not find at its price point.

http://www.usbdacs.com/Products/Products.html

If you're willing to spend a bit more, I've been auditioning the Wyred4Sound DAC-2 DSDse since January or so, which is selling for $2549. It is also an excellent value and holds its own even against my recently-upgraded Ayre QB-9 DSD. And that's saying something.

https://wyred4sound.com/products/dacs/dac-2-series

Jim Laurel

Offline Armaegis

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Reply #4 on: May 17, 2014, 07:36:59 AM
I don't think a guy asking for a $170 dac is going to be escalating up to $2.5k anytime soon...

There's a Schiit Modi optical now for $99. You can probably find a used Gamma2 somewhere in your budget range. The FiiO e17 is a real swiss army knife device if you have any desire to have a portable amp as well that can also handle optical.


Offline Jim R.

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Reply #5 on: May 17, 2014, 08:42:39 AM
A very good dac for $200 is the valab -- it has usb, spdif coax and  optical inputs. and can easily modified should you want some extra goodies.

I recommended this to a neighbor (the guy who bought my F120A speakers and he uses it directly with the optical output of his old macbook. I happened by one day when he was playing John Zorn's Book of Angels and it sounded really, really good.

The Dragonfly II mentioned earlier is also a very nice dac, but lacks any optical input -- it's just like a thumb drive and you plug the entire dac into the USB port.

The valab is still my choice for an inexpensive dac that requires optical -- it offers a whole lot more sound than these less than $100 dacs.

HTH,

Jim

Jim Rebman -- recovering audiophile

Equitech balanced power; uRendu, USB processor -> Musette DAC -> 5670 tube buffer -> Finale Audio F138 FFX -> Cain and Cain Abbys near-field).

s.e.x. 2.1 under construction.  Want list: Stereomour II

All ICs homemade (speaker and power next)

Offline galyons

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Reply #6 on: May 17, 2014, 09:49:41 AM
Quote from: Jim R. on May 17, 2014, 08:42:39 AM
A very good dac for $200 is the valab -- it has usb, spdif coax and  optical inputs. and can easily modified should you want some extra goodies.

HTH,

Jim
+1 on Jim's recommendation of the Valab/TeraDak. I have used a modded unit to power my headphone kit for several years.  It is NOS, based on eight Phillips TDA1543 chips working in parallel.  It also has seen duty in the main system and performed admirably.  It has bested many other more costly DAC's. Smooth musical sound without many of the digital artifacts!

Many pages of discussion, mods and reviews on the web.  Head-Fi has a huge thread.  The external power supply is well worth the money and can be added when budget allows!

Cheers,
Geary

VPI TNT IV/JMW 3D 12+Benz LP-S>  Eros + Auralic Aries + ANK Dac 4.1 >Eros TH+ Otari MX5050 IIIB2 > BeePre >Paramount 300B 7N7 > EV Sentry IV-A

Thorens TD124/Ortofon RMG-212/SPU >Seduction > Smash^Up> Paramour 45 MQ >K12's

Offline aragorn723

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Reply #7 on: May 17, 2014, 03:05:41 PM
Where can I find one of the valab dacs?


Offline Jim R.

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Reply #8 on: May 17, 2014, 04:26:50 PM
As far as I know, the only place is on ebay -- look for vibntage audio labs. I don't remember if they have a direct web site.

They've been around a long time and have a great reputation.

HTH,

Jim

Jim Rebman -- recovering audiophile

Equitech balanced power; uRendu, USB processor -> Musette DAC -> 5670 tube buffer -> Finale Audio F138 FFX -> Cain and Cain Abbys near-field).

s.e.x. 2.1 under construction.  Want list: Stereomour II

All ICs homemade (speaker and power next)

Offline Grainger49

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Reply #9 on: May 18, 2014, 03:01:28 AM
Dave,

Do a search for "stepped attenuator" and the vendor will pop up.


Offline aragorn723

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Reply #10 on: May 18, 2014, 03:08:23 AM
The odd thing is, i've been looking for a 100k one for a few months, and nothing has come up on ebay (looks like he only sells them with SMD resistors now, wish they were the normal ones)..  That's the only downside with valabs.  Looks like the dac might have the same issue :P 
« Last Edit: May 18, 2014, 03:15:33 AM by aragorn723 »


Offline mcandmar

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Reply #11 on: May 18, 2014, 05:58:38 AM
Quote from: aragorn723 on May 18, 2014, 03:08:23 AM
The odd thing is, i've been looking for a 100k one for a few months, and nothing has come up on ebay (looks like he only sells them with SMD resistors now, wish they were the normal ones)..  That's the only downside with valabs.  Looks like the dac might have the same issue :P

Here is a better source for the attenuator.. http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_odkw=attenuator&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_armrs=1&_ssn=kikitronic&_trksid=p2046732.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.Xattenuator+step&_nkw=attenuator+step&_sacat=0

I assume this is the DAC Jim is talking about? http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_odkw=&item=301091749503&pt=US_Amplifier_Parts_Components&_osacat=0&_from=R40&hash=item461a777e7f&_ssn=vintage_audio_lab&_trksid=p2046732.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xdac&_nkw=dac&_sacat=0

M.McCandless

Offline Jim R.

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Reply #12 on: May 18, 2014, 06:53:30 AM
As far as I can tell, the one with the separate power supply is the one, but I see it is now $350.

As to the resistors, I'd pay more attention to the final sound than what resistors are in the box.

-- Jim

Jim Rebman -- recovering audiophile

Equitech balanced power; uRendu, USB processor -> Musette DAC -> 5670 tube buffer -> Finale Audio F138 FFX -> Cain and Cain Abbys near-field).

s.e.x. 2.1 under construction.  Want list: Stereomour II

All ICs homemade (speaker and power next)

Offline roscoe primrose

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Reply #13 on: May 18, 2014, 07:36:15 AM
I thought this was a DIY forum;)  Build your own!

Roscoe


Offline Grainger49

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Reply #14 on: May 18, 2014, 07:47:48 AM
« Last Edit: May 19, 2014, 12:56:47 AM by Grainger49 »


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