List of DACs "Under $450"

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JLM

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Re: List of DACs "Under $450"
« Reply #100 on: 23 Dec 2014, 11:04 am »
Halide Design DAC: $450 with captive (up to 7 meters long) USB (including power) and RCA cables, 24 bit/96 kHz, 2014 Stereophile Class A rated, tiny, cryogenically treated, simple (no display/control/drivers), asynchronous design, uses Gordon Rankin's (of Wavelength) Streamlength protocol to reduce jitter.

Sound: seductive/smooth, ease/purity, deep/agile bass, not dry/ruthless, delicacy with power, an ideal balance between resolution and tone, analog/organic, does a good job of imaging and expressing the original space, 2014 Stereophile Class A rated.


Paired with Adam F5 active 2-way stand-mounts (and throwing $50 in for interconnects) you'd have a very nice computer based system.
« Last Edit: 13 Jan 2015, 02:29 am by JLM »

HT cOz

Re: List of DACs "Under $450"
« Reply #101 on: 23 Dec 2014, 04:10 pm »
If you can do even the most basic DIY then this is an option that is well under $450.  Its an new R2R DAC which looks very promising.  I will be buying one as soon as the second batch hits the market. 





Here is the DIY thread http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/vendors-bazaar/259488-reference-dac-module-discrete-r-2r-sign-magnitude-24-bit-384-khz.html

This write up is an awesome summary of the new DAC.  https://hifiduino.wordpress.com/2014/10/12/r2r-for-the-rest-of-us/

OzarkTom

Re: List of DACs "Under $450"
« Reply #102 on: 13 Jan 2015, 01:27 am »
Here is a new one DSD dac for $299 and looks very nice. It comes with a headphone jack.

http://www.hdta.info/product/serenade.html

Serenade DSD utilizes a Reference Grade Digital to Analog Converter which has a Dynamic Range of 123dB and THD+N of -105dB, which is rarely seen in this price range. In order to achieve this superb sound quality, Serenade DSD applies Minimum Path, 32Bit DAC Architecture and Jitter Elimination Circuit.






JLM

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Re: List of DACs "Under $450"
« Reply #104 on: 13 Jan 2015, 02:33 am »
An off the wall suggestion:

Schitt Loki ($149, 64 DSD only), plus JRiver 20 for $50 to convert PCM from your computer into DSD.  Leaves lots of budget for amp/speakers.

OzarkTom


OzarkTom

Re: List of DACs "Under $450"
« Reply #106 on: 24 Jan 2015, 01:09 am »
I just talked to my buddy Rex in Hawaii. The Absolute Sound has labeled the IFI IDSD as the best value at the CES 2015 show in their latest magazine. I know, this is $499.

SlyFuu

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Re: List of DACs "Under $450"
« Reply #107 on: 20 Feb 2015, 01:07 am »
SMSL M8 DAC $249.99
Sabre 32bit ES9018 DAC
384KHZ / 32Bit, DSD


Looks pretty attractive at $249.99 currently on Massdrop for $179.99.


Letitroll98

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Re: List of DACs "Under $450"
« Reply #108 on: 20 Feb 2015, 03:22 am »
Good reviews on headfi as well.

drphoto

Re: List of DACs "Under $450"
« Reply #109 on: 14 Jul 2016, 08:52 pm »
I own the Cambridge and it's pretty good. Of course it was extensively modded by the man, the myth, the legend.....Stan Warren, inc one of his great outboard power supplies. So it doesn't meet the price criteria of  C&C. I got mine slightly used so it wasn't terribly expensive, but I really don't remember.

I.Greyhound Fan

Re: List of DACs "Under $450"
« Reply #110 on: 18 Oct 2016, 05:51 pm »
Has anyone tried an Emotiva Big Ego?  I am thinking about buying one for my son to replace his Dragon Fly 1.0

quibus

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Re: List of DACs "Under $450"
« Reply #111 on: 18 Oct 2016, 07:05 pm »
I have the Encore mDSD ($ 99) and the NuPrime uDSD (some $ 180?). Excellent clear DACs. The uDSD even works as headphone amp with a pot volume control!

Probably the really expensive DACs are in a different class, but I'd be surprised if other DACs under $ 500 would be (much) better.
 

I.Greyhound Fan

Re: List of DACs "Under $450"
« Reply #112 on: 18 Oct 2016, 08:07 pm »
My son likes a DAC that is on the warmer side of neutral that can do at least 384K or higher.  The Big Ego fits the bill.  One guy on HeadFi says it competes with his Schiit Modi Multibit.  I have considered the uDAC5 but would like to see more reviews.  I would also like to see more user reviews on the Big Ego. I may have to buy the Ego as it has a 30 day return policy.

He is going to use the DAC in his 2ch system as opposed to headphones.  He is using a Pass DIY B1 preamp, Parasound A21 amp and PSB B6 speakers.

rajacat

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Re: List of DACs "Under $450"
« Reply #113 on: 19 Oct 2016, 07:20 pm »
If you can do even the most basic DIY then this is an option that is well under $450.  Its an new R2R DAC which looks very promising.  I will be buying one as soon as the second batch hits the market. 





Here is the DIY thread http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/vendors-bazaar/259488-reference-dac-module-discrete-r-2r-sign-magnitude-24-bit-384-khz.html

This write up is an awesome summary of the new DAC.  https://hifiduino.wordpress.com/2014/10/12/r2r-for-the-rest-of-us/

Thanks for the links.
Did you end buying the board and getting it running? Are you happy with the sound quality?

I.Greyhound Fan

Re: List of DACs "Under $450"
« Reply #114 on: 5 Nov 2016, 03:07 pm »
I received my used Emotiva Big Ego DAC today (paid $135) and I am impressed. I bought it for my son to replace his Dragonfly 1.0 that he was using in his 2 channel rig. It is very smooth and analog sounding. There is no grain or edginess to it like the DF. It leans to the warm side. It has an very nice liquid mid range. It has more detail and is more musical than the DF. The textures are more palpable. It is clearly a nice step up. It sounds even better with the AQ Jitterbug. I am going to try it with my Regen later in the week. We are using the crappy usb cable that came with it. I am going to order an AQ Cinnamon mini usb to usb cable along with an AQ Golden Gate mini RCA to RCA cable.

The rest of the system is my old Parasound A21, Pass Labs B-1 passive preamp/buffer that I built and PSB B6 speakers. Music Player is Bug Head Infinity Blade version 6.88.
« Last Edit: 5 Nov 2016, 04:20 pm by I.Greyhound Fan »

Panelhead1

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Re: List of DACs "Under $450"
« Reply #115 on: 15 Dec 2016, 07:04 pm »
  Using a Clarett 4Pre. Four channel with Thunderbolt connection. Only does up to 192/24. Paid 470.00 delivered. Use it with 2.1 system.

WC

Re: List of DACs "Under $450"
« Reply #116 on: 15 Dec 2016, 07:31 pm »
Schiit just put out the Fulla 2. It is a combination DAC/amp for $99. It is getting some favorable user reviews on Head-fi.

willswing

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Re: List of DACs "Under $450"
« Reply #117 on: 15 Dec 2016, 07:46 pm »


8T_BoCO

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Re: List of DACs "Under $450"
« Reply #119 on: 19 Mar 2019, 10:40 pm »
It does exist and I am enjoying one in my system (almost a year now).

You can read a ton about it here:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/starting-point-systems-portable-nos-dac.709720/

It is considered an entry-level non-oversampling DAC and  I do prefer its sound to Delta-Sigma DACs.
It is remarkable for its power supply - it is always drawing from its rechargeable battery and this allows for a very low noise floor.
The output seems to be a tad low (less than 2.0 v), but adding a tube buffer does the trick for me.