[wushuliu]

http://cgi.ebay.com/DAC-2496-AK4393-DAC-KIT-CS8416-AK4393-5532-/120688904169?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c199e87e9

http://cgi.ebay.com/Assembled-DAC-2496-AK4396-CS8416-DAC-Transformer-/120697876954?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1a2771da

Edit: ignore links at bottom, there is some glitch on my computer with posting.

Saw some threads on this DAC kit at diyaudio. It's based around the AK4393/5/6 chips that can be found in Behringer 2496, EMU 0404, Modwright Transporter, Stello D-100 and some pricier fare. I'm not familiar with its sound but I have read very very good things about them particular the 4395/4396. The kit comes with the 4393 but if you're handy with an iron you can request them to leave it off and use 4395/6 instead. Or they may do the swap for you but I'm not sure on that.

The real bonus of this kit besides the ridiculous low price is that the SMD stuff is pre-soldered upon request saving you the hard part and you can use whatever you want for the rest, thus saving the hassle of desoldering crappy/underspeced parts. It's a simple board and it looks much better quality than the usual chinese stuff with the PITA lead-free solder.

If you don't want to bother with all that there are other vendors (of course) who offer assembled 4396 kits for not too much more. Reports so far are very good and it certainly beats buying an EMU 0404 then modding it and having to use the crappy SMPS.





http://cgi.ebay.com/DAC-2496-AK4393-DAC-KIT-CS8416-AK4393-5532-/120688904169?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c199e87e9

http://cgi.ebay.com/Assembled-DAC-2496-AK4396-CS8416-DAC-Transformer-/120697876954?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1a2771