AudioCircle

Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Cheap and Cheerful HiFi => Topic started by: Doublej on 16 Jul 2011, 04:13 pm

Title: Cheerful less than $50 USB DAC?
Post by: Doublej on 16 Jul 2011, 04:13 pm

Does such a thing exist?

If not how about at the $100 level.

I am looking for a step up from the analog out on my computers.

Title: Re: Cheerful less than $50 USB DAC?
Post by: ltr317 on 16 Jul 2011, 04:20 pm

The cheapest decent dac I've heard with a USB is the NuForce Icon uDac at $129.  It has a 24 bit/96 khz chip. 

Title: Re: Cheerful less than $50 USB DAC?
Post by: ebag4 on 16 Jul 2011, 04:22 pm

I bought my son an earlier generation of this (his has volume control as well) and it was a marked improvement over audio the output of the PC directly.  Haven't heard this one but the price is certainly right.

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Soundblaster-Audio-System-SB1290/dp/B0044DEDC0/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1

Best,
Ed

Title: Re: Cheerful less than $50 USB DAC?
Post by: charmerci on 16 Jul 2011, 05:10 pm

This thread was posted in the previous page - there are a few super cheap ones there and a few people responded with their impressions on super cheap ones.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=93950.0

Title: Re: Cheerful less than $50 USB DAC?
Post by: hifitommy on 16 Jul 2011, 06:51 pm

Call For Advice And Sales
800.905.5485 www.rslspeakers.com

howard rogers was using a cheap dac from his laptop at the newport beach audio show.  try calling him at the number above or email at the address shown as well.  he will probably share with you what he uses.

the sat/sub speaker he sells for $1250 is an excellent buy too.

Title: Re: Cheerful less than $50 USB DAC?
Post by: Poultrygeist on 19 Jul 2011, 05:12 pm

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=180-997

Title: Re: Cheerful less than $50 USB DAC?
Post by: mcgsxr on 19 Jul 2011, 06:58 pm

Go lurk on Head-Fi - lots of sub $100 USB DAC options there - used especially.

Seen frequently in the classifieds, usually at 50-70% of MSRP:

Nuforce
http://cgi.ebay.ca/USB-DAC-SPDIF-R-L-output-PC-laptop-conveter-/290538222487?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a56d7397 (http://cgi.ebay.ca/USB-DAC-SPDIF-R-L-output-PC-laptop-conveter-/290538222487?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a56d7397)
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Hi-Fi-DA10-PCM2704-USB-DAC-headphone-Amp-amplifier-/120743741798?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1ce34966 (http://cgi.ebay.ca/Hi-Fi-DA10-PCM2704-USB-DAC-headphone-Amp-amplifier-/120743741798?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1ce34966)
http://cgi.ebay.ca/MUSE-DA20-Top-quality-PCM2707-USB-DAC-Nice-Mini-DAC-/170661492564?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27bc37b754 (http://cgi.ebay.ca/MUSE-DA20-Top-quality-PCM2707-USB-DAC-Nice-Mini-DAC-/170661492564?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27bc37b754) - these get rave reviews for the $
http://cgi.ebay.ca/DAC-DESTROYER-HAND-SOLDERED-USB-DAC-w-LINE-HEAD-OUT-/280537893835?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41515c8bcb (http://cgi.ebay.ca/DAC-DESTROYER-HAND-SOLDERED-USB-DAC-w-LINE-HEAD-OUT-/280537893835?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41515c8bcb) - these are apparently much better than you would think too

I picked up a Grant Fidelity DAC-09 for $135 shipped - MSRP was $215, and it was around 4 months old.  I liked the flexibility of this unit (stand alone DAC, DAC + headamp, DAC + preamp, stand along preamp for digital and analog inputs) vs some of the other slightly cheaper options.

Title: Re: Cheerful less than $50 USB DAC?
Post by: wilbert-vanbakel on 20 Jul 2011, 01:57 am

USB DAC + amp: http://www.hllyhifi.com/topping-tp30-class-t-digital-amplifier-usb-dac-ta2024-p-224.html (http://www.hllyhifi.com/topping-tp30-class-t-digital-amplifier-usb-dac-ta2024-p-224.html)

Title: Re: Cheerful less than $50 USB DAC?
Post by: HAL on 20 Jul 2011, 02:09 am

Musiland Monitor 01 US for $85.   They sound very good.

The Monitor 01 US Mini is $65, but only for headphones.  I like the 01 US more and it has RCA output as well. 

It is an Asynchronous USB DAC with 24bit/192KHz capability.

Found mine on Ebay.

Title: Re: Cheerful less than $50 USB DAC?
Post by: Feanor on 23 Jul 2011, 04:37 pm

I'm very please with this DIR9001 + WM8740 based DAC from eBay.  I don't use the USB input, only the coax.  The effective limit is 24/96 because the max that the DIR9001 can handle.  The wall-wort is extra but I didn't need it because I had a 9 VAC, 1 amp adaptor on hand ...

http://cgi.ebay.ca/coaxial-DIR9001-WM8740DAC-decoders-USB-coaxial-G-1-/190548106602?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c5d8d5d6a (http://cgi.ebay.ca/coaxial-DIR9001-WM8740DAC-decoders-USB-coaxial-G-1-/190548106602?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c5d8d5d6a)
...

(http://img04.taobaocdn.com/imgextra/i4/200123534/T26KdhXlxMXXXXXXXX_!!200123534.jpg)

Title: Re: Cheerful less than $50 USB DAC?
Post by: mr_slim on 24 Jul 2011, 02:38 am

There's a thread on DIYaudio on this: http://cgi.ebay.ca/NEW-Hi-end-DAC-24-BIT-192K-HZ-AK4396-sc-/200613201099?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eb57a84cb AK4396 based board, if you are into a little DIY.. This one is good for tweaking the caps/resistors, since its a kit.  You could also get the assembled board http://cgi.ebay.ca/Assembled-DAC-2496-AK4396-CS8416-DAC-Board-24BIT-192K-/110686449376?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c56d2ee0, or a fully completed unit: http://cgi.ebay.ca/Finished-2496-AK4396-CS8416-DAC-Transformer-case-/110712416420?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c6f968a4 for $106.00. 

Title: Re: Cheerful less than $50 USB DAC?
Post by: mr_slim on 24 Jul 2011, 02:41 am

forgot the diyaudio thread: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/186245-dac-2496-ak4393-dac-kit-cs8416-ak4393-5532-a.html

Title: Re: Cheerful less than $50 USB DAC?
Post by: Noseyears on 26 Jul 2011, 12:11 am

For less than $100 the NuForce UDAC2 is a nice choice. Headphone Amp/Dac combo...cheaper than the Icon.