Inexpensive USB DAC recommendation?

[Dargent0628]

Thanks for the suggestions notarized I'll check that out...but the D1 seems like a strong candidate

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[BoredSysAdmin]

Thanks for the suggestions notarized I'll check that out...but the D1 seems like a strong candidate

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If you don't need/want a headphone amp (it's not just a 3.5mm port on D1 - it's will power headphone upto 600 ohm impedance - no smartphone could ever dream to do it)
you could consider this dac - JDS Labs - Standalone ODAC

Read more here:
NwAvGuy: ODAC Released

It has been designed from group up to compete with $1500 dac....

 

[PENG]

Thanks for the suggestions notarized I'll check that out...but the D1 seems like a strong candidate

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This one has great reviews, nice specs and sounds good but a little on the expensive side.

Cambridge Audio DacMagic XS USB DAC Review | Audioholics

 

[JonnyFive23517]

I purchased a Dragonfly v1.2 about 2 weeks ago. I am literally blown away by the improvement in SQ vs the headphone output on the laptop. I can't comment on all the USB DAC's out there, but I have no complaints about the Dragonfly. -Jon

 

[connieflyer]

I had purchased a Dragonfly v.2 also, and had the opposite results. I had been using the rca outs form a xonar Essence sound card, tried the dragonfly and could not believe how much worse it sounded compared to the asus sound card. Sent it back and have stayed with the sound card for the dac and use and Ember tube amp for headphone output.
Output Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-Weighted) (Front-out) :
124 dB
Output Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-Weighted) (Headphone-out) :
117 dB
Input Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-Weighted) :
118 dB
Output THD+N at 1kHz (Front-out) :
>0.0003 %(-110 dB)
Output THD+N at 1kHz (Headphone-out) :
>0.001 %(-100 dB)
Frequency Response (-3dB, 16bit/44.1KHz input) :
10 Hz to 90 KHz
Output/Input Full-Scale Voltage :
Line output (RCA, 3.5) : 2 Vrms (5.65 Vp-p)
Audio PTI Bur-Brown PCM1792A
Processor :ASUS AV100 High-Definition Sound Processor (Max. 192KHz/24bit)
Analog Playback Sample Rate and Resolution :
44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz @ 16bit/24bit
Analog Recording Sample Rate and Resolution :
44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz @ 16bit/24bit
S/PDIF Digital Output :
44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz @ 16bit/24bit
ASIO Driver Support :
44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz @ 16bit/24bit

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I don't know much about Dragonfly dac or why people clamor it as best thing since sliced bread, but I wont be in rush to buy products from it's manufacturer - Audioquest selling $300 hmdi cables

edit: or $500 usb cables - http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/amps-pre-pros-receivers/90004-inexpensive-usb-dac-recommendation.html#post1024834
This is simple ridiculous

 

[RichB]

It is not too Xonar is much better than a laptop imbedded sound card or even the dragonfly.

I prefer stand-alone DAC to Windows connected directly to my Amp.
I do not trust Windows with my system

- Rich

 

[RichB]

I don't know much about Dragonfly dac or why people clamor it as best thing since sliced bread, but I wont be in rush to buy products from it's manufacturer - Audioquest selling $300 hmdi cables

Then there is the $548 2.6 foot USB cable to go with your dragonfly :

http://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-Diamond-75m-2-6-Cable/dp/B004LR7HP4/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1395589550&sr=8-6&keywords=audioquest+usb

- Rich

 

[connieflyer]

It is not too Xonar is much better than a laptop imbedded sound card or even the dragonfly.

I prefer stand-alone DAC to Windows connected directly to my Amp.
I do not trust Windows with my system

- Rich

Check the specs on the dragonfly, not so good. What is wrong with windows? Very reliable, good use of resources, you are still using windows to output from usb.

 

[connieflyer]

Then there is the $548 2.6 foot USB cable to go with your dragonfly :

Amazon.com: AudioQuest Diamond .75m (2.6 ft.) USB Cable: Computers & Accessories

- Rich

At that price I better stock up 'cause I am sure there will be a run on them soon!

 

[Dargent0628]

Well right now I'm simply playing flac with the vlc media player using headphone jack out rca in to aux input. I've done a comparison to the initial CD Beatles releases vs the flacs cds played on the ps3. Flacs certainly superior so this is why I'm exploring the idea of a dac that might clean the sound up even more. Since I plan on mostly eliminating the use of physical media I would like to arrive at the best arrangement. I'm going to go with the D1 and do an a b comparison. If the dac doesn't provide a tangible (to my admittedly nonaudiophile ears) difference I will just return it and perhaps just continue upgrading my modest speakers as budget permits.

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[Reorx]

I have been using a creative labs USB sound card without any problems and good sound. I haven't heard the others so I don't know how it compares.

http://us.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-digital-music-premium-hd

Didn't some of pre-pro's have USB connections? Like Emotiva.

Good luck.

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