Looking for good / value for money desktop DAC

[terraflare]

Hi all, i have a pair of audioengine A2 and an alessandro MS1 that i use for music. Now im looking for a decent desktop DAC to pair so i can switch between both outputs on the fly and improve sound quality over the standard realtek audio.

Anyone any recommendations? Budget is < 200, preferably < 150.

 

[LegendZenify]

Hi all, i have a pair of audioengine A2 and an alessandro MS1 that i use for music. Now im looking for a decent desktop DAC to pair so i can switch between both outputs on the fly and improve sound quality over the standard realtek audio.

Anyone any recommendations? Budget is < 200, preferably < 150.

Do you need just a DAC or a DAC+AMP combination?
(if you don't have a dedicated amp then its probably the latter)

Fiio E10K is a pretty good choice for your budget.
If you just need a DAC, can consider Schitt Modi or ODAC.

 

[terraflare]

Do you need just a DAC or a DAC+AMP combination?
(if you don't have a dedicated amp then its probably the latter)

Fiio E10K is a pretty good choice for your budget.
If you just need a DAC, can consider Schitt Modi or ODAC.

I dont have a dedicated amp! That looks good - do you know where i can get one and how much damage it costs? Reviews seem pretty good.

 

[LegendZenify]

Fiio E10k is ard $120 on Treoo.com iirc. Comex coming up soon, may have better offers.

Sent from Samsung SM-G920I using GAGT

 

[t258jgn]

AudioEngine D1 24-Bit DAC (3yr wty) @ $220

 

[wwenze]

MS1... ok lah don't really need special amp due to low (and flat) impedance and low sensitivity, the built in amp of most DACs can suffice

 

[terraflare]

AudioEngine D1 24-Bit DAC (3yr wty) @ $220

Thanks! i was looking at this piece too. Where can i get it??

 

[noobiee]

i see you have a 980ti

but you just want to use it purely for music ah?

why not get a soundcard?

 

[Goodshot]

i see you have a 980ti

but you just want to use it purely for music ah?

why not get a soundcard?

Alot of ppl actually recommend dac than soundcard , duno the reason why . Anyway my $239 soundcard only good in earphone, if use speakers no diff vs onboard

 

[Gattberserk]

Alot of ppl actually recommend dac than soundcard , duno the reason why . Anyway my $239 soundcard only good in earphone, if use speakers no diff vs onboard

DAC only for pure audiophile, if u are into gaming and light music, soundcard is always more preferred.

 

[terraflare]

i see you have a 980ti

but you just want to use it purely for music ah?

why not get a soundcard?

No doubt sound quality wise perhaps a similiar price sound card will = DAC at this level. However, Im running quite a small case and want to keep airflow strong / temps as low as possible.

Soundcard really blocks that open space alot and creates unnecessary heat pockets - hence, edging towards DAC.

I use my rig for both music and gaming

 

[enenyi]

No doubt sound quality wise perhaps a similiar price sound card will = DAC at this level. However, Im running quite a small case and want to keep airflow strong / temps as low as possible.

Soundcard really blocks that open space alot and creates unnecessary heat pockets - hence, edging towards DAC.

I use my rig for both music and gaming

Given that u r using AudioEngine A2, plz dont embarrass the A2 by hooking up to an internal soundcard. Get either external soundcard or external DAC. Something that u would easily put on your table when switching out from speakers to headphones and vice versa.

Given your budget and the 1:2 golden ratio of price of soundcard vs price of speakers, starting from the cheapest,

1) Asus Xonar U7 Soundcard. $149. Cheapest of the lot, but better than the internal Asus and Creative offerings (DSX, DGX, DX, Creative Z, the whole lot of them). Does its job pretty well. In fact, i'm currently using it to feed my Presonus E5 studio monitor speakers.

2) Fiio X17. $179-$199, COMEX may offer discounts. Dedicated DAC (vs external soundcard). Good reviews about it.

3) Audioengine D1. $229-249. The most expensive of the lot, but the most compatible for your A2, since from same brand.

 

[sglords]

can also take a look at

Creative E5

iBasso D-Zero MK2

 

[terraflare]

can also take a look at

Creative E5

iBasso D-Zero MK2

Thanks! Would you know where I can get these and at what price?

 

[terraflare]

Given that u r using AudioEngine A2, plz dont embarrass the A2 by hooking up to an internal soundcard. Get either external soundcard or external DAC. Something that u would easily put on your table when switching out from speakers to headphones and vice versa.

Given your budget and the 1:2 golden ratio of price of soundcard vs price of speakers, starting from the cheapest,

1) Asus Xonar U7 Soundcard. $149. Cheapest of the lot, but better than the internal Asus and Creative offerings (DSX, DGX, DX, Creative Z, the whole lot of them). Does its job pretty well. In fact, i'm currently using it to feed my Presonus E5 studio monitor speakers.

2) Fiio X17. $179-$199, COMEX may offer discounts. Dedicated DAC (vs external soundcard). Good reviews about it.

3) Audioengine D1. $229-249. The most expensive of the lot, but the most compatible for your A2, since from same brand.

Thanks for all the recommendations. I've never tried any of the xonar items before, maybe will read up abit. What do you wish yours did better?

 

[enenyi]

Thanks for all the recommendations. I've never tried any of the xonar items before, maybe will read up abit. What do you wish yours did better?

Frankly speaking, in terms of performance i would have nothing to wish for more. The U7 just does its job well, pointing any flaws in sound quality to speaker or music file format. In terms of connectivity, i would have wished for at least TRS or XLR out (vs currently RCA out for front speakers). But i guess this feature only appears in more expensive DACs. And perhaps maybe the Xonar branding to be more popular. Coz the Soundblaster is still more popular than Xonar in terms of branding.

 

[__kyxy]

I second the schit modi 2

U can either try carousell, or order straight from the website. Schiit modi at 99usd before shipping.

 

[koroshiya8]

Alot of ppl actually recommend dac than soundcard , duno the reason why . Anyway my $239 soundcard only good in earphone, if use speakers no diff vs onboard

This is because internal soundcard is more prone to interference as compared to (USB) DAC as it is plug into the same circuit.
However i noted 1 issue with DAC is that if you put it close to the speaker there may be interference sound coming out as well.

my personal reason to use DAC is because i do not want to waste a slot in my MOBO and at the same time i need a dedicated headphone amplifier which a DAC usually has.

do check out youtube video by linus here. I've grown to like Linus's videos.. they are damn good to me for explanation and he's humorous in his presentations as well.

 

[alifffresto]

This is because internal soundcard is more prone to interference as compared to (USB) DAC as it is plug into the same circuit.
However i noted 1 issue with DAC is that if you put it close to the speaker there may be interference sound coming out as well.

I also face intermittent sound sometime back. Thought it was the source, speaker or DAC. Turns out it was the cable. Now flawlessly working

 

[shadow84]

For cables, best to go custom at LHS? Even for basic rca to rca and 3.5mm to 3.5mm?

Btw, wanna ask, is there a difderence between 3.5mm to 3.5mm and 3.5mm to rca?