4c
<100
Posts: 24
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Post by 4c on May 2, 2014 20:40:54 GMT
Hi All,
First time poster I think! (been reading for a year tho)
I'm pondering which DAC would be an appropriate partner to the Panda*. Do I go £400 for the Arcam irDAC, or are there some superior DIY options out there? New DACS seem to be launched everyweek, but the DIY options are less visible. I've got the £35 HiFimeDIY Sabre U2 asynchronous DAC for portable duties (hooked up to a JDS Labs CmoyBB), but I suspect it'll be holding back the Panda.
Just to pre-empt the "what do you listen to", "it's all about personal taste" responses: I listen to a wide range of stuff, on HD595 and DT990 Pro 250 ohm, sat at my PC in the study. My go-to staple? early Genesis. Favourite test tracks? a live acoustic Skunk Anansie CD Single "Weak Disc 2". Currently listening to? Latest Paolo Nutini album (320Kbps on Spotify). I've always ripped at lossless FLAC, so I have a decent collection, and a large number of Squeezebox network clients around the house (plus RPi and other software clients).
So, what should be on my list of DACS to consider?
Tom.
* I'm currently (finally) getting all the gear together to get my Panda HA up and running - got the board, enclosure and toroid so far. just trying to find the best place to source good quality components - phono sockets, hook up cable, 75 ohm output resistors, 275 MOV varistor etc.
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4c
<100
Posts: 24
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Post by 4c on May 3, 2014 21:49:41 GMT
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2014 22:59:34 GMT
4c I still prefer DIY where I have full control over the PSU areas in particular, but I felt that this cheap little DAC was worth investigating, as the Silicon Chip DAC that is in the DIY area here, can't do DSD, and costs many times more to bring up to it's current extremely high performance.
Regards Alex
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jc
Fully Modded
Posts: 5,417
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Post by jc on May 5, 2014 12:00:17 GMT
There is also the half-way house answer. Some call it "lego" building. For examle the Amanero USB to I2S converter which can be hooked up to an I2S input DAC e.g. Curryman DAC (which is available ready-built or DIY) or something else. The Amanero will power directly from USB to get you started and then you can add your own PSUs to improve sound quality. The Curryman DAC needs a capable PSU from the off.
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4c
<100
Posts: 24
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Post by 4c on May 6, 2014 20:26:09 GMT
Thanks all,
Those recommendations are spot on. The ifi idsd will get me up and running straight away (birthday coming up soon, hints now being left around the house). The Amanero and Curryman will give me something to read up on. IIRC, there are several homebrew 5V PSU options discussed in these threads. It would be nice to home it all in an enclosure similar to the Panda's.
Cheers, Tom.
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