Z
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Post by Z on May 3, 2011 2:31:10 GMT
 ? what do you think are the best cheap dacs? |
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on May 3, 2011 3:00:59 GMT
? what do you think are the best cheap dacs? DIY or one very well known Chinese brand which goes by V3.0. Sorry, I have really forgotten the name.  I will post again when that turns up in my brain. |
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on May 3, 2011 3:02:08 GMT
Oh, yes, the name turns up in my brain now.
Zhaolu V3 or later ..............
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elysion
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Post by elysion on May 3, 2011 3:23:17 GMT
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Post by freddypipsqueek on May 3, 2011 6:10:53 GMT
I've been very inpressed with the Poppulse Uii.
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 3, 2011 8:22:40 GMT
It's not exactly "cheap" but I am in love with the Cambridge Audio DacMagic, it is sooooooooo versatile  |
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on May 3, 2011 9:05:44 GMT
Yeah, also forget the Beresford dac, if you can get it cheaply, as it didn't beat the Zhaolu V3 in a pow-wow many moons back. The dacmagic will be better.
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Post by freddypipsqueek on May 3, 2011 9:42:59 GMT
The important thing with kit like the DACmagic is the ability to switch inputs. Having the option to choose between USB, coaxs and opticals allow different kit to be attached at the same time. The DAC becomes better value because it does more. This is particularly so where headphone amps usually have 1 input so switching the DAC source is vital. I like the poppulse unit but it only has one input and whilst I haven't heard the DACmagic or Beresford that feature alone would probably justify the difference in price.
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mrarroyo
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Post by mrarroyo on May 3, 2011 10:13:21 GMT
Colt, what is your definition of "cheap"? Or to put differently what is the most you are willing to spend?
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Z
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Post by Z on May 4, 2011 4:27:33 GMT
well, the hrt audio's cheapest dac would be the most expensive i'd ever want to go.
have any of you tried that hrt Music Streamer II ?
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on May 4, 2011 4:47:30 GMT
hrt Music Streamer II will be in the region of about USD 300, right?  Btw, do you need a dac immediately? If not why spend money now. Might as well save up and go for the Dacmagic or Sabre 32 (DIY) and these dacs will ensure you need not spend some more money for sometime to upgrade. In fact, the dacs inside those cheapo CD players (like from Pioneer) are already pretty decent just for music to not audiophile credential. Good dacs are just that bit more refine for nutty audiophiles. Just for good music listening a pretty decent cd player will do. Really, I'm not sure from which source (music player) you are coming from. |
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mrarroyo
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Post by mrarroyo on May 4, 2011 10:41:06 GMT
I agree, save some money to buy a nicer unit a few months down the road.
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Z
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Post by Z on May 4, 2011 19:19:29 GMT
the hrt is $150
and this is for a pc.
i'm doing this apparently legit secret shopper thing and was just thinking about ways to spend. haven't gotten any assignments i could attend yet though (no car and some creepo kept taking them before i could get them! the company is legit by the way. a+ BBB rating).
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Z
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Post by Z on May 4, 2011 23:41:07 GMT
wow, that's way outta my league.
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on May 5, 2011 3:26:00 GMT
wow, that's way outta my league. I don't think so. Just save up to get a new discounted set or second hand. Then you can forget about dacs for some time. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 5, 2011 20:04:31 GMT
The important thing with kit like the DACmagic is the ability to switch inputs. Having the option to choose between USB, coaxs and opticals allow different kit to be attached at the same time. The DAC becomes better value because it does more. This is particularly so where headphone amps usually have 1 input so switching the DAC source is vital. I like the poppulse unit but it only has one input and whilst I haven't heard the DACmagic or Beresford that feature alone would probably justify the difference in price. Yup, it is so versatile... even the "filter / phase" gives you a bit of choice (slightly different sonic presentations)... I think they're pretty much essential little boxes if you have more than one source.... build quality is also pretty bulletproof so an all round good quality box of tricks that offers very decent SQ. |
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Z
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Post by Z on May 6, 2011 2:46:53 GMT
wow, that's way outta my league. I don't think so. Just save up to get a new discounted set or second hand. Then you can forget about dacs for some time. heh, i couldn't even justify it by saving up. then i'd wonder "why don't i just save this money for a rainy day and buy the hrt"? |
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on May 6, 2011 2:53:12 GMT
I don't think so. Just save up to get a new discounted set or second hand. Then you can forget about dacs for some time. heh, i couldn't even justify it by saving up. then i'd wonder "why don't i just save this money for a rainy day and buy the hrt"? Well, the ball is on your side now .............. |
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Post by mrpharmacist on May 6, 2011 10:16:06 GMT
The important thing with kit like the DACmagic is the ability to switch inputs. Having the option to choose between USB, coaxs and opticals allow different kit to be attached at the same time. The DAC becomes better value because it does more. This is particularly so where headphone amps usually have 1 input so switching the DAC source is vital. I like the poppulse unit but it only has one input and whilst I haven't heard the DACmagic or Beresford that feature alone would probably justify the difference in price. Yup, it is so versatile... even the "filter / phase" gives you a bit of choice (slightly different sonic presentations)... I think they're pretty much essential little boxes if you have more than one source.... build quality is also pretty bulletproof so an all round good quality box of tricks that offers very decent SQ. How much of an SQ upgrade would the DacMagic give? Would it bring an existing CD player up to that of the Cambridge 840C CD player or is it not that simple? (I listen to CDs and music through a standard laptop eg Youtube) |
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on May 9, 2011 3:54:55 GMT
How much of an SQ upgrade would the DacMagic give? Would it bring an existing CD player up to that of the Cambridge 840C CD player or is it not that simple? (I listen to CDs and music through a standard laptop eg Youtube) I don't think so TECHNICALLY as the 840C is upsampled to 384 Khz whereas the Dacmagic is just up to 192Khz. Also, the 840C uses dsp and 2 dac chips in a differential mode, if I'm not wrong. Dacmagic? Haven't check that up yet. |
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Z
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Post by Z on May 11, 2011 5:04:29 GMT
the hrt is better than all others! it is US made! and some other techno reason as well! (it was listed in an amazon review and i don't remember it).
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on May 11, 2011 6:40:41 GMT
the hrt is better than all others! it is US made! and some other techno reason as well! (it was listed in an amazon review and i don't remember it). Ha, I just checked up Stereophile recommended components in April 2011 issue and just for reference: HRT Music Streamer PRO USD 449.95 is Class B HRT Music Streamer II+ USD 349.95 HRT Music Streamer II USD 149.95 are Class C ASUS Xonar Essence ST & STX USD 199.95 is Class D Class D is the lowest rank of the Stereophile heirachy. Fyi. This is just a guide and the final thing should be audition to whether it meets your requirement or not. |
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Z
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Post by Z on May 11, 2011 17:48:08 GMT
6 moons like one of the hrt products. if they like it it must be pretty decent (this is a mag that reviews $300,000 speaker set BTW).
what does stereophile like in the $150 or less range?
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on May 13, 2011 10:29:41 GMT
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Z
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Post by Z on May 13, 2011 18:42:30 GMT
they said it was a no brainer.
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I will post again when that turns up in my brain. 
