Which DAC (+ HPA) to go for?

[JohnnyBlue]

I've got a big (too big) birthday coming up, and I'm toying with the idea of getting a DAC to run from the USB of my ageing Dell Dimension C521desktop (Windows Vista 32 bit).

My shortlist (all of which I've learned about solely from the pages of RG):

• AUNE Mini USB DAC + Headphone Amp (which version, Mk II/SE?)
  
  
• Musiland Monitor 02 US, USB sound card
  
  
• HA NG27 MKII USB Card & Headphone Amp & DAC
  
  
• FiiO E7 Headphone DAC Amplifier
  

Budget is £100 (tops) so I can stretch to the Aune, but I wonder if one of the other suggestions will give better value for money? (I'd always ignored FiiO as I thought it was cheap rubbish, to go with iPods, etc., but the RG thread has turned my head.)

Any thoughts, gratefully received.

[Deleted]

As much as I love my Musiland 02 I wouldn't recommend it as a HPA. It works OK with my 32 Ohm HD681B but it can't move properly any of my AKGs (K501 & K601) though I listen at low to moderate levels. If power for high ohmic/average or low sensibilty cans is a must, I'll look elsewhere.
The 02 is a fantastic USB DAC at a very nice price: solid drivers, very good SQ (as good or even better than my Asus D2X PCIe card), accepts everything from 16/44.1 to 24/192, etc. but as long as you use its line out, that is unless you'll be pairing it with a high sensibility low Ohmic HP, in that case it is a great piece of kit.

[Deleted]

AUNE Mini USB DAC + Headphone Amp (which version, Mk II/SE?)


Musiland Monitor 02 US, USB sound card


HA NG27 MKII USB Card & Headphone Amp & DAC


FiiO E7 Headphone DAC Amplifier

I can comment on the NG27. It is a handy and worthwhile tool that I use with my laptop and it is easily better than FiiO E7 that I have compared it too. (tested with PX200, HD560ovII & Silver Crest KH?? ) The FiiO seemed "weedy" in comparison.
Mine has extra capacitance and the buffers stacked. I also use it with a converted Pinkie PSU.
It's small enough to travel in the laptop bag with the rest of the clobber and get plugged in on destination (standard psu away from work). Trouble being I may be losing out sonically for the convenience (to the Aune).

Mike has both the NG and Aune and has stated plainly than the Aune is much better.

The Musiland I have never heard.

With the budget you state you may well be best with the Aune
UNLESS
you have part of the equation at home already ie amp or dac that can fulfill one part leaving your budget to buy a better "other part", if you see what I mean.

[Deleted]

The 02 is a fantastic USB DAC at a very nice price: solid drivers, very good SQ (as good or even better than my Asus D2X PCIe card), accepts everything from 16/44.1 to 24/192, etc. but as long as you use its line out, that is unless you'll be pairing it with a high sensibility low Ohmic HP, in that case it is a great piece of kit.

Hi John,
Yes i would agree with Javier, really nice little dac, but needs HP driving support from an Amp, it then gives fine results.

Mick.

[JohnnyBlue]

Thanks for the posts: very interesting, although I'd probably secretly hoped that there might be a real bargain amongst that lot...

As it happens, my HPA stash is in my office, so I've a choice of a PA2V2 (poor), DIY Banzai (better), Neco Mk.1 portable (better still) or a mains-linked Guanzo amp from which to choose, so that presumably brings the Musiland right back into the equation.

So, Aune or Musiland + Guanzo?

[Deleted]

I think both choices have their pros and cons. If you want to use it as a USB DAC with a Windows based PC and intend to play High Resolution files, even if both units use the same BB PCM1793, the Musiland is the better choice as it does all standard resolutions up to 24/192 while the AUne is limited by the BB PCM2707 to 16/48 and lower specs. If you only plan to use 16/44.1 or prefer to feed it through S/Pdif then the Aune might be the one to pick. The Musiland can also be used as a USB->SPdif or USB->Toslink router.

[lark]

So, Aune or Musiland Guanzo?

I have an Aune but don't have any of the others you list.

I'm very happy with the Aune, excellent build quality, excellent sound quality - can easily drive my K702s.

A very nice piece of kit.

[JohnnyBlue]

Thanks for all the comments: I've taken your very helpful advice and gone for the Aune.

I have, though, a few questions which I've posted on the Aune DAC thread.