Argonath Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Hello All! Today I just shipped to the new owner my first and entry-level USB DAC, the Onix Dac25 I had for the last 2+ years. I am looking for a step upwards, I am trying to make a shortlist of the USB DACs I should really look at, who would like to help me? Here below some info. - must have modern USB digital input and serve also as headphones amp (have the nice AKG K701) - preferred if supports hi-res formats as in the near future I'd start buying also this stuff - preferred if it has XLR ouputs and at least 1 SPDIF input - budget max 1500USD In my shortlist I have now: [TABLE=width: 256] [TR] [TD]Wadia [/TD] [TD]121 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Teac [/TD] [TD]UD-501 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Naim[/TD] [TD=colspan: 3]DAC-V1 D to A Converter [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] "And now the questions" (cit.) - Anybody would suggest what else in terms of features the new dac should have? - Anybody would be so kind to tell their expericence comparison experiences which included the above DACs? - which other DACs should I look at? thanks a lot in advance! A Sources: Analog: Goldnote Giglio, Rega Exact+Rega Aria; Digital: Denon DVD A1 UD & Mac-mini + Rega DAC-R. Amps: Solid State: Omega Audio Integrated Mono; Tubes: Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL+ZOTL40 mk II. Speakers: Ascendo D7-C. Link to comment
Savage Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Thats a popular price point - How is it powered - USB, SMPS, LPS - What kind of display - None, LEDs, OLED - Formats - DSD, PCM & rates I'll throw the Yulong DA8 out there, haven't heard it but it's getting a lot of love. It's inside your price range & meets headphone and XLR requirements. There have to be some new things that were launched last week at CES, keep your eyes out for mini-reviews at this point. Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not." — Nelson Pass Link to comment
Argonath Posted January 13, 2014 Author Share Posted January 13, 2014 Hi there! - formats: I have a lot of ripped cds: some 750 regular red book, other 50 are some HDCD, XRCD, and SACD -and yes, also 2 DVD-A. However, I was saying I'll also start purchasing hi-res music.. - As for power options, I have no specific preference, though I'd say "the most silent one" - I don't need a display, I can live without it. The Yulong, ok, thanks, I'll take into consideration. A Sources: Analog: Goldnote Giglio, Rega Exact+Rega Aria; Digital: Denon DVD A1 UD & Mac-mini + Rega DAC-R. Amps: Solid State: Omega Audio Integrated Mono; Tubes: Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL+ZOTL40 mk II. Speakers: Ascendo D7-C. Link to comment
Savage Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Hi there! - formats: I have a lot of ripped cds: some 750 regular red book, other 50 are some HDCD, XRCD, and SACD -and yes, also 2 DVD-A. However, I was saying I'll also start purchasing hi-res music.. - As for power options, I have no specific preference, though I'd say "the most silent one" - I don't need a display, I can live without it. The Yulong, ok, thanks, I'll take into consideration. A Hey Argonath How the dac is powered may help narrow your selections. Preference would be on Internal or External LPS>SMPS>USB last. Here is some reading on the Yulong. A lot of great features, and getting a thumbs up from it's owners. It does wear the badge of Chi-fi, this along with distributors and availability in Europe/Italy, may be a consideration to weigh. REVIEW - Yulong Audio Sabre DA8 Reference DAC Yulong's new DA8 - Page 10 Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not." — Nelson Pass Link to comment
Blake Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 From your list, I owned the Wadia 121 and thought is was a nice unit. I really liked the ability to adjust the gain setting. Another I would recommend in that price range, containing the features you list, is the Bel Canto 1.5. Chris, the owner of this website, reviewed it a while back: Computer Audiophile - Bel Canto Design DAC 1.5 e.One Processor Review Chris also reviewed the Wadia 121, but I assume you already read that. Speaker Room: Lumin U1X | Lampizator Pacific 2 | Viva Linea | Constellation Inspiration Stereo 1.0 | FinkTeam Kim | dual Rythmik E15HP subs Office Headphone System: Lumin U1X | Lampizator Golden Gate 3 | Viva Egoista | Abyss AB1266 Phi TC Link to comment
Pal Chiu Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 There're two new DAC/HPamp from China, GoldenWave GD-01 and HexiSound DAWN. Link to comment
Audio_ELF Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 Just to clarify; do you need the volume control to affect the analogue output or purely for the Headphone output? The latter is a longer list than the former. I would add Benchmark DAC2; Musical Fidelity M1DAC-S and slightly older design the T+A DAC8 to your list. Other questions - USB only input or SPDIF as well? Do you need any analogue inputs? Eloise --- ...in my opinion / experience... While I agree "Everything may matter" working out what actually affects the sound is a trickier thing. And I agree "Trust your ears" but equally don't allow them to fool you - trust them with a bit of skepticism. keep your mind open... But mind your brain doesn't fall out. Link to comment
Argonath Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 Hi there! Thank you All for your valuable input. Savage, I'd definitely prefer a DAC with a good LPS power section. Audio Elf, volume control is needed only for Headphone output, I am pretty stuck to my preamp as for the analog signal, it's worth far more than the money I paid for. Ps pls say hi to Aragorn in Middle Earth. Yes I think at least I'll include the Benchmark DAC-2. BTW to be added is, also, the about-to be released Oppo right here. Should be out within march 2014. OPPO Digital - HA-1 Headphone Amplifier A Sources: Analog: Goldnote Giglio, Rega Exact+Rega Aria; Digital: Denon DVD A1 UD & Mac-mini + Rega DAC-R. Amps: Solid State: Omega Audio Integrated Mono; Tubes: Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL+ZOTL40 mk II. Speakers: Ascendo D7-C. Link to comment
Argonath Posted February 8, 2015 Author Share Posted February 8, 2015 Hi All! After long wait, thinking, and some testing, I chose the Marantz HD DAC-1. So far it sound great with ripped .aiff files on iTunes, even though still have to make a close comparison with my reference cdp, the Denon DVD A1. Next steps will be to evaluate other players JRiver or Amarra, or else. considering I have a Mac mini 10.6.8., pls let me know your thoughts and experiences on best players. thanks and have a great sunday A Sources: Analog: Goldnote Giglio, Rega Exact+Rega Aria; Digital: Denon DVD A1 UD & Mac-mini + Rega DAC-R. Amps: Solid State: Omega Audio Integrated Mono; Tubes: Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL+ZOTL40 mk II. Speakers: Ascendo D7-C. Link to comment
Ajax Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Hi All! Next steps will be to evaluate other players JRiver or Amarra, or else. considering I have a Mac mini 10.6.8., pls let me know your thoughts and experiences on best players. A Check out Audirvana using the free trial Audirvana Plus | The Sound of your Dreams LOUNGE: Mac Mini - Audirvana - Devialet 200 - ATOHM GT1 Speakers OFFICE : Mac Mini - Audirvana - Benchmark DAC1HDR - ADAM A7 Active Monitors TRAVEL : MacBook Air - Dragonfly V1.2 DAC - Sennheiser HD 650 BEACH : iPhone 6 - HRT iStreamer DAC - Akimate Micro + powered speakers Link to comment
slingshot Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 I had the Yulong DA8 and it is excellent. The first unit I received was defective and I had to send it back to China. However, a step up from this is the Geek Pulse X especially if you want better performance from the head phone amp. I am preselling one with all of the upgrades. See my posting. Roon software, Lenovo TS 440 server, IPad Air 2 for remote control and Dell 2340T display, Dell Latitude 7140 tablet (Windows 8.1, 256 SSD and 8 GB RAM) with Dell docking station, Aqua Hifi LaScala mk ii DAC, Allnic L 5000 DHT preamp, Shaker Logic Attune with two outputs for the amplifiers, Vitus SS-101 mk ii amp, Bosendorfer VC-7 speakers and Focal Sub Utopia Be subwoofer. Link to comment
madaboutaudio Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 you can consider this as well: ºÍ§Óµ响 Well implemented ES9018S DAC with headphone amp and preamp Link to comment
hellblau Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Hello All! [cut] [TABLE=width: 256] [TR] [TD]Wadia [/TD] [TD]121 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Teac [/TD] [TD]UD-501 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Naim [/TD] [TD=colspan: 3]DAC-V1 D to A Converter [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [cut] - Anybody would be so kind to tell their expericence comparison experiences which included the above DACs? - which other DACs should I look at? thanks a lot in advance! A I had the Wadia 121, which broke 10 months after purchase (Line out mute, like I had plugged the headphones). Good sound, but poor support (Wadia customer support never replayed to me; the USB driver was never updated) and a bad designed unit software, that didn't save the settings after a switch off, and forced me to set again the unit (gain, etc.) every time (I consider the option "Always on" a total nonsense in general). Now going with Teac UD-501. Good sound - a little different but overall the same category, at half the price - much better software (it saves the unit settings), rock-solid USB driver (that, by the way, was updated), much higher output voltage. Unfortunately, no line out volume control, and no remote. I use Dirac Live, and in my opinion the difference between DACs are a fraction, sometimes a very little one, of the difference that the DRC can make. Beware of the shining hip ultra-bargain-price Chinese DACs, particularly if you use the USB: without a good USB driver, a DAC can be a nightmare! Link to comment
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