So how does a $12.99 DAC sound?

[One and a half]

Let's say consumer variety audio devices,  for example, the Sony UX-800 or Sony TVs  of late have no analog outputs, how to connect to an analog amplifier? With a DAC of course. For equipment at home, there's a bit of distance, between the amplifier and the components, so even if the device has an analog out, it means to buy new cables of differing length, which is a pain. RDL have an AES/coax/optical four way switcher to the one output, which would be fine, but they are some $400 plus a 24V dc power supply.

It's great to select an input on an amp and the device plays without routing through another switching device, so the RDL has good specs, it's not what's in the mind. 

 

DACs vary greatly in price, the requirements for consumer devices don't need DSD256, or even 192. Digital radio and optical TV out is 48 kHz, the BD player is adjustable to 96 maximum PCM output, so a DAC that accepts 96 will be fine. I've tried outputting say the TV output to reference DAC, and it's a waste, same with the radio. There's some gain with audibility but really clutching at straws, plus there's four of these devices, so even spending $200 - $400 on a DAC adds up way beyond more I wish to spend for little gain.

 

So what's at the really cheap way that I can use 75 Ohm coax to 5m and inexpensive RCA connectors. Enter the Prozor DAC, coax or optical in, 96 max, 5V supply. Size, half a matchbox.

Price - $12.99.

 

How does it sound compared to the Accuphase DP-720 DAC section, for fun removed the Lumin U1 output to the Prozor DAC direct to the amplifier. 5V is a BYO, derived in this case from a 5 way 2.4A USB distributor with SMPS on the 120V circuit along with all the IT gear.

 

Imaging - no real height to speak of above the speaker line, but a reasonable area in between the speakers that creates an image that doesn't vary. Separation of the L & R channels is very stereo Beatles like, you know the location of extra sounds where the engineer placed them. Slam - well a little shy. Colouration - minimal, this is a $12.99 DAC.

 

Resolution - The treble is very good, quite sharp and defined, but with no soundstage the decay isn't quite there. Bass is a little thin, perhaps due to the 5V power supply, the output volume could be increased another 10db and all should be good there. Sibilance - NIL, quite surprised at that. Muffled or veiled, well no either. A good match for the TV output, yes, that works, also check the BD player and the tuner. The RCA cables to hand were short 1m or less, finalised the install. 

 

So how does the Prozor compare to a DAC 10 times the price, will advise in a month's time. For serious and enjoyable listening the Accuphase is going back of course, but wish to point out, the cheap end of audio is thriving. 

 

 Made in China. 

 

 

 

 

[mansr]

I've seen those things sold on Amazon under about a dozen different names, some in slightly varied cases. Prices also vary a few dollars around the $10 mark. Any idea who actually makes them?

[jcbenten]

I have a Genesis (?) DAC ($30 or so on Amazon) that takes the optical from my TV (LG OLED) and converts to RCA to my 20+ year old Linn Majik...For TV sounds fine.  Not as good as a direct signal to the Linn but it works well and is way better than TV speakers.

[One and a half]

9 hours ago, mansr said:

I've seen those things sold on Amazon under about a dozen different names, some in slightly varied cases. Prices also vary a few dollars around the $10 mark. Any idea who actually makes them?

For export purposes, I needed an address for the reseller. The supplier wouldn't give it to me, after three different approaches. If the device failed, it was possible to send 'somewhere' in the US and the warranty would be honoured, but this is of no interest at the moment. Prozor is a subsidiary, can be traced to Hong Kong, but that's as far as it goes. I suppose with commercial tracing tools, the real manufacturer could be recognised, but it won't be light Harmonic, cause Prozor deliver! 

 

The internals would be on a single board with a chip and very little else. For the price, the purpose is just right. The DAC wouldn't measure very well, not expecting it to really, the source quality is not that great to begin with. 

[One and a half]

A month on under the bridge to compare a DAC that costs 13.8 times as much as the Prozor.  Enter the Geshelli Labs ENOG2 with a plastic case, priced at USD179.99 (on special), totally made in the USA (FL). One of the very few DACs that support XLR as well as RCA outputs at this price range.

Inputs are SPDIF Coax or Optical, the coax shoots to 192 PCM with no DSD capability or USB inputs.  The supply includes a 12Vdc SMPS which contributes to the sound rather negatively.

 

Tracks to evaluate the ENOG2 were Jennifer Warnes 'If it bee your Will' from the Inpex release of Famous Blue Raincoat, and Lydian Collective 'Loops' both Redbook.

 

Jennifer Warnes has a very clear voice with a LOT of depth and control. The ENOG2 detuned the voice somewhat, almost adding jitter, well a certain roughness or veiled presentation, the guitar wasn't sharp as if tonally injected 3rd harmonic distortion. The instrument seemed 'far away' miked rather than close up.

 

'Loops' has distinctive drumwork, provided by the excellent Sophie Alloway, she goes to town in the middle of the track, using everything, the transients are super quick and praise to the recording to pick this up. Well, the ENOG2 doesn't quite understand Sophie's drums, and mixes the mids and bass like beer batter (all the one colour)  the outcome is mush. The ENOG2 struggles with complex, high transient music. 

 

Could try a battery instead of the 12V SMPS, that muddiness is often a sign of a PSU that contributes negatively to the sound by adding garbage on the output lines. Alternatively a linear PSU with 500mA at 12V won't stretch the budget too far.

 

Is it better than the $12.99 Prozor? Yes, but not for main listening sources, nowhere near an engaging experience.

 

The output volume on the Prozor is now irritating being very low, I'm now on the lookout for a cheap DAC with adjustable line out presets. 

[One and a half]

Update - sure as eggs if the power supply is changed, the muddiness is gone, only to be replaced by a top end that's too prominent. 

The PSU as an experiment was a 216 PP3 and 2 x AA batteries to achieve 12.4V. Worked fine for a while, about 45mins or so, then the terminal voltage dropped to 9V, so it was time to stop.

Bass tightness improved quite a lot to a point where the blur between bass and drums is gone. Mids & vocals, can discriminate well, the top end though is too bright. There's that glare coming from something mixing with the output. Would a stronger PSU work to tame that treble, possibly. 

 

The ENOG2 is now a different animal, I may have found that DAC with the volume control after all. For the four different 'consumer' sources, the ENOG2 is a vast improvement over the Prozor, now to find a 2A + 12V linear power supply and tame that treble.

 

[Ajax]

And?

 

I was enjoying your experiement.

[One and a half]

I bought an

3 hours ago, Ajax said:

And?

 

I was enjoying your experiement.

Another  DAC was purchased with enough coax and optical inputs to cover, plus an upgrade at the same time after a very long evaluation process. The new DAC is in my profile, just about bedded in after 300 hours.

[franz159]

@One and a half 

Since I see you like to experiment, in the "low price very good sound" group of DACs, I would recommend looking at the Khadas Tone Board, discussed in this thread.

[sandyk]

On ‎2‎/‎7‎/‎2019 at 10:01 PM, One and a half said:

The PSU as an experiment was a 216 PP3 and 2 x AA batteries to achieve 12.4V. Worked fine for a while, about 45mins or so, then the terminal voltage dropped to 9V, so it was time to stop.

Gary

 For around Au$42 you can  get one of these 12V 15,000mAH, which should hopefully sound more neutral too.

Regards

Alex

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DC-12V-1800mAh-20000mAh-Super-Li-ion-Rechargeable-Batteries-for-CCTV-Camera-AU/283054614002?hash=item41e75ea5f2:m:mz1grMfixBrtdSWWUrKLvkA 

[sandyk]

Gary

This one is worth revisiting too.

 
https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/24275-ac-filtering-grounding-boxes-linear-psu-and-balanced-power/page/68/  Post 1681

Regards

Alex

[One and a half]

20 hours ago, sandyk said:

Gary

 For around Au$42 you can  get one of these 12V 15,000mAH, which should hopefully sound more neutral too.

Regards

Alex

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DC-12V-1800mAh-20000mAh-Super-Li-ion-Rechargeable-Batteries-for-CCTV-Camera-AU/283054614002?hash=item41e75ea5f2:m:mz1grMfixBrtdSWWUrKLvkA 

Thanks for that link, maybe easier to buy from Jaycar? The problem is the Enog is intolerant of voltages higher than 12.5V. This close tolerance means a regulator from the battery will deliver lower than 12V to the DAC, which is below spec (but suspect will still work ok). 

The charger will need to be disconnected from the DAC when playing.

[sandyk]

1 hour ago, One and a half said:

Thanks for that link, maybe easier to buy from Jaycar? The problem is the Enog is intolerant of voltages higher than 12.5V. This close tolerance means a regulator from the battery will deliver lower than 12V to the DAC, which is below spec (but suspect will still work ok). 

The charger will need to be disconnected from the DAC when playing.

Gary

 If you are concerned about the 12V Li Ion battery voltage being a fraction higher than desired when fully charged, you could use a suitably rated series diode (Perhaps Schottky?) followed by , for example,  a 10,000uF 16V filter capacitor with a parallel 1uF poly. capacitor. You could put it all in a Jiffy box.

 

Regards

Alex

[Bdht]

I put one of those prozor dacs on an uptone ultracap with a pair of hd650s with an optical connection to a pc, sounded pretty damn good actually. xD