USB Dac/amplifier

[Covenant]

I want to use an old pair of JPW speakers connected to my computer as all the computer speakers I have heard are poo. As all it will be used for is some background Spotify and odd bits of music off You Tube it doesnt have to be very high quality but it does need to be cheap!
Anything you recommend?

[Stratmangler]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=t-amp&_sacat=0&_from=R40

Fill yer boots :eyebrows:

[Covenant]

Thanks Chris,
I wanted one with a dac built in but I suppose it would be cheaper to buy one separately.
I used to use a T-amp but it has gone to the great amplifier heaven in the sky.....

[Stratmangler]

Built in DAC http://www.richersounds.com/product/dacs/teac/ud-h01/teac-udh01

[DaveK]

I used to use a T-amp but it has gone to the great amplifier heaven in the sky.....

Well get another one you cheapskate, they're heap enough from HK/China :lol:
That's where my 3 came from.
Dave.

[Mike g]

If you do go down separate amp and dac route I might have a gatorized caimen for sale. Let me know- fancy moving on to a bushmaster.

[Covenant]

Built in DAC http://www.richersounds.com/product/dacs/teac/ud-h01/teac-udh01

Looks like its for headphones only-no amp for speakers

[Covenant]

Well get another one you cheapskate, they're heap enough from HK/China :lol:
That's where my 3 came from.
Dave.

I will probably get one from there Dave. Is it the 2020 chip that's supposed to be good?
Wanted one with a USB dac built in but I suppose it makes little difference if I buy one separately. :D

[FHHISAT]

I'll think you'll find the 2020 chip based amp quite pleasing. Good detail and surprising warmth.

Although there are a fair few different Chinese manufacturers making amps with the Tripath 2020 chip, I'd recommend the Topping TA20 due to superior build quality.

You can pick one up from Amazon for about £45 inc delivery :)

[DaveK]

I've heard good things about the SQ and build quality of the Toppings but never heard one. IMO the SQ of the HK/Chinese is fine and I've had no problems with any of my 3 - mine were bought from Peter at Indeed HiFi Labs on eBay but the last time I looked he had nothing listed. Mine are TA2020 and I really like what they do.

[WAD62]

If you don't mind a two box solution...

Try a FiiO E10 & a Mini-T (or one of the many alternatives)

Or for a bit more try the Arcam rPAC instead of the FiiO, I have both, and would recommend either...;)

[Stratmangler]

http://direct.asda.com/Logitech-LS21-2.1-Stereo-Speaker-System/000537614,default,pd.html?cgid=40663

[Covenant]

http://direct.asda.com/Logitech-LS21-2.1-Stereo-Speaker-System/000537614,default,pd.html?cgid=40663

:doh:Chris! You no risen! I have JPW speakers on Atacama stands. Look at photo please!:lol: Speakers next to computer-need amp and dac!

[Stratmangler]

:doh:Chris! You no risen! I have JPW speakers on Atacama stands. Look at photo please!:lol: Speakers next to computer-need amp and dac!

You don't have to use the JPWs :eyebrows:

This was the Teac thingummy I was thinking of http://www.richersounds.com/product/amplifiers-receivers/teac/a-h01/teac-ah01

[WAD62]

You don't have to use the JPWs :eyebrows:

This was the Teac thingummy I was thinking of http://www.richersounds.com/product/amplifiers-receivers/teac/a-h01/teac-ah01

If he's prepared to spend that much I'd recommend the rPAC...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arcam-rPAC-Converter-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B007NXM3K2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350221091&sr=8-1

...well built, portable, and it's asynchronous :)

[alan47]

There are loads of dac/amps on ebay,i had a Yulong U100 worked very well as a one box solution,only sold it when i went over to active speakers.Look under headphone dac/amps and ignore the headphone bit,thou' it's handy to have sometimes..
OOOps sorry i forgot the U100 was only a pre amp,just looked at some old photos and i was using a Tamp with it.
Try a Topping TP30 i had a TP20 which was good.

[Covenant]

I think it is a shame to leave the JPW's languishing in a cupboard and buy crappy computer speakers.
Anyone got a really cheap T-amp they want to sell?

[wee tee cee]

Jerry,
the berringher uc 202 and a chaepo t amp or if finances allow a mini t....the wee dac also serves as a respectable headphone amp....great bang for buck,sounds lovely with voices!!!!

[Covenant]

Hi Tony,
I use this for headphones, fitted with a Mullard tube. Stunning and I don't think I will ever change it.
http://www.custom-hifi-cables.co.uk/home/hifi-components/ha10-se-headphone-amplifier
I will probably push the button on a T-amp if no one has a second hand one to flog.

[pete_mac]

Check out the hifimediy USB Sabre ESS9023 DAC via ebay for about USD$50 delivered (around 35 pounds or so?)

Silly value for money, and some of the feedback on various forums is quite positive given the price.

I bought one last week and it will be added to the PC audio system in our bedroom shortly, as I gave our original USB DAC to a friend and the quality (or lack thereof!) of the onboard PC sound is driving me batty!

[Covenant]

Check out the hifimediy USB Sabre ESS9023 DAC via ebay for about USD$50 delivered (around 35 pounds or so?)

Silly value for money, and some of the feedback on various forums is quite positive given the price.

I bought one last week and it will be added to the PC audio system in our bedroom shortly, as I gave our original USB DAC to a friend and the quality (or lack thereof!) of the onboard PC sound is driving me batty!

Wow! Is it this one?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hifimediy-Sabre-USB-DAC-ES9023-Tenor-TE7022-96khz-24bit-96-24-/140847495065?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20cb2a3799

[WAD62]

Check out the hifimediy USB Sabre ESS9023 DAC via ebay for about USD$50 delivered (around 35 pounds or so?)

Silly value for money, and some of the feedback on various forums is quite positive given the price.

I bought one last week and it will be added to the PC audio system in our bedroom shortly, as I gave our original USB DAC to a friend and the quality (or lack thereof!) of the onboard PC sound is driving me batty!

It only appears to have a headphone out, so no line out (is that correct?), and no volume control so you'd need to use the computer volume control...then we're into the realms of re-sampling etc. :eyebrows:

Or is it a line out via a headphone jack?

[Covenant]

It only appears to have a headphone out, so no line out (is that correct?), and no volume control so you'd need to use the computer volume control...then we're into the realms of re-sampling etc. :eyebrows:

Or is it a line out via a headphone jack?

It recommends connecting to an amp/preamp so, in my case, I would need a 3.5mm to dual RCA cable so that I could plug into an amp.:)

[WAD62]

It recommends connecting to an amp/preamp so, in my case, I would need a 3.5mm to dual RCA cable so that I could plug into an amp.:)

So it's a line out via a mini jack then...same as the FiiO E10

That changes things a bit, looks interesting if that is the case :)

[Covenant]

So it's a line out via a mini jack then...same as the FiiO E10

That changes things a bit, looks interesting if that is the case :)

I bet Leo will come along now and tell us how crap it is! :(

[pete_mac]

So it's a line out via a mini jack then...same as the FiiO E10

That changes things a bit, looks interesting if that is the case :)

That is indeed the case :)

[pete_mac]

Wow! Is it this one?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hifimediy-Sabre-USB-DAC-ES9023-Tenor-TE7022-96khz-24bit-96-24-/140847495065?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20cb2a3799

Yessir!

[Covenant]

I have one ordered so I shall post a few comments after it arrives. Are you pleased with it Pete?
You can get an adapter for RCA plugs, they are on ebay.:)

[pete_mac]

I have one ordered so I shall post a few comments after it arrives. Are you pleased with it Pete?
You can get an adapter for RCA plugs, they are on ebay.:)

Mine is still in transit, so I can't provide any feeback yet.

I'll definitely let you know what I think once it arrives. I will also try it in my main rig, as my SB Touch has the EDO mods applied which enables the USB input to be used as a USB output to a DAC. It will be VERY interesting to hear how this USD$50 Sabre DAC compares to the onboard SB Touch DAC, and also how it compares against my audio-gd PCM1704UK DAC.

[glenann]

Mine is still in transit, so I can't provide any feeback yet.

I'll definitely let you know what I think once it arrives. I will also try it in my main rig, as my SB Touch has the EDO mods applied which enables the USB input to be used as a USB output to a DAC. It will be VERY interesting to hear how this USD$50 Sabre DAC compares to the onboard SB Touch DAC, and also how it compares against my audio-gd PCM1704UK DAC.

I have just bought a Touch and would really like to hear your thoughts on this DAC too. I would like to improve the Touch, but sadly money is at a premium...

[Covenant]

I will be comparing it to my Beresford Caimen with about £200 of mods and a linear power supply. Should be interesting.....

[pete_mac]

Excellent. I'll be comparing against my audio-gd Reference 5 which is fed by an Empirical Audio Synchro Mesh with a superteddyreg'd linear PSU. If the little Hifimediy DAC can get close, I will be mightily impressed.

I think it will be very interesting to see if this little box can improve over the onboard SB Touch DAC too.

[Covenant]

Got mine today. It's a tiny box, smaller than a matchbox. I have only tried it connected to my computer and using my planar magnetic headphones. SQ is fine but the volume level is low, my headphones need a bit of power so I will be sticking with a valve hp amp.
Need the adapter next so I can try it in my main rig.

[pete_mac]

Mine arrived last week! It really is quite tiny. So far I'm using it in my PC rig (restored Sansui AU-317 amp and Usher S520 speakers) and it sounds very nice indeed. For $50 it's a steal!

Once it has some mileage under its belt I'll drag it outside to my main rig and will configure my SB Touch to enable the USB output functionality via the EDO applet.

[NRG]

Will be interesting to read what you guys think of it, the only concern is the up-sampling it seems to do on lower res feeds...not sure if that can be defeated in any way.