Cheap DAC

[rdpx]

I was talking to an old friend today who was saying he hated listening to his digital music (though he has a lot, and all high quality apparently) as it just sounded bad.
I asked him if he was using a DAC, and he said the one in his computer was fine...
now I know he should be using a proper DAC, but also know be is pretty skint really, and as I don't really do or understand digital file music, I thought maybe one if you lot might be able to recommend (or even have that you want to move on?) a really cheap DAC that I could tell him to get.
He's using an old Cambridge Audio A5 amp and Eltax Shine 6 speakers, if that gives you a clue as to where he's at financially.
He's lived for music forever though, and it would be nice to help him enjoy what he has a bit....

Thanks in advance

Robert

[mikmas]

I use a little Lindy DAC for TV headphone listening - remarkably good for just under £40
http://www.lindy.co.uk/audio-video-c2/converters-scalers-c105/audio-spdif-analogue-dacs-c106/spdif-digital-to-analogue-stereo-audio-converter-p2729

... other than that a Fiio D3 isn't half bad for about a tenner less:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/FiiO-192KHz-Digital-Analog-Converter/dp/B005PWPUW6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1441497641&sr=8-2&keywords=Fiio+Dac

[rdpx]

Thanks Mike - what would he need in the way of cables to connect his PC to those?


>>>

update - he tells me:

"I use iTunes at top quality AAC 320 vbr."

No idea what this means really, or whether its a good or bad thing...?

[Barry]

I have a FiiO D3 your friend can have, gratis. Send me a PM if interested.

Regards
Barry

[rdpx]

I have a FiiO D3 your friend can have, gratis. Send me a PM if interested.

Regards
Barry
That's a great offer. Thanks Barry, PM sent.

[emoji2]

R

[Eisener Bart]

I may recommend from "cheap" DACs only 2 items which I heard personally:

1) RME Babyface (RME released a new version (http://babyface.rme-audio.de/) a few moths ago) - it's actually not DAC, device has more functions but I use it at sea as DAC from 2011 with great sucсess (especially after my treatment :D ).

2) iFi
http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/micro-idac/

with iUSB-Power.

[mikmas]

Thanks Mike - what would he need in the way of cables to connect his PC to those?

That would depend on whether the PC has a digital output and what form it takes; I'm a Mac user and know nothing when it comes to PCs



"I use iTunes at top quality AAC 320 vbr."

No idea what this means really, or whether its a good or bad thing...?

AAC is good enough but AIFF is better IMV....(uses more disc space though)

[rdpx]

That would depend on whether the PC has a digital output and what form it takes; I'm a Mac user and know nothing when it comes to PCs


Me neither!

I thought the USB port was the way to connect these things. I'm sticking with vinyl!

[rdpx]

Can no-one shed any light on what kind of cable might be best required to connect the D3 to what I imagine is a pretty standard, not brand new, laptop?

[thommy]

"The FiiO D3 is a straightforward SPDIF DAC that takes in coax and optical inputs and churns out RCA analog ...."

He will need a digital output on his computer. Mac laptops can send TOSLink digital data via the headphone socket.

[mikmas]

This is the Toslink cable I use for my Mac and it gives a great result for very little money:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fisual-Pearl-Mini-Toslink-to-Toslink-Optical-Cable-1m-/380342273657?hash=item588e2a8679

There are better and more expensive ones but some will need a Mini-toslink adapter as well to plug into the headphone port. Whether this would work for your mate's laptop is another story ..... he would need to check out the specs. If not then USB may be the only way to go but I am out of my depth with PC/Windows combinations :(

[Ulysses]

Raspberry Pi fitted with an IQaudIO dac is great value for money. just need a bit of cable and an external hard-drive.

[rdpx]

Am I right to be worried that depending on his laptop it's possible that he might not actually be able to use this FiiO D3 that Barry is sending?

I

[struth]

Unless it has a dig coax or toslink out then he will need a usb to dig convertor first.they can be got cheaply as well.

[Barry]

Unless it has a dig coax or toslink out then he will need a usb to dig convertor first. They can be got cheaply as well.

Can you provide a link please Grant, as I'm having trouble helping Robert out with this one?

[StanleyB]

Can you provide a link please Grant, as I'm having trouble helping Robert out with this one?
There is a good one on my website that costs very little.

[Barry]

There is a good one on my website that costs very little.

Thanks Stan. :)

[struth]

There is a good one on my website that costs very little.

Very true i have one of stans ones and its very good..async1.

Ive got one of these tooBarry. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hifimediy-Sabre-USB-DAC-ES9023-TE7022-96khz-24bit-96-24-usb-to-optical-/141678890005?hash=item20fcb84c15

This one either supplies tos on a 3.5mm mini tos. Or 3.5mm out full analogue bypassing the need for another dac. I am using mine with mini tos 3.5mm to full size tos cable into my main monar hy dac. Works well and plug n play.
The async1 needs a driver installed and if memory serves outputs coaxial

[Barry]

Very true i have one of stans ones and its very good..async1.

Ive got one of these too Barry. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hifimediy-Sabre-USB-DAC-ES9023-TE7022-96khz-24bit-96-24-usb-to-optical-/141678890005?hash=item20fcb84c15

That looks to be exactly what Robert's friend is looking for. :)

[rdpx]

That looks to be exactly what Robert's friend is looking for. :)

I think it ain't gonna happen - I am actually struggling to now convince him to even try out a free DAC that Barry has posted to him, and he has sent me a very equivocal article about whether DACs are worth it or not as seeming proof that there is no point to them.

When I hear people complaining about something that I can maybe offer a solution to I often make the mistake of thinking that they want to hear what a solution might be. More often than not they are not interested in anyone else's opinion/solution...

The idea of attempting to persuade him that spending a few quid on a converter to try out something that he doesn't want to believe in fills me with gloom, so I'm backing off.

Hopefully when the DAC arrives he will get curious and figure it out for himself. If not he can stick it. Sorry to have wasted all of your time, and Barry thank you so much for your kind gesture, AoS lives on such generosity. If C doesn't drop you a fiver in the next day or two, I shall do it myself.

:brickwall:

[brian2957]

Sometimes it'e very difficult to ' open ' a closed mind Robert :rolleyes: . Kudos for trying though :)

[DSJR]

If 'Digital' is so bad for your friend, I'm going to point my finger hard at the speakers. I've not heard many Eltax speakers, but the few I've heard sound rather 'raw' on any source and the superior (to analogue) high frequencies can severely upset un-refined crossovers and tweeters, causing the 'harsh' comments. It's not ALL in the digital side in my experience. Still, if he's rejecting a very kind offer of a FREE Fiio, then there's little hope there I'm afraid.

[Us-&-Them]

I think it ain't gonna happen - When I hear people complaining about something that I can maybe offer a solution to I often make the mistake of thinking that they want to hear what a solution might be............. so I'm backing off.

Hopefully when the DAC arrives he will get curious and figure it out for himself. If not he can stick it.
:brickwall:

I think your last 6 words are spot on !!!!!!!!!! I think I'd stick by them aswell - talk about ungrateful !!!!

[rdpx]

That looks to be exactly what Robert's friend is looking for. :)
I think you might be right on that, Barry.

I don't think he is going to even be able to connect that FiiO to his laptop.

[wee tee cee]

he could do a lot worse than spend £25 on a Behringer uca202- have a look on Amazon. Just plugs into the usb port on the lap top and outputs phono. A usb extension cable is a few quid if needed.

Also acts as a usb-optical converter and has a built in headphone amp.

Might let him decide if its digital thats problem if he has a pair of headphones.

Its a reasonable upgrade over a lap top dac/headphone output....

[Macca]

Just take it round and insist on trying it, for your own curiosity. If it is no better he will be happy that he was right, if it is better he will happy that he has got better sound for no money. Don't see how he can lose, really.

[rdpx]

Just take it round and insist on trying it, for your own curiosity. If it is no better he will be happy that he was right, if it is better he will happy that he has got better sound for no money. Don't see how he can lose, really.
I live in London and he's up in Manchester! But as I said I don't think the FiiO is connectable. I had a little look about it online and it talks about how it's fur for BDPs, TV, etc. Needs digital coax or optical out which I am pretty sure means it's not going to work.. I might get him to post it down to me and I can try hooking my TV up to the system!

I think the thing suggested in the post just above yours is what is needed. DAC with USB to RCA...

The FiiO seems to have got lost in the post anyway. Sent first class on Monday and it's still not arrived.

R

[struth]

Funny but Ive a mate like that. I offered to set him up for free with files from his laptop but he refused and said utube would do fine. so some folk are just different.:)

[Macca]

I live in London and he's up in Manchester!

Manchester? No hope for him then ;)