Looking to buy a hifi DAC

[fiveleaf]

Hey guys,

I'm a little bit unsure over the type and model of DAC to use.
I'm also not (by any means) an expert on their inner workings, besides knowing that I want to look for something that can process & upsample to 24bit...

Anyways, I thought I'd ask on here, because most of the hifi audio sites are only able to give me their prefrences, and nothing based on the actual chips used.
I would like to spend around $300, but may be willing to spend more (or less).

My current system is a pair of Linn Kan bookshelf speakers, Dynaco ST-70 (unmodified), Quad 34 Preamp (soon to be Audio Research SP-6 or SP-6B), and a recently sold CD player.
Computer uses an ASUS Rampage III Extreme mobo (USB2.0/3.0, Firewire, SPIDIF, and a bunch of expansion slots). Intel I7-950 stable @ 4.0Ghz, 6Gb tri-channel RAM. I'm giving you the specs to be clear it won't have an issue processing the latest & greatest. The same cannot be said about it's soundcard (what the ****, ASUS, this is your flagship).

I'm open to any soundcard; the guys over at Canada Computer were convincing me that an additional sound card was all I needed.
I've also been looking at external DACs, such as the:

$215 Grant Fidelity Tube DAC-09 Digital-to-analog Converter - US $215.00 | Grant Fidelity Home Audio
--> email sent to grantfidelity@gmail.com, who told me "processor used in the tube DAC is a higher grade than chips used for computer sound card." Not sure if he was trying to say they were better in general; I asked him how the chip compared to the: ASUS XONAA DX or the ASUS HDAV 1.3.
Canada computers guy said the Audio Research DAC-8 uses the same chip* as one of theses Sound cards, and I have a hard time believing they would use anything but the best (think: over $4k for a DAC)
*The DAC-8 from ARC uses 4 of them.

I was also looking at the ASUS Xonar D2, but this is where comparing the physical chips came from. ASUS Xonar D2 Sound Card: Introduction - Techgage

Anyways, I only need a single (gold-plated or similar) RCA output.
I would prefer one with multiple inputs (if external), so my girlfriend wouldn't have to plug/unplug anything when using her laptop. She also wouldn't be stuck using the 3.5mm or her laptop's soundcard, but all hifi will be from my PC (and all she hears is something better than her laptop's onboard speakers anyways).

I'm also open to buying something off one of you guys!

Thanks in advance, this fourm looks excellent.

[RockLeeEV]

Audinst HUD-mx1 Hi-Fi USB Audio DAC

Anyways don't fret too much about the inner workings of DACs. They all sound the same under controlled testing conditions. In the modern day, there really isn't much of a such thing as a lo-fi DAC. They're all Hi-Fi.

[VictoriaGuy]

Originally Posted by fiveleaf

I would prefer one with multiple inputs (if external), so my girlfriend wouldn't have to plug/unplug anything when using her laptop. She also wouldn't be stuck using the 3.5mm or her laptop's soundcard, but all hifi will be from my PC (and all she hears is something better than her laptop's onboard speakers anyways).

Your girlfriend will be using the USB input on an external DAC, I think, if she wants to listen to music stored in her laptop. So you will need to use either the optical or digital coax input? Or plug/unplug the USB cable when you are sharing?
Or use some sort of USB switch?

I agree that you shouldn't have to spend a lot on an external DAC to get something with good performance. The Grant Fidelity DAC or the similar Maverick D1 or the cheaper ZeroDAc would all probably do the job, IMO.
Save the extra cash for better speakers or headphones.