Which USB DAC kit?

audiogeekess · 6th October 2011, 12:40 PM

I need a USB Audio DAC that I can plug into my computer. The onboard sound is horrible and I just know moving the DAC to the outside of the computer will give me much better sound.

A couple years back I trialed a $500 or so BOSE USB Audio computer speaker set and it sounded pretty nice--I didn't end up keeping it. I think a lot of the reason why it sounded good was that it had its own DAC.

Now I have a Behringer A500, Infinity RS2001 bookshelf/monitor speakers. All I need now is some way to get a good clean signal to the amp from my computer.

I want something that sounds really good but doesn't cost over $75. Either a kit or a preassembled unit.

Any suggestions would be greatly welcomed, thanks!

tonyo123 · 7th October 2011, 02:24 AM

Musiland Monitor 01 on ebay at $80

abraxalito · 7th October 2011, 03:50 AM

I'd handle it in two stages - for the DAC, the FiiO D3 looks unbeatable at $30.

Inside FiiO D3 H i F i D U I N O

Its only SPDIF so you need a USB-SPDIF converter for which this one does nicely:

HA info U2 USB to SPDIF(AC3 DTS) USB to SPDIF Converter | eBay

The $20 'sticker price' is faked because they're charging a criminal $20 for shipping. But overall at $40 delivered its a snip and these together fly under your budget by $5.

josha · 7th October 2011, 05:09 AM

Hi - maybe also have a look at the DACDIR9001+PCM2706+WM8740 kit - these are £22.80 +£15.00 shipping in the UK and all you need is a transformer. If you email the seller they will also quote you for soldering the SMD devices as well (essential in my opinion). There's a big thread on here about it in 'digital source' as well and you get the option of SPDIF or USB.

Cheers, Josh

Vladco · 7th October 2011, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by josha

Hi - maybe also have a look at the DACDIR9001+PCM2706+WM8740 kit - these are £22.80 +£15.00 shipping in the UK and all you need is a transformer. If you email the seller they will also quote you for soldering the SMD devices as well (essential in my opinion). There's a big thread on here about it in 'digital source' as well and you get the option of SPDIF or USB.

Cheers, Josh

Not exectly. In USA this board assly from $44 wihout case, usb cord and power supply. It's 9vas wall wart. You may have it laying around. Acually this board sound decent - much better than computer output. It made mine computer speakers listenable. Big thread is about it bigger brother $60+ wm8740 X2.
These boards need smd soldering (one dealer offer $10 sevice I gess) and transformer.
Vlad

audiogeekess · 7th October 2011, 03:29 PM

Thanks for the help

I went ahead and ordered the fiio d3 from amazon for $28. It'll be here tomorrow (1 day shipping for $3.99!).

Is there another high quality usb to spdif converter that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. That one from China will take weeks to get here

Would like something I can order from Amazon, as I can get it by tomorrow

josha · 7th October 2011, 05:15 PM

$44? that's a big hike - and you're right about the case etc. (I'm so used to having things floating about on pieces of wood I forget about the cases!) - I didn't know about the wall wart though.

That d3 looks excellent btw but I can't find many usb to s/pdif converters, most of them seem to output on optical only. The one that abraxalito mentioned looks like your best bet!

Cheers

audiogeekess · 7th October 2011, 06:35 PM

I'm tempted to just fork out $114 for the V-LINK "USB to SPDIF" converter. it is 24/96. I don't know how good the V-LINK is or if there is another one better that is perhaps even less money. Is the $20 (+$20 shipping) one as good or better?

6th October 2011, 12:40 PM	#1
audiogeekess diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2011	Which USB DAC kit? I need a USB Audio DAC that I can plug into my computer. The onboard sound is horrible and I just know moving the DAC to the outside of the computer will give me much better sound. A couple years back I trialed a $500 or so BOSE USB Audio computer speaker set and it sounded pretty nice--I didn't end up keeping it. I think a lot of the reason why it sounded good was that it had its own DAC. Now I have a Behringer A500, Infinity RS2001 bookshelf/monitor speakers. All I need now is some way to get a good clean signal to the amp from my computer. I want something that sounds really good but doesn't cost over $75. Either a kit or a preassembled unit. Any suggestions would be greatly welcomed, thanks!

7th October 2011, 03:50 AM	#3
abraxalito diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Hangzhou - Marco Polo's 'most beautiful city'. 700yrs is a long time though... Blog Entries: 46	I'd handle it in two stages - for the DAC, the FiiO D3 looks unbeatable at $30. Inside FiiO D3 H i F i D U I N O Its only SPDIF so you need a USB-SPDIF converter for which this one does nicely: HA info U2 USB to SPDIF(AC3 DTS) USB to SPDIF Converter \| eBay The $20 'sticker price' is faked because they're charging a criminal $20 for shipping. But overall at $40 delivered its a snip and these together fly under your budget by $5. __________________ I think ideas are what you want to get rid of. I don't really like songs with ideas. - Leonard Cohen

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7th October 2011, 02:24 AM	#2
tonyo123 diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2011	Musiland Monitor 01 on ebay at $80

7th October 2011, 05:09 AM	#4
josha diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Holmfirth, West Yorkshire	Hi - maybe also have a look at the DACDIR9001+PCM2706+WM8740 kit - these are £22.80 +£15.00 shipping in the UK and all you need is a transformer. If you email the seller they will also quote you for soldering the SMD devices as well (essential in my opinion). There's a big thread on here about it in 'digital source' as well and you get the option of SPDIF or USB. Cheers, Josh

7th October 2011, 03:29 PM	#6
audiogeekess diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2011	Thanks for the help I went ahead and ordered the fiio d3 from amazon for $28. It'll be here tomorrow (1 day shipping for $3.99!). Is there another high quality usb to spdif converter that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. That one from China will take weeks to get here Would like something I can order from Amazon, as I can get it by tomorrow

7th October 2011, 05:15 PM	#7
josha diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Holmfirth, West Yorkshire	$44? that's a big hike - and you're right about the case etc. (I'm so used to having things floating about on pieces of wood I forget about the cases!) - I didn't know about the wall wart though. That d3 looks excellent btw but I can't find many usb to s/pdif converters, most of them seem to output on optical only. The one that abraxalito mentioned looks like your best bet! Cheers

7th October 2011, 06:35 PM	#8
audiogeekess diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2011	I'm tempted to just fork out $114 for the V-LINK "USB to SPDIF" converter. it is 24/96. I don't know how good the V-LINK is or if there is another one better that is perhaps even less money. Is the $20 (+$20 shipping) one as good or better?

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