Gigawork DAC vs Asus xonar essence stx

robump · 21st January 2011, 08:51 AM

Hi

I am looking to upgrade the sound output for my pc, currently i am just using the standard motherboard sound output but would like a dac/soundcard to improve the quality of the FLAC music i play. I have identical itunes libarys on my mac and windows 7 machine so was thinking that i could use the DAC on both via usb.

Please could you give your opinions on either a gigawork DAC or the ASUS xonar essence STX sound card. I have read a lot on here about the gigaworks dac and it seems to get a good rep. The one i was looking at is THIS ONE on ebay.

Thanks for your help.

sendler · 21st January 2011, 10:57 AM

If you can diy the direct out mod, the sound of the Gigaworks Big Dac Board can be world class although I haven't tried the usb yet. They can be unreliable though so again, some diy may be needed to get the source selector working. Ask here.
.
Experience with this DIY DAC ?
.

Quote:

Originally Posted by robump

Hi

I am looking to upgrade the sound output for my pc, currently i am just using the standard motherboard sound output but would like a dac/soundcard to improve the quality of the FLAC music i play. I have identical itunes libarys on my mac and windows 7 machine so was thinking that i could use the DAC on both via usb.

Please could you give your opinions on either a gigawork DAC or the ASUS xonar essence STX sound card. I have read a lot on here about the gigaworks dac and it seems to get a good rep. The one i was looking at is THIS ONE on ebay.

Thanks for your help.

kec · 21st January 2011, 12:50 PM

I bought the Gigawork "BIG" DAC with the intention of using the USB, but found out it couldn't pass higher than 48k. So, I also got the Musiland 01 USD (coax out) for USB interface - which goes to 192k (if that matters to you).

I gotta say, the Gigawork + Musiland sounds real good to me (even in its stock form). Now, this is my first DAC and I have nothing else to compare it to. The upsampling on the Gigawork is an added bonus.

robump · 24th January 2011, 01:30 PM

So would the gigawork i linked to earlier work straight out the box?

Im really tempted.

kec · 24th January 2011, 02:57 PM

Yes. Wire up the primaries and secondaries on the transformer and you're good to go. Set the input jumpers (coax, toslink, USB) per the instructions on the 3" CD - or, on this forum.

I have mine setup on a piece plywood right now

A case to follow shortly.

You might want to confirm this, but I think there was a problem with the 192k upsampling on the DIR-9001. Can someone confirm?

robump · 24th January 2011, 06:06 PM

Just noticed this on the gigaworks ebay site, have they just added some lt-1361's do you think this will make a noticeable difference?

VictoriaGuy · 24th January 2011, 10:37 PM

I like my gigwork DAC but it is a bit tricky (ie PITA) to make a back panel to fit the jacks properly - something to keep in mind.
And, if you continue to use the 'bare' board without a case you have to be VERY careful plugging/unplugging as the jacks are not designed to be strong enough without fastening to a support.
There are a lot of units in the same price range (a bit more or less) which are worth considering:
ZeroDAC
Grant Audio
Maverick TubeMagic
All of these are ready-to-go in a case and have phone jacks as well.

All the USB units have some bitrate limitations AFAIK- whether you'll be able to hear the difference is hard to tell.

Those Xonar soundcards have very good specs as well.

John

robump · 25th January 2011, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robump

Just noticed this on the gigaworks ebay site, have they just added some lt-1361's do you think this will make a noticeable difference?

Has anyone had any experience with the one that is linked above, it appears to be a new version.

kec · 25th January 2011, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robump

Has anyone had any experience with the one that is linked above, it appears to be a new version.

It must have just been released. It wasn't there when I ordered mine a couple of months ago.

Why not be one of the first and order one

Can't give any recommendations on op amps, since I'm new to them as well.

robump · 25th January 2011, 07:03 PM

If i could afford one i would order one right away!!

Need to save some pennies first!! Also im not sure how well i would be able to review one once i had got it!

Sounds pretty interesting though.

I know this is a bit of a stupid question, but can you noticeably hear the difference when using a DAC?

21st January 2011, 08:51 AM	#1
robump diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2011	Gigawork DAC vs Asus xonar essence stx Hi I am looking to upgrade the sound output for my pc, currently i am just using the standard motherboard sound output but would like a dac/soundcard to improve the quality of the FLAC music i play. I have identical itunes libarys on my mac and windows 7 machine so was thinking that i could use the DAC on both via usb. Please could you give your opinions on either a gigawork DAC or the ASUS xonar essence STX sound card. I have read a lot on here about the gigaworks dac and it seems to get a good rep. The one i was looking at is THIS ONE on ebay. Thanks for your help.

21st January 2011, 12:50 PM	#3
kec diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: California	I bought the Gigawork "BIG" DAC with the intention of using the USB, but found out it couldn't pass higher than 48k. So, I also got the Musiland 01 USD (coax out) for USB interface - which goes to 192k (if that matters to you). I gotta say, the Gigawork + Musiland sounds real good to me (even in its stock form). Now, this is my first DAC and I have nothing else to compare it to. The upsampling on the Gigawork is an added bonus. __________________ Intel D410 mITX > Foobar > Musiland 01 USD > Gigawork DAC > Sure TK2050 > Manzanita

24th January 2011, 02:57 PM	#5
kec diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: California	Yes. Wire up the primaries and secondaries on the transformer and you're good to go. Set the input jumpers (coax, toslink, USB) per the instructions on the 3" CD - or, on this forum. I have mine setup on a piece plywood right now A case to follow shortly. You might want to confirm this, but I think there was a problem with the 192k upsampling on the DIR-9001. Can someone confirm? __________________ Intel D410 mITX > Foobar > Musiland 01 USD > Gigawork DAC > Sure TK2050 > Manzanita

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24th January 2011, 01:30 PM	#4
robump diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2011	So would the gigawork i linked to earlier work straight out the box? Im really tempted.

24th January 2011, 06:06 PM	#6
robump diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2011	Just noticed this on the gigaworks ebay site, have they just added some lt-1361's do you think this will make a noticeable difference?

24th January 2011, 10:37 PM	#7
VictoriaGuy diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Victoria, BC	I like my gigwork DAC but it is a bit tricky (ie PITA) to make a back panel to fit the jacks properly - something to keep in mind. And, if you continue to use the 'bare' board without a case you have to be VERY careful plugging/unplugging as the jacks are not designed to be strong enough without fastening to a support. There are a lot of units in the same price range (a bit more or less) which are worth considering: ZeroDAC Grant Audio Maverick TubeMagic All of these are ready-to-go in a case and have phone jacks as well. All the USB units have some bitrate limitations AFAIK- whether you'll be able to hear the difference is hard to tell. Those Xonar soundcards have very good specs as well. John

25th January 2011, 07:03 PM	#10
robump diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2011	If i could afford one i would order one right away!! Need to save some pennies first!! Also im not sure how well i would be able to review one once i had got it! Sounds pretty interesting though. I know this is a bit of a stupid question, but can you noticeably hear the difference when using a DAC?

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