Budget DAC with optical input

[murali_n]

Hi all,

Pl go thro this:

Amazon.com: hrt streamer: Electronics

I have heard the HRT Streamer with USB Input and it was better than my M-Audio sound card.

N.Murali

 

[rsponline]

Good reviews on forum about Maverick Audio D2. Some FM has got it delivered to India in 295 USD

Maverick Audio - TubeMagic D2 DAC

 

[themit17]

How's Behringer UCA202?

 

[srisaikat]

Suggestion 1. Modi 2 Uber - Schiit Audio, Headphone amps and DACs made in USA.

Suggestion 2. HiFimeDIY Sabre SPDIF DAC with headphone amplifier and 230V power supply

Suggestion 3. New PCM1794 AK4118 DAC 192K Software Control Can Work Xmos U8 USB Modul Good | eBay

 

[ShutterX]

I am a new member to the dac club. After a lot of reading and research, i went the cheap Chinese way and bought the s.m.s.l. Sanskrit 6. Cost only 105$. I find it good. And it has all the numbers. But i don't know how it would stack up against bigger costlier DAC. Another product i had considered is the meridian explorer. Check em out.

 

[music4mhell]

I am going to buy a DAC in next few days.

I wanted 2 optical inputs.

So i am going for Cambridge Audio Dac Magic plus.

It's around 30K in India.

 

[raghupb]

Schiit Modi-2 has OPT/COAX/USB
$99 in the US (B-stock is $89) plus $10 shipping. Within your budget.

If you know anyone visiting India in the near future, have them carry it for you.
I should be getting Modi-2-Uber in the next couple of days (friend carried it for me). Will let you know how it sounds.

Cheers,
Raghu

 

[ajeshkumarts]

Schiit Modi-2 has OPT/COAX/USB
$99 in the US (B-stock is $89) plus $10 shipping. Within your budget.

If you know anyone visiting India in the near future, have them carry it for you.
I should be getting Modi-2-Uber in the next couple of days (friend carried it for me). Will let you know how it sounds.

Cheers,
Raghu

Modi -2 Uber has USB 2.0, Toslink SPDIF, Coaxial SPDIF ( $ 149)

Modi -2 version is limited to USB 2.0 input ( $99)

Schiit Audio, Headphone amps and DACs made in USA.

 

[raghupb]

Sorry my bad.
Modi-2-Uber has all the flavors of inputs ($149)
Modi-2 has only USB ($99)
-Raghu

 

[sandipy]

I have Schiit Modi and it does sound pretty good in this price range.

 

[Mental]

Been there, done that. So hope this helps!

I started with a Fiio e5 headphone amp in 2005 and instantly liked the sound output from the Headphones. Then I "updraded" from my 3K Bose to a SoundMagic P10 and found them better than bose. My desktop experience were previously Creative SBS > altec lansing mx5021 (loved) > Swans

For my desktop Audio - after reading and reading the forums: I debated between Audioengine A5+ and Swans: Swans M50W (2.1 Active Speaker set)

My Desktop DAC on a very strict budget was "Maverick Audio TubeMagic D1 Plus DAC w/ OPA627 OpAmp & GE5670W Tube" - It Shipped direct from the seller via DHL and I got it at hand in Delhi within 15 Days. Cost me 17k. All I can say it that it was money well spent as the sound from my Swans became 10 times better - YES the difference was so much perceptible. I have tried it with optical out from my Desktop (Asus P8Z77-V PRO Motherboard, Jriver Media Player, FLAC) and also with USB. Both connections sound good. For sound out, I find the Pre-outs through the Tube amp more natural, warm and mellow, while the outs from the digital outs sound good but a bit too clinical. The D2 may be even better - but I was on a budget and wanted more connectivity for my Desktop music system.

I have heard, Polk and Mordaunt shorts Tannoys and Dali - but if you ask me - Swans with TubeMagic gives them a run for money in musicality, tonality, and in prevention of ear fatigue. What it can never do, is create the big sound stage that these big speakers create, but for a directional desktop system its superb and matches them in dynamic range and agility.

Some links:
Maverick Audio: Maverick Audio TubeMagic DAC D1 Plus w/ OPA 627 OpAMps & GE NOS 5670 Tube pre-installed

Swan Speakers: Online Portable Music System - Music Headphones in India - HiFiNage

Fiio: The Audio Megastore