budget DAC

[admin_exported]

hy guys! first time on the forum, but i have been following for a few months as I have assembled my fairly budget first set up. I have the Cambridge Audio SR10 Reciever/Amp plugged into a pair of Cambridge Audio S70 floorstanders. I am running a 3.5mm to RCA cable from my laptop lineout and listening to FLAC files. Im looking for a DAC as sometimes when playing FLAC files they can be a little fuzzy and the volume can waiver somewhat with parts increasing and decreasing with volume. My understanding is that a DAC could help this.

The question is what DAC should i get? I know that lots on DAC's has already been written but I am worried that perhaps most of it is aimed at those with significantly better systems than my own. I would be willing to go up to the £200 that Cambridge Audio DACMagic costs but am not sure as to whether this would be overkill with a budget system. Would i be getting fairly similar results with a DAC at a much lower price, and if so which ones are reccomended?

Also are the WHAT HI-FI reviews standarised, that is are stars awarded based on attributes and quality alone or does performance within set budget benchmarks affect stars awarded, ie. are two DACs both with 5 stars each as good as each other even though one may cost £140 and the other £300?

Cheers, Olly!

 

[Anonymous]

Forgot to add, I dont believe I have optical out so the DAC would have to have usb input!

 

[Clare Newsome]

Welcome to the Forums!

Our star ratings are all on a performance-per-pound basis - so for a product to get five stars, it has to excel within its price class, when comparatively tested against its rivals (in same price class, and above/below that).

So a five-star £300 DAC will be better than a five-star £150 DAC, for example.

We've got a test of budget DACs in our new, May issue - that mag's with subscribers now and in shops by Monday. Should be plenty of options there for you, including many USB models...

 

[Anonymous]

cheers, ill get a copy today!

 

[Overdose]

Before you go and spend a bucket load on a DAC, be aware that the weak link in your system is not neccessarily a lack of DAC.

I am currently streaming FLAC files through an old P4 PC and the via 3.5 to RCA cable from a budget Soundblaster Live card!

The sound is more than respectable and matches a supposedly acceptable OPPO DV-981HD disc player for quality.

My investigation for definitive improvements continue..........

 

[Anonymous]

The quality is acceptable but just that sometimes on the FLAC files they will come across with the volume decreasing and increasing in bursts at random. If not a DAC issue what could this be due to? im pretty set to pop out and buy the HRT Music Streamer II but if the weak leak could be somewhere else where would you suggest it be, im pretty new to hi-fis!

Cheers Olly!

 

[Overdose]

I'm not sure what would be causing fluctuating volume, but most probably is down to the computer or software. Without hearing the phenomenon myself it's difficult to say. It might be something as simple as a poor connection on the cable from laptop to amp.

Do you have any other audio/visual hardware for comparison? Is the problem apparent when you play the files through your laptop speakers?

 

[Anonymous]

I presumed it would be due to software, im using a fairly high spec 3.5mm to RCA line from line out on laptop the connection on both ends seems to be solid. It only happening when listening to FLAC files, all from different sources some downloaded some ripped etc, made me think that the onboard audiocard was maybe having problems running the higher bitrate....? Everything i have read points towards a USB DAC fixing the issue and I think im gonna have to bite the bullet and buy the HRT based on the reviews in mays edition i picked up today, based on my system specs do you feel that a DAC will bring about a significant improvement? im worried that i may be paying what for me is quite a bit of money for negligible sound improvement.

olly

 

[Overdose]

I would be the last person to advise throwing any amount of money at a problem without first finding out what the problem actually is.

The last thing you want to do, is buy something that does not fix the issue. I would first try a different software for playback. What are you using now?

In addition, if the soundcard is having trouble for some reason, you may find that the problem does not go away with a DAC. There are many external soundcard solutions that might do the job for less than the outlay of a DAC.

See if you can get a friend or family member around with their laptop, it might be a problem with the computer itself.

Keep digging, we'll get there.

 

[the record spot]

I presumed it would be due to software, im using a fairly high spec 3.5mm to RCA line from line out on laptop the connection on both ends seems to be solid. It only happening when listening to FLAC files, all from different sources some downloaded some ripped etc, made me think that the onboard audiocard was maybe having problems running the higher bitrate....? Everything i have read points towards a USB DAC fixing the issue and I think im gonna have to bite the bullet and buy the HRT based on the reviews in mays edition i picked up today, based on my system specs do you feel that a DAC will bring about a significant improvement? im worried that i may be paying what for me is quite a bit of money for negligible sound improvement.

olly

Hi Olly - if you're unsure and don't want to spend too much but want to see if you notice an improvement, something like M-Audio's Transit, which is a USB only device might be worth investigating. Roughly £70, but might be cheaper if you shop around. There's also a basic one from Cyp which is about £40 or so. Further up the scale, yes, there is the DACMagic, but I and others have found this to be a tad on the soulless side, while having good connectivity. I found that the Spitfire II from Firestone Audio was a better unit for more or less the same money (£250).

However, I would be inclined to echo Overdose's comments above and ensure the problem you seem to have can be addressed and not rely on the theory that adding a DAC alone will fix it.

 

[Potts]

I found that the Spitfire II from Firestone Audio was a better unit for more or less the same money (£250).

Although I'm looking to upgrade at the moment, I can fully recommend the Firestone Audio Fubar II (£170) also. The difference was like night and day when I switched it from my 3.5mm to RCA.

I think you may be limited to CD quality though with this DAC (Fubar II).

 

[Anonymous]

ok! I have turned OFF THE IDT SOFTWARE THAT RUNS THE ONBOARD SOUNDCARD, THE SOUND IS A LITTLE FLAT BUT THE VOLUME FLUCTUATIONS HAVE GONE. IVE TRIED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT MEDIA PLAYERS AND LOOKS LIKE IVE SOLVED THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE BUT STILL WOULDNT MIND IMPROVING SOMEWHAT, IM GONNA FOLLOW THE ADVICE GIVEN AND LOOK INTO A CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE TO THE HRT. I THINK MAYBE A 140 DAC COULD BE OVERKILL FOR A 500 SYSTEM!

SORRY FOR CAPS ON MOOBILE!

 

[Overdose]

Glad you got one problem out of the way.

Don't focus on price for your DAC, focus on quality and a tangible improvement. You might find that it's not cheap to achieve.

FWIW, if you buy second hand, you will be able to sell on without much loss if the sound is not to your taste.

Good hunting.