Cheapish DAC

[admin_exported]

Hi people. I have been thinking about upgrading my computer sudio
for a while. I currently have my laptop hooked up to my TV via HDMI and
am sending the audio through that, and then using the analogue outputs
from the TV into my HiFi. ( I hear shaking of heads! I know its bad) I
did this as the audio of my headphone jacks gets a lot of interfearance
(Dell XPS M1330)

So basiclly i am looking for a nice little USB DAC that will make my
music sound better. I want it to work on both PC and MAC as im getting
a Macbook Pro for uni (in about 18 months). I also dont want to spend
anthing more than £80 (around $120)

I have just ordered some Audioengine A2's for use at my desk, so i
want the DAC to be relatively portable so i can move it with my laptop,
from my TV to my desk. I wouldnt consider myself an Audiophile, but
thats mainly due to me having not alot of money (im only 17!), but i do
like my music and spend almost all my money on home entertainment (i
work in a sony centre, which is partnered with a REAL hifi shop, so i
hear really good hifi sytems from the likes of Cyrus, NAS, Arcam, KEF,
Monitor audio etc)

My music is mainly stored as 320kbps MP3's in iTunes but am slowly
ripping everying in AIFF in another iTunes library, so eventually i
will have an iTunes library for my iPod and one for home. I will be
plugging it into my HiFi (Denon DM37 and Monitor audio BR1's (about
£400 or $600 worth) and my desk speakers (Audioengine A2's £100 or $150
worth)

So in short:

- Portable (ish)

- Mac and PC compatible

- Under £80 ($120)

- Good sounding obviously

I have been looking at the pro-ject USB box which is a very new
product on the market, and seems to be exactly what im after. I
especially like this as it looks nice (sad i know), is a well known
hifi brand, and can easily be upgraded with the same companies award
winning pro-ject headbox. Links are here:

http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?prod=usbbox&cat=boxes&lang=en

http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?prod=headbox&cat=boxes&lang=en

Sorry for the long post but i reckon its best to give too much info rather than not enough

 

[Anonymous]

I doubt many people here will have heard it. At that kind of price I guess it ticks all the boxes it can. Does your Dell not have S/PDIF for use with a Beresford?

 

[nads]

Ihad a look at the Project very small.... nice rubber feet. Quite heavy for its size.

No idea what it sounds like.

 

[Anonymous]

Ideally i wish i did but sadly not. I guess i could always get a cheapo usb to spdif from ebay for about a tenner. But the beresford is slightly outside m price bracket, and as i am only going to be using it with a £100 or £400 system i dont expect i will get the best from it. people here seem to be using them with £1000 + systems!

 

[Anonymous]

Don't worry, you can have an older version of the Beresford (or if you're lucky the current one) for £80. Ideally get a 6/3. It's a great workhorse DAC, it'll do you proud.

I've no experience of USB>S/PDIF converters though I'm sure they'll be fine. That's what I'd do anyway.ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

how would you get one for £80 a cant see anywhere that sells them apart from beresford.me where they are for £104 + VAT !

 

[Anonymous]

guess goodole ebay would be the best! also what are the diffences between each model and sound quality change?

 

[Anonymous]

Yes ebay is your best bet, I've seen them go for under £70. Stanley got better at it as he went along, 6/4 is the current model, try and find a 6/3 on ebay as it shares most of the electronics the current one does.

 

[Anonymous]

There's also the M-Audio transit, available from Dolphin Music, which Ashley James suggested last time you asked the question. Also, as I said before, the Pro-ject got a good review in one of the German magazines.

 

[Anonymous]

i know i posted before but i did so in the wrong section of the forums and didnt get a load of replies!

 

[Anonymous]

I wasn't intending to be critical, the problem is that there aren't many DACS around the 80 pound mark, so the choices are secondhand Beresfords, as Octopo says, the Pro-ject, the m-audio transit or one of the cheap taiwanese or Chinese DACS that come up on ebay.

What's the problem with your headphone out? The easiest and least expensive solution is a minijack to RCA cable.

 

[Anonymous]

Tarquinh:
What's the problem with your headphone out? The easiest and least expensive solution is a minijack to RCA cable.

I'm guessing the incredible amounts of noise produced by the onboard soundcard.
Seriously, they are awful. I listen via mine at work, out of necessity and almost can't do it.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a Transit on loan at the moment and it staggeringly.

Unfortunately most "audiophiles" will miss out because they prefer a price tag, boutique brand, and OTT metal case.

The reality though is that M Audio (ProTools) have huge R&D capability, and their products are aimed at pro's, who see through flashy casework.

It sounds so good and for £50 I urge you to try it.