In search of USB DAC

[kukulec]

Dear All,

In december I planned to upgrade my second system. As a result I bought a Primare i22 and Elac BS 403. The issue is that my CXA80 is working now at my friend, and I can only connect the Primare with a QED jack cable to an Asus soundcard in the PC. Could you please suggest something which is not expensive and produce better signal than the soundcard? I try to buy a used Primare modul in the amp, but maybe there are better options.

 

[BigH]

How much do you want to spend?

The Cambridge Audio DacMagic 100 is around £130.

 

[abacus]

For top notch entry level http://www.musictri.be/Categories/Behringer/Computer-Audio/Audio-Interfaces/UCA202/p/P0484http://www.musictri.be/Categories/Behringer/Computer-Audio/Audio-Interfaces/UCA202/p/P0484 or if you really need to match your amp https://www.steinberg.net/en/products/audio_interfaces/ur_series/models/ur12.html it may seem overkill but if you want the best then go pro.

Bill

 

[BigH]

I have the Behringer 202, I don't think it's a step up from a Asus soundcard. I would have recommended the E Dac but thats no longer available in UK.

 

[newlash09]

If you can just stretch a bit, I would recommend the yamaha wxc-50. May be a little stretch, but it will add loads of functionality, that you never thought was required. But will make you wonder how you managed without it all this while.

My friend who presently has my chord 2 qute dac and wxc-50 is of the opinion that the wxc-50 runs real close to the chord as a dac, and is a steal at this price. And i feel all dac's sound almost the same. So either ways, you get a great dac, with loads of fexibility

 

[insider9]

Depends on what Asus sound card you have of its Xonar Essence STX you won't improve on it under £399 new or circa £300 second hand.

 

[insider9]

If you can just stretch a bit, I would recommend the yamaha wxc-50. May be a little stretch, but it will add loads of functionality, that you never thought was required. But will make you wonder how you managed without it all this while.

 

 My friend who presently has my chord 2 qute dac and wxc-50 is of the opinion that the wxc-50 runs real close to the chord as a dac, and is a steal at this price. And i feel all dac's sound almost the same. So either ways, you get a great dac, with loads of fexibility

Good shout for the WXC-50. However it won't be an upgrade sonically against Xonar Essence STX. Functionality and no need for PC but sound not necessarily.

 

[newlash09]

I honestly didnt know pc sound cards were so advanced these days. Thought only the graphic cards were racing with the game consoles

 

[gasolin]

https://itrack.focusrite.com/products/itrack-solo

 

[insider9]

I honestly didnt know pc sound cards were so advanced these days. Thought only the graphic cards were racing with the game consoles

That's actually an old one, Newlash09. I've used it an "upgraded" it to Yamaha. Can be picked up for £80 nowadays second hand and as long as PC power supply is decent it really is a very good Burr Brown based dac.

 

[newlash09]

I honestly didnt know pc sound cards were so advanced these days. Thought only the graphic cards were racing with the game consoles

That's actually an old one, Newlash09. I've used it an "upgraded" it to Yamaha. Can be picked up for £80 nowadays second hand and as long as PC power supply is decent it really is a very good Burr Brown based dac.

Didnt know that too

 

[drummerman]

HifimeDIY do a range of good value DAC's

 

[jimmy1]

Dacmagic xs is cheap atm but only has 3.5mm output, sounds a lot better than my laptop did tho