How many people use DACS instead of soundcards?

marscay said:
I almost ended up buying the Audio GD Reference Seven but decided to sell my preamp and go the Meridian route, which proved a good decision in the end for both HT and 2 channel purposes.

I'd still like to hear that Audio GD one day though, his designs are getting a lot more aesthetically pleasing too.
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Yes, I remember a while ago you mentioning in a thread that you were thinking of getting something from Audio-GD...

Last July when I bought my 19MK3, Audio-GD were not very well known, but I'm glad I went ahead with the purchase, I also bought another digital filter which was listed as "Support 24Bit/96KHz, apply DF1704 as digital filter" (not very good with electronic listings) which cost me an extra $30, it is still in its packaging that it came in...the 19MK3 is a nice bit of kit and I can see myself keeping it for a good while...

Glad you got something suitable for your purposes.
 
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TheBiznes said:
It wasn't the cost of the headphones it was to show that for not a lot more over the cost of really good soundcards. it was cost of the Dac alternative. I wasn't trying to be pretentious as anyone can buy a DAC and match it with most hifi equipment and get a good sound.



Yes that is also a good way to incorporate an amp and speakers.
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Sorry only just seen the reply. I know i was only kidding, glad you didnt take it too personally :p


I need to rethink my setup, as i mentioned previously. new dac and amp would be lovely but i have other things to save for at the moment :p
 
TheBiznes said:
The Graham Slee is great so I have heard. I had Niam Headamp a while back, but sold it because I bought a home made one from ebay for same cost and when I compared the home made one was better.

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yeah the graham slee is one ive had serious consideration at .. but wil have to wait a few months if i do get it. tbh the nad / v-dac combo is very impressive . big wallet jump just for the headphone use
 
I've been mulling this over for a few weeks. I have managed to narrow things down, though, to Valab NOS Dac(£135), HRT Music streamer II(£150ish), and the musical fidelity v-dac(£150ish again). I'm a bit stuck now. I've never used an external dac before, but my setup is pretty basic. pc>amp>speakers and pc>headphone amp>headphones. What things should I keep in mind before I start overloading my feeble mind with pages and pages of forum stuff?
 
Ok, my new Graham Slee Nova arrived today...connected via rca from my Essence, the difference is just incredible, not even properly run in yet :D New V-Dac next payday, then to sell my Essence
 
I'll be interested in hearing what kind of difference you get. I'm not sure it will be the night and day difference you get from a good headamp. After all, the DACs in these soundcards aren't "crap", or maybe I'm just not fully sold on the idea yet.

Out of interest, what made you go for the vdac?
 
Yjani said:
Ok, my new Graham Slee Nova arrived today...connected via rca from my Essence, the difference is just incredible, not even properly run in yet :D New V-Dac next payday, then to sell my Essence
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Must be in sound heaven at min lol. Hope you enjoy the vdac as much too.

Cutshaw said:
Out of interest, what made you go for the vdac?
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Probably all good reviews over at Headfi forums. I haven't heard others like the beresford etc just very happy with what I have. Hopefully he will think the same I am also interested to hear what he thinks.
 
the valab and hrt get great reviews on headfi aswell. It'll be a few weeks before I can afford one of them, so I've plenty time to make up my mind.
 
It is sound heaven really. Pairing it with my 650s has really brought them to life. Reviews always say the 650s require good amplification to get the best from them, they werent far off the mark with that one.
 
I'm thinking of getting one and ditching my X-Fi Elite with a breakout box I can never get to work on this computer.

Main reason is I want to get my TV hooked up to my speakers or headphones.

I like the look of the Beresford Caiman because it has a dedicated audio socket and amp too, so I can have both hooked up at the same time if I want. I'd prefer the DACmagic if it could do that, looks much nicer and I've heard good things about the sound.
 
Well not being funny chaps I have never heard of one of these DACS before, and after reading all the posts here about it and looking at the V-DAC itself I would not touch it with a barge pole. I can only presume this is for stereo only, and judging by it's connections you have got to be joking. No HDMI omg and people are paying 150 bucks for this so called box. No I can honestly say that you do not get a lot for your buck here.

I suppose if your into stereo then it's OK, but for me I am into HD uncompressed formats and very much 5.1 and 7.1 and will stick with the Asus Xonar HDAV 1.3 Delux Soundcard. It may cost more than this, but you get a lot more for your money, and it as far better connections on it that what I can see on this thing that looks like something Tandy's threw up years ago.
 
intruder369 said:
Well not being funny chaps I have never heard of one of these DACS before, and after reading all the posts here about it and looking at the V-DAC itself I would not touch it with a barge pole. I can only presume this is for stereo only, and judging by it's connections you have got to be joking. No HDMI omg and people are paying 150 bucks for this so called box. No I can honestly say that you do not get a lot for your buck here.

I suppose if your into stereo then it's OK, but for me I am into HD uncompressed formats and very much 5.1 and 7.1 and will stick with the Asus Xonar HDAV 1.3 Delux Soundcard. It may cost more than this, but you get a lot more for your money, and it as far better connections on it that what I can see on this thing that looks like something Tandy's threw up years ago.
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Why do you reply, when you have no idea what you are talking about?

To say a V-DAC isn't worth £150 because it doesn't have the connections a Xonar HDAV has, is laughable. Maybe you should go and find out why people would want to buy a box that looks like something from Tandy's as you put it.
 
If i output via sp/dif, or USB to a combined DAC/Head amp - Will i still get the 7.1 preset sound from Windows ?

Not fussed about EAX or Dolby Heaphone stuff, just some positional sound in games.

Cheers.
 
no you will lose the digital signal.... DAC = Digital, Analogue Converter. It will go down to 2 channel mode mate
 
Thats why i'm confused :confused:

This souncard has an onboard dac - Asus Xonar Essence STX ;

24-bit Burr Brown PCM 1792A D-A converters

Yet features Dolby Headphone.

Are you saying that the dac on this card is only used if you choose stereo as an output ?
 
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