Need a <$300 DAC or amp for my iMac

[shampoosuicide 0]

Hello!

 

My current setup consists of an iMac, accompanied by a Sennheiser HD 595 (to be replaced with the Grado SR80). I'm looking at upgrading the other components of my system.

 

Should I get an amp or a DAC first? And what DAC or amp would you recommend for <$300?

 

Thanks!

[littletree76 0]

Stanley Beresford develops affordable and decent DAC TC-7510 (latest MK 3/6 version) in UK (http://www.homehifi.co.uk/main/main.html). Order it online cost me SGD 266 and it was delivery from production base in Taiwan within 3 days. Stanley offers prompt support through email. Note this DAC requires break-in for at least 4 days before it sound good. You may return it for refund after on trial for a week.

 

It comes with fixed level output and variable/headphone output with volume control, two optical Toslink and two coaxial digital inputs with selection buttons. One optical Toslink input was connected to digital/analog combo headphone output of my 20" aluminum iMac through optical Toslink cable of 1 meter length purchased together with the DAC from the same online store.

 

It works well with audio enhancement software such as iWow plugin or OSS-3D utility and my Aego-M active speaker (all models of speakers with built-in power amplifier for computers).

 

Note DAC is definitely needed to bring clean digital audio signal out of iMac and to active speaker. Power amplifier is needed only when passive speakers (those without power amplifier built-in) rather than active speakers are used. There are also audio receivers (with Toslink/coaxial digital inputs) built for home theatre system with both DAC and power amplifier built-in. So followings are the options in ascending order of cost:

 

iMac (Toslink/USB/Firewire digital output) -> DAC -> Active speaker

iMac (Toslink/USB/Firewire digital output) -> DAC -> Power amplifier -> Passive speaker

iMac (Toslink output) -> Audio receiver -> Passive speaker

 

 

 

 

[Guest dragonboy]

Hello!

 

My current setup consists of an iMac, accompanied by a Sennheiser HD 595 (to be replaced with the Grado SR80). I'm looking at upgrading the other components of my system.

 

Should I get an amp or a DAC first? And what DAC or amp would you recommend for <$300?

 

Thanks!

Check out the killer DAC+AMP below $400. Ibasso D1

 

Or wait for the smaller brother D2. AKAN DATANG. COMING SOON.

[littletree76 0]

I do own iBasso D1 with Toslink/Coaxial/USB digital inputs and headphone/line analog outputs. But selection among inputs and outputs is controlled by micro-controller automatically when the unit is turned on. In other words, you have to plug and unplug connections to speaker/headphone and recycle power whenever switching between these two outputs are required. In the end, my iBasso D1 has been used as dedicated DAC for my Apple Airport Express wireless router's digital audio output in bedroom.

 

Audio output of DAC with sole USB digital input such as iBasso D2-Viper is subjected to CPU load fluctuation as the processor must be the central controller for all USB devices on USB bus. Another side effect of the dependency on CPU is computer in sleep will be awaken unnecessarily whenever there is any state change on USB bus such as power up/down of USB DAC.

 

Though the USB interface in iBasso D2 offers I2S interface for DAC direct decoding without any conversion as oppose to optical/coaxial interfaces, I still prefer optical/coaxial digital audio interfaces as they are free from interferences caused by CPU load and ambient noise.

 

Though iBasso D2-Viper has not arrived in Singapore yet, you can pre-order it at USD 199 in iBasso online store (www.ibasso.com). Any product developed and made in China must be taken with caution in term of build quality as my iBasso D1 has started to show failure in optical connection.

[Guest dragonboy]

Why need to buy on-line when you can pre-order from stereo for less than SGD$300??

The last time aron was saying the eta is abt Mid March. Moreover, warranty is covered by stereo. You don't need to pay for any shipping charges. But unless the on-line price is a real good bargain.

[slowth 0]

chamoxa at simlim square has a dac called the superpro at about 200 odd. Been using it half a year now... pretty good.. affordable too. Apparently uses one of the highest ended DAC chips.. the CS4398

[comacer 0]

You can check out the new Go-vibe DAC from Jaben.

It outputs pretty decent sound and wont break the bank (:

[littletree76 0]

I have gone through following DACs with various models of iMac (current one is the latest model and my 13th Mac) and following active speakers: Klipsch's ProMedia 2.0, Harman/Kardon's SoundStick 2 and Acoustic Energy's Aego-M. I would like to share my experience with you (no flaming post will ever receive my response).

 

Firestone's Fubar3, Firestone's Splitfire, iBasso's D1, Jaben's Go-Vibe Petite, Beresford TC-7510 and Tian Yun's Zero

 

All DACs cost less than SGD 300 with overseas shipping cost included, except the Fubar3, the Splitfire (both with optional Supplier power supply) and the D1.

 

Unless you need portability (iBasso D1 / Go-Vibe Petite) or transportability (Fubar3/Splitfire), sound quality of portable models can never beat desktop models because of space and power constraints (don't expect engineering miracle). Battery supply of portable models provides excellent noise free DC but much lower voltage and current. When multiple digital inputs are needed for different audio sources, only desktop models (Beresford TC-7510 in this case) able to provide such feature. So far the best combination of DAC/speaker to me is: Tian Yun's Zero (bought through eBay and shipped from Hong Kong) and Harman/Kardon's SoundStick 2 active speaker (bought in Funan IT Mall).

 

After going through various DACs and headphone amplifiers, I still prefer separate/dedicated equipments such as desktop DAC and miniature/portable headphone amplifier (both can be integrated together). Since all modern Mac models come with optical digital interface (3.5mm mini jack labelled as headphone output) thus can be interfaced directly with these desktop DACs with a piece of Toslink optical cable (built-in USB ports run out on any Mac most of the time). For PC a decent sound card with coaxial/optical digital output is required else only spare USB digital interface is feasible.

 

Advantage of ordering online and shipped from overseas is these online stores offer money back refund within stipulated period which never happen for local stores. Proper audition of audio equipments can only be conducted after burn-in period but not on the spot in the stores.