Hi A-Philes,

Can anyone recommend a decent ext. DAC, so I can play the audio files on my PC through my NAD 3020 (1972),Hafler DH200 preamp, JBL Aquarius 1's? I've heard that a 16 bit Burr Brown will work best. I don't really know very much about these DAC thingies, but the straight hook-up (line out to two RCA to AUX) sounds...well, not great, and I've been told the DAC will improve that GREATLY!! I'd like to spend under 200$. I've googled a few things but they seem to be for TV's and stuff. It's quite confusing, and I'd really appreciate the help.

What's your internal PC soundcard? Does it have SPDIF output? Or just RCAs? Or worse a 3.5mm single output plug?

There are plenty of DACs out there for $200 or less but you'd need to run SPDIF or TOSLINK out of your soundcard to get the benefits I believe - essentially (as long as you bypass the Windows crap) using one of those interfaces you're taking the signal pure digital to the DAC.

You could also run an external soundcard like the E-Mu 0404USB and use USB out of your PC to the soundcard to the system.

Lots of other options...

Jeff

After a thorough search (Dell...yech!) it looks like I've either got a SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC, or a Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy. That's as much info as I could find because Dell makes nothing easy, anyway the laptop is an Inspiron E1705. And what does a SPDIF or TOSLINK jack look like? There's a little D shaped plug next to the 3.5mm that say 1394, but I think that's a firewire. There's also an s-video, but that's it.

Since you have no SPDIF on your laptop, you need a USB DAC. There are plenty of them out there. I own a Firestone Audio Fubar II which has been very good to me, especially since I swapped the opamp to dual OPA627s. Have a look at www.pacificvalve.us and see what they have. Youre not stuck with a USB DAC, you can also get a USB to SPDIF converter and run a standard DAC off of that. Other than pacific Valve, check out www.audiomagus.com and www.obadimports.com as they have big DAC lines as well. Whats your budget? Theres both NOS (non over sampling) and oversampling DACs. Both have a different sound signature. NOS sounds more like real live music whereas oversampling sounds more Hifi-ish.

http://www.bluecircle.com/index.php?menu_id=5002&page_id=7196&section=main

You mentioned it right in your first post. Blue Circle USB Thingee.

Hi A-Philes,
Can anyone recommend a decent ext. DAC, so I can play the audio files on my PC through my NAD 3020 (1972),Hafler DH200 preamp, JBL Aquarius 1's?


I can wholeheartedly recommend the Bryston BDA-1

Hmm this looks quite promising:
http://www.asus.com/999/images/products/1913/1913_l.jpg
http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=25&l2=147&l3=0&l4=0&model=1913&modelmenu=1

Audio Performance:
Output Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-Weighted): 100 dB
Output THD+N at 1kHz (A-Weighted): 0.0045% (87 dB)
(-60dB, A-Weighted) 96 dB
Dynamic Range: 96 dB
Analog Playback Sample Rate and Resolution: 48 KHz
Cross-talk (10Kohms, 1KHz) -104 dB

Headphone Amp:
THD+N< 0.005% @ 47 mW x2/ 32ohms
THD+N< 0.006% @88 mW x2/16ohms
96 dB SNR
>1.1Vrms full-scale output voltage for >8 ohms load
Frequency response (-3dB/48KHz): 20~20 KHz for 32 ohms
(headphone with 8~150 ohm @ >10mWx2 recommended)

Review here:http://techgage.com/article/asus_xonar_u1_usb_audio_station/

Might be worth checking out.

That Bryston looks beautiful, but apparently it's about 1,700$ more than I wanted to spend.

The BC USB Thingee is $169 and competes with anything out there at that price. It is off the grid (USB powered). Look at the rest of the BC line and judge for yourself.

That Bryston looks beautiful, but apparently it's about 1,700$ more than I wanted to spend.

Sorry, I didn't notice that you had a price limit in your message. Silly me. :-(

A DAC, in the context of this thread, simply takes the digital signal resulting from your computer processing the audio files, and converts it to an analog signal that can be amplified, and sent to your speakers. Your current sound card has a DAC, it is just of very low quality. Cheap, small size, and low power consumption were Dell's main priorities (in that order) in choosing the DAC circuit for your laptop. When you upgrade the DAC you will be bypassing the computer's on board circuit, and sending the digital signal to the higher quality DAC of your choosing.

Your first option for upgrading involves an external USB DAC. The digital signal is sent from the computer via a USB port, converted in the external DAC, and your audio out to the stereo comes from the DAC. There are a couple of good recommendations in this thread.

Another option is an internal sound card upgrade via the express 54 slot on the side of your computer. The card slides in, and a small piece is left protruding for making the connections.

I chose the latter route because I also wanted better sound for on the go listening through headphones. I settled on the Echo Audio Indigo DJ. It is a high quality sound card marketed towards professionals. It has excellent DAC circuitry and shielding, as well as some neat features. You can find a version for express card slots on the front page of their website: http://www.echoaudio.com/.

I find the sound is excellent, much improved over my on board "Sigma Tel Audio" Dell sound card. The "DJ" version features two analog outs: a line out at a constant volume, and one controlled by a handy volume knob right on the side of the card. I use my headphones on the side with volume control, and my stereo goes to the line out via a 1/8" to RCA cable. The "I/O" version comes with one volume controlled line out, and one line in port.

Anyway, good luck. There are tons of options out there. I suggest staying away from Creative Labs because there are better options for the money. I have always been luke warm towards their products.

Well, I'll have to 'Echo' your recommendation, as soon as I get the card, that is. The specs look awesome and the laptop cardbus is available at Amazon for 179$-Other sites had 'em <$ & >$, but Amazon is reliable in every aspect. Thanks so much for your help. That headphone volume control is way cool too!

I chose the latter route because I also wanted better sound for on the go listening through headphonesI have had one of these for several years and recommend it highly for those that want great sound on the go.

If you want the USB/toslink to DAC setup, I would recommend the M-Audio Transit (~$79) and a Behringer SRC2496 ($129). The M-audio does have 24/96 DACs, so you may be able to live without the SRC2496.

FYI The SRC2496 has XLR outputs, so you will probably need adapters to get it to work.

I have an SRC2496 on my main rig and like it quite a bit. It was a big upgrade from my Fubar II USB DAC.

Well, I'll have to 'Echo' your recommendation, as soon as I get the card, that is. The specs look awesome and the laptop cardbus is available at Amazon for 179$-Other sites had 'em <$ & >$, but Amazon is reliable in every aspect. Thanks so much for your help. That headphone volume control is way cool too!

It is possible you have ordered the wrong one. I did some quick research on your laptop, and from what I could tell it doesn't have a regular PCMCIA slot. It has an Express 54 slot. You want the Indigo I/Ox or DJx. The "x" denotes it's for an express card slot. The only Indigo that I found for $179 on Amazon was the older PCMCIA version, not the express card version.

Unfortunately the "x" versions haven't been out long, so there are only a few retailers I can find that carry them.

So double check your order, and your laptop. Good luck! :)

Hmm this looks quite promising:
<snip>
Might be worth checking out.

I know for a fact the Xonar D2 (the full featured internal version) is considered by many to be the best available, and hardware tests seem to confirm this. I would hope all in the Xonar series could follow in line.

Before the Xonar the best you could get were the offerings from Auzentech and M-Audio.