1buckethead1
Member
I am having trouble deciding which DAC to use for my speaker setup. I have an H/K receiver that I only use as a DAC (pretty damn big DAC eh?) which is inputted by optical out on my Macbook Pro's integrated sound card. My other sound card is a USB-based Alien DAC.
So my DIY Alien DAC is a Burr-Brown PCM2702. It uses high quality capacitors and resistors. Also, it isn't bus powered, but rather externally powered, screw junky crappy bus electricity. I'm using a RatShack fax machine power adapter with a switchable voltage, going out at 9V. Would the sound improve if I used a better power source?
heres a linky http://www.myexposition.com/diy/usbdac/overview.html
VS
My Harman/Kardon AVR 125 uses an AKM AK435 DAC, heres a link:
http://www.stereophile.com/news/10573/
I dont know much about it nor do I know for sure if its that DAC, but I read on audioreview.com that it uses an AKM 192kHz DAC.
I think I like the sound more of my receiver, but I just want some input.
Apparently the Alien DAC's SNR is around 87-89dB measured using RMAA. The H/K has a theoretical 112dB, but who knows what the real world figures are. Coz the PCM2702 is supposedly 100+dB
EDIT:
The RMAA'd measurements are actually not from my board though. It's someone elses so it may be possible mine's better, however it was measured using battery power. Does anyone know which chip is superior?
So my DIY Alien DAC is a Burr-Brown PCM2702. It uses high quality capacitors and resistors. Also, it isn't bus powered, but rather externally powered, screw junky crappy bus electricity. I'm using a RatShack fax machine power adapter with a switchable voltage, going out at 9V. Would the sound improve if I used a better power source?
heres a linky http://www.myexposition.com/diy/usbdac/overview.html
VS
My Harman/Kardon AVR 125 uses an AKM AK435 DAC, heres a link:
http://www.stereophile.com/news/10573/
I dont know much about it nor do I know for sure if its that DAC, but I read on audioreview.com that it uses an AKM 192kHz DAC.
I think I like the sound more of my receiver, but I just want some input.
Apparently the Alien DAC's SNR is around 87-89dB measured using RMAA. The H/K has a theoretical 112dB, but who knows what the real world figures are. Coz the PCM2702 is supposedly 100+dB
EDIT:
The RMAA'd measurements are actually not from my board though. It's someone elses so it may be possible mine's better, however it was measured using battery power. Does anyone know which chip is superior?
