invalidbuffa
Super Member
My primary source of music is my computer (PC), playback is done via foober2000 either with optical to an onkyo HT receiver/speakers or on my HD650's through an X-Fi sound card (no external amp). I've found that compared to analog sources, digital audio through either the receiver or the sound card sounds mediocre, lackluster, cold...you get the drift. My objective is to spend no more than about $300 on something that will make listening to my digital music more pleasant and has connectivity for headphones and RCA line out.
After some searching around I've discovered there are many products that will potentially work...One option I've considered is upgrading my sound card to an Asus Xonar ST/STX, but I'm not sure how well it would drive my 300 ohm 650's. I've also looked into the JDS O2+ODAC combo and standalone DACs such as the Grant Tube DAC 09/Maverick TubeMagic D1. There's also some good Chinese DACs such as the Little Dot DAC_1 (no headphone jack) and the Audio_GD NFB series (11.32 was the one I was looking at). I'm sure there are more.
Out of the bunch, and without having heard any of them in action, the O2+ODAC is the most attractive and should do everything I need it to. Does anyone have remarks on any of these DACs/amps I mentioned, or can you recommend something else in the $300 range that will work?
After some searching around I've discovered there are many products that will potentially work...One option I've considered is upgrading my sound card to an Asus Xonar ST/STX, but I'm not sure how well it would drive my 300 ohm 650's. I've also looked into the JDS O2+ODAC combo and standalone DACs such as the Grant Tube DAC 09/Maverick TubeMagic D1. There's also some good Chinese DACs such as the Little Dot DAC_1 (no headphone jack) and the Audio_GD NFB series (11.32 was the one I was looking at). I'm sure there are more.
Out of the bunch, and without having heard any of them in action, the O2+ODAC is the most attractive and should do everything I need it to. Does anyone have remarks on any of these DACs/amps I mentioned, or can you recommend something else in the $300 range that will work?