Bargain DAC Suggestions?

[amirm]

The original hope was to find decent options below $100. Alas, based on a number of issues, I have not found one that I would recommend yet. So perhaps all the good options are above $100.

 

[Jinjuku]

The original hope was to find decent options below $100. Alas, based on a number of issues, I have not found one that I would recommend yet. So perhaps all the good options are above $100.

The Behringer U-phoria 404HD is $99 @ Amazon... I believe you will find a Pro Interface will have better driver support vs smaller operations.

 

[amirm]

It says it will be available in 3-5 months!

I ordered it just in case that is wrong.

 

[amirm]

Looks like sweatwater has it but wants $10 for processing and I suspect some for shipping. So I will wait a bit to see if Amazon delivers.

 

[Sal1950]

It seems like @amirm has raised the price boundary a bit to a few hundred bucks, unless I'm misunderstanding earlier thread posts.

True that, but now we're talking about a $600 Mojo?
Got to draw a line on "affordable" somewhere otherwise what's the point?
What we're really starting to run into here is people wanting their current fav included which is understandable but hey it's @amirm wallet. Break out the Mastercard bud. LOL

So then what about my Emotiva DC-1 and the other excellent and "affordable" DAC we already got into in these earlier threads?
http://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/fight-club-i-need-a-dac.211/
http://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/transparent-dac.599/
http://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/what-is-incompetent-digital.79/

 

[amirm]

I have a good $350 DAC. The idea was to see if that same performance can be had at lower price.

 

[Sal1950]

I have a good $350 DAC. The idea was to see if that same performance can be had at lower price.

That's a big 10-4 there good buddy.

 

[Thomas savage]

i suspect the $100 dac market is a rapidly changing landscape, it's really great to have them tested here and I'm sure we will find some compelling performance stats from one of them soon.

 

[amirm]

OK, the first write up is published (OriGen+) http://www.audiosciencereview.com/f.../budget-dac-review-micca-origen-usb-dac.1476/

Mostly good news.

 

[Nightlord]

Yes. There are any number of DAC's in that price range that should be completely transparent and measure very well but that wasn't supposed to be the focus of this test. I thought the idea was mainly to "measure" what could be accomplished for around a $100 or less? Amir already has hi end DAC's to measure for comparison.
Listening tests are subjective and there are many that do that BS very well.
Stereophile's Recommended considers a $2k Benchmark a bargain.

Mojo outperforms Benchmark DAC2. Although both would be regarded as transparent for all normal purposes.

 

[Blumlein 88]

Hey Amir, how about the Uphoria 204HD? Available via Amazon prime for $79.99 right now. It doesn't have more than two channels of preamps and outputs, but that is all you need anyway.

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UM...=1491539655&sr=1-2-fkmr0&keywords=uphoria+202

Assuming the 404 hasn't shipped you can cancel that order, substitute this one and have it a couple days. Should be pretty much the same chips etc inside just 2 channels instead of 4. So chances are this will sound the same as a 404HD on stereo material and you save $20. If it performs well that just makes it a sweeter deal.

 

[watchnerd]

I have a good $350 DAC. The idea was to see if that same performance can be had at lower price.

What's the threshold for same?

 

[Sal1950]

Mojo outperforms Benchmark DAC2. Although both would be regarded as transparent for all normal purposes.

Measurement evidence please.

 

[amirm]

Hey Amir, how about the Uphoria 204HD? Available via Amazon prime for $79.99 right now. It doesn't have more than two channels of preamps and outputs, but that is all you need anyway.

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UM...=1491539655&sr=1-2-fkmr0&keywords=uphoria+202

Assuming the 404 hasn't shipped you can cancel that order, substitute this one and have it a couple days. Should be pretty much the same chips etc inside just 2 channels instead of 4. So chances are this will sound the same as a 404HD on stereo material and you save $20. If it performs well that just makes it a sweeter deal.

Cool. I ordered that one.

 

[amirm]

What's the threshold for same?

The key thing I look for is lack of spurious distortion products similar noise floor.

 

[Nightlord]

True that, but now we're talking about a $600 Mojo?
Got to draw a line on "affordable" somewhere otherwise what's the point?
What we're really starting to run into here is people wanting their current fav included which is understandable but hey it's @amirm wallet. Break out the Mastercard bud. LOL

So then what about my Emotiva DC-1 and the other excellent and "affordable" DAC we already got into in these earlier threads?
http://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/fight-club-i-need-a-dac.211/
http://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/transparent-dac.599/
http://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/what-is-incompetent-digital.79/

As I said... I didn't know what it cost over in your end... generally it multiplies quite a bit getting here... so I thought it quite likely you could get it around $400. My bad.

 

[Nightlord]

Measurement evidence please.

Become a member of the Swedish sound technical society and back order the member magazines in question. Or just trust me.

 

[Blumlein 88]

Become a member of the Swedish sound technical society and back order the member magazines in question. Or just trust me.

Stereophile's measurements of the two devices showed both were excellent and generally pretty close. The Benchmark did edge out the Mojo just slightly in nearly every one of those measures. Considering how good the Benchmark measures that means the Mojo isn't second fiddle to the vast majority of other products. Of course the Swedish Sound Technical society might use other tests or get other results.

 

[Sal1950]

Become a member of the Swedish sound technical society and back order the member magazines in question. Or just trust me.

Bill Clinton asked us to do that once, didn't work out too well. LOL
As Blumlein88 said, close enough for government work I guess.
http://www.stereophile.com/content/...ne-amplifier-measurements#pe2xkHBYyQOMSsH2.97

 

[Nightlord]

Bill Clinton asked us to do that once, didn't work out too well. LOL

He's politician and a commoner, I'm a Lord. That makes all the difference.