Hi guys,
So I'm looking for an upgrade for this probably crap/fake chip/chinese audio interface called Weiliang Breeze Audio WBA-SE2 that I currently own:
I found a review of it here, but it's in russian and even with auto-translate I don't really understand all that much:
I see 2 options:
1. looking for something cheap, I would love to stay under 100$ and use it only as a soundcard for the PC( and 99% of the time only headphone listening).
2. go above the budget(2-3-4-500$), but I'd prefer a full-fledged flawless, best bang for your buck DAC with a potent headphone amp that I could also use in a future standalone loudspeaker system.
For option 1, my needs are:
-decent measurements
-channel imbalance i think that it's more important than the highest possible measurements beyond the threshold of audibility - so probably a digital volume control via analog potentiometer
-analog silent potentiometer rather than +/- buttons or clicky rotary button
-able to drive some demanding headphones(currently I have a pair of DT770 Pro 250ohm, but maybe in the future I'll own a pair of 600ohm HD650)
-i'd prefer a vertical oriented volume control potentiometer, like I currently have on the cheap chinese interface
-small sized, as it will take space off my desk
I had high-hopes with M-Audio air hub, but after I read amirm's review + the fact that the big volume knob does not control the headphone output....I was disappointed.
I also had my eyes on the JDS Labs Element 3, which seems to tick almost all the boxes, except the price, which I find a bit too much for me.
For full-fledged DAC, I had my eyes on Topping DX3Pro+, but after I read a bit more about it, besides the performance which is really flawless for the money, I realized that I don't like that noisy volume knob(why couldn't they use a normal potentiometer instead of a rotary button?) and all kinds of issues that some owners discovered(standby issues, DC voltage issues, speakers don't get muted when headphones get connected, etc). The screen also seems cheap, I'd rather prefer simple LED indicators than a screen that isn't even backlit evenly.
Any suggestions?
Thank you.
So I'm looking for an upgrade for this probably crap/fake chip/chinese audio interface called Weiliang Breeze Audio WBA-SE2 that I currently own:
WeiLiang Breeze Audio 24bit 96kHz USB SA9203 DAC
WeiLiang Breeze Audio 24bit 96kHz USB SA9203 DAC with headphone amplifier
hifi-exquis.com
I found a review of it here, but it's in russian and even with auto-translate I don't really understand all that much:
I see 2 options:
1. looking for something cheap, I would love to stay under 100$ and use it only as a soundcard for the PC( and 99% of the time only headphone listening).
2. go above the budget(2-3-4-500$), but I'd prefer a full-fledged flawless, best bang for your buck DAC with a potent headphone amp that I could also use in a future standalone loudspeaker system.
For option 1, my needs are:
-decent measurements
-channel imbalance i think that it's more important than the highest possible measurements beyond the threshold of audibility - so probably a digital volume control via analog potentiometer
-analog silent potentiometer rather than +/- buttons or clicky rotary button
-able to drive some demanding headphones(currently I have a pair of DT770 Pro 250ohm, but maybe in the future I'll own a pair of 600ohm HD650)
-i'd prefer a vertical oriented volume control potentiometer, like I currently have on the cheap chinese interface
-small sized, as it will take space off my desk
I had high-hopes with M-Audio air hub, but after I read amirm's review + the fact that the big volume knob does not control the headphone output....I was disappointed.
I also had my eyes on the JDS Labs Element 3, which seems to tick almost all the boxes, except the price, which I find a bit too much for me.
Element III MK2 _ Shop JDS LABS
We’ve reimagined our flagship amp+DAC to create a listening experience you will notice and appreciate. Element III operates on our second-generation XMOS hardware and firmware, blissfully integrated with a custom encoder. You’ll hear perfect channel balance down to the black noise floor...
jdslabs.com
For full-fledged DAC, I had my eyes on Topping DX3Pro+, but after I read a bit more about it, besides the performance which is really flawless for the money, I realized that I don't like that noisy volume knob(why couldn't they use a normal potentiometer instead of a rotary button?) and all kinds of issues that some owners discovered(standby issues, DC voltage issues, speakers don't get muted when headphones get connected, etc). The screen also seems cheap, I'd rather prefer simple LED indicators than a screen that isn't even backlit evenly.
Any suggestions?
Thank you.
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