Hugo9000
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Regarding the case, in the front oblique view, it looks like they are trying to give the impression that it is machined from a large block of black anodized aluminum, with a somewhat hefty (glass? can't tell from the little pics) faceplate on the front. So that's an illusion, the case is just cheap, bent sheet metal? Not having any vents on top adds to the illusion that it's solid machined metal, as most sheetmetal electronic components seem to place some venting on top...
An illusion of heft is okay for an inexpensive item, but there is no excuse at the TotalDac's price for it to be so cheaply made. Look at the beautifully made dCS Bartok, at a lower price than this TotalDac, for example. My old Denon receiver (granted, it is old enough to have still been made in Japan haha!) has much higher build quality than the TotalDac, and I paid a fraction of the price.
An illusion of heft is okay for an inexpensive item, but there is no excuse at the TotalDac's price for it to be so cheaply made. Look at the beautifully made dCS Bartok, at a lower price than this TotalDac, for example. My old Denon receiver (granted, it is old enough to have still been made in Japan haha!) has much higher build quality than the TotalDac, and I paid a fraction of the price.