Recommendation for DAC

[ph41ko]

Hello,
I bought a Musical Fidelity V90-DAC and I dont like how it sounds.
Worse is, that there is a difference in volume between left and right channel, in various frequencies (50Hz, 250Hz, 1000Hz) when listening to test signals.
I will return it.

The New DAC should not have a power pushbutton, rather an on/off switch like the Music Fidelity has, or no power switch at all.
It needs to be on without pushing any button when power ist connected.

Im willing to spend up to 500€

Sorry for my poor english.

Kind regards

Falko

 

[DVDdoug]

I can't make a recommendation but you can check the reviews here. You can sort by "device type", "recommended", and price, etc.

Worse is, that there is a difference in volume between left and right channel, in various frequencies (50Hz, 250Hz, 1000Hz) when listening to test signals.
I will return it.

Did you swap the left & right connections to make sure the DAC is the problem?

Im willing to spend up to 500€

That shouldn't be a problem, depending on what features you want. As long as it's not defective the sound quality is usually fine with any DAC (there is usually no audible distortion or noise and the frequency response is usually flat).

 

[JeremyFife]

Hi,
That's a slightly tricky requirement (physical power switch) so you might had to do some more research yourself.

Your Musical Fidelity V90 is a good DAC, it sounds like you had a broken one. You could just try a replacement? https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...easurements-of-musical-fidelity-v90-dac.3787/

SMSL seem to make DACs with a switch, and are usually very good e.g.
SMSL DO200 MkII https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/smsl-do200-mkii-dac-review.41396/

Plenty more without a switch, take a look at the 'Recommended' units in the review index here and base your choice on the features you need - you will get excellent performance for much less than your budget e.g.

Topping D10 Balanced Review (USB DAC)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the new Topping D10 Balanced. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $139. The D10 Balanced as the name implies, comes in my favorite USB DAC package with the same cute orange display: Back panel is where the difference is: Balanced...

audiosciencereview.com

 

[AnalogSteph]

Worse is, that there is a difference in volume between left and right channel, in various frequencies (50Hz, 250Hz, 1000Hz) when listening to test signals.

Is the difference reversed when you connect the left audio cable to the right DAC output and vice versa?

What kind of inputs do you need and what will the unit be connected to?

The New DAC should not have a power pushbutton, rather an on/off switch like the Music Fidelity has, or no power switch at all.

If you need USB input only, there are a number of models on the less expensive side like that, e.g. the Topping D10s.

 

[ph41ko]

Did you swap the left & right connections to make sure the DAC is the problem?

Yes! Changing the DAC to my old very cheep one solves the problem!

 

[ph41ko]

Your Musical Fidelity V90 is a good DAC, it sounds like you had a broken one. You could just try a replacement? https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...easurements-of-musical-fidelity-v90-dac.3787/

I did read that before I bought it, I will ask for a replacement. Im sceptical but I will try it.

Plenty more without a switch, take a look at the 'Recommended' units in the review index here and base your choice on the features you need - you will get excellent performance for much less than your budget e.g.

There is a review index?

 

[ph41ko]

Is the difference reversed when you connect the left audio cable to the right DAC output and vice versa?

Yes!

What kind of inputs do you need and what will the unit be connected to?


If you need USB input only, there are a number of models on the less expensive side like that, e.g. the Topping D10s.

No USB needed, I only need optical input and RCA output. I use it on my Hifi System and the output goes into my preamp.

 

[AnalogSteph]

What device is that optical signal coming from exactly? There are some additional considerations when optical disc players or certain brands of TV are involved.

 

[ph41ko]

What device is that optical signal coming from exactly? There are some additional considerations when optical disc players or certain brands of TV are involved.

It´s an Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED. Do you mean that there could be a problem comming from the source, even when the problem dissapears after changing the DAC?
The problem is gone when I change the DAC, no other changes made.

 

[JeremyFife]

I did read that before I bought it, I will ask for a replacement. Im sceptical but I will try it.

There is a review index?

The Review Index is available on the sidebar menu - those three horizontal lines beside the ASR title. The search options are rudimentary but persevere... probably best to search for how to use the review index first

 

[ph41ko]

BTW.:
I did the test with this youtube video:

Maybe someone finds this useful.

 

[Leefer55]

I compiled a list of DAC's available from Amazon I was interested in earlier this year - see attachment. Prices are in Canadian $ as of April 2024. It is not comprehensive but it is useful for frugal people like me..

I feed my DAC via J River/USB for music, video/TV via HDMI and is connected to my stereo via RCA. Whatever route you go, keep your options open as you can get a lot for very little these days. If you ever get into streaming, a DAC like these can help get you there.

 

[JIW]

I compiled a list of DAC's available from Amazon I was interested in earlier this year - see attachment. Prices are in Canadian $ as of April 2024. It is not comprehensive but it is useful for frugal people like me..

I feed my DAC via J River/USB for music, video/TV via HDMI and is connected to my stereo via RCA. Whatever route you go, keep your options open as you can get a lot for very little these days. If you ever get into streaming, a DAC like these can help get you there.

The DL200 does not have IIS input.

 

[JSmith]

There is a review index?

Yes... at the top of the forum;

Master Audio Review Index

www.audiosciencereview.com

JSmith

 

[ph41ko]

Update:

I tested this DAC now and its even worse:

Digi Bridge Pro

Der Oehlbach Digi Bridge Pro, eine exklusive Sonderedition zum 50. Jubiläum, wandelt digitale Audiosignale in analoge um. Er unterstützt PCM-Audiosignale bis zu 192kHz/24Bit und bietet Eingänge für koaxiale und optische Verbindungen. Mit hochwertigen

oehlbach.com

Diffenrent frequenciews are bad, not the same when using the Music Fidelity, but even worse diffenreces and some extremely bad sounding 10000Hz.
You can hear it when listening to female voice in songs like a "zishhhhhh" overtone.

I ordered this one now:
SMSL DO200 MkII https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/smsl-do200-mkii-dac-review.41396/

I didnt want to first, because I cant get it in Germany but found a seller in France now.
Hope this will one will be fine.

I would be interested if someone can test his DAC with the youtube video and post the result.

BTW.:
My Setup: Amazon Fire TV Omni, AstinTrew At 1000 Tube/Hybrid Preamp, Sure Tripath Amp, Jericho Horn Speaker (self made).


Kind Regards

Falko

 

[JeremyFife]

Update:

I tested this DAC now and its even worse:

Digi Bridge Pro

Der Oehlbach Digi Bridge Pro, eine exklusive Sonderedition zum 50. Jubiläum, wandelt digitale Audiosignale in analoge um. Er unterstützt PCM-Audiosignale bis zu 192kHz/24Bit und bietet Eingänge für koaxiale und optische Verbindungen. Mit hochwertigen

oehlbach.com

Diffenrent frequenciews are bad, not the same when using the Music Fidelity, but even worse diffenreces and some extremely bad sounding 10000Hz.
You can hear it when listening to female voice in songs like a "zishhhhhh" overtone.

I ordered this one now:
SMSL DO200 MkII https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/smsl-do200-mkii-dac-review.41396/

I didnt want to first, because I cant get it in Germany but found a seller in France now.
Hope this will one will be fine.

I would be interested if someone can test his DAC with the youtube video and post the result.

BTW.:
My Setup: Amazon Fire TV Omni, AstinTrew At 1000 Tube/Hybrid Preamp, Sure Tripath Amp, Jericho Horn Speaker (self made).


Kind Regards

Falko

What could a subjective YT test, under unknown conditions and with extra gear (that's not the same as yours) possibly tell you that the review here doesn't?

That's a good DAC, it doesn't change the signal audibly.
If you hear something 'off' it's not the DAC.
Sense check this - think how it could be wrong (in engineering and audio terms).