external DACs? Experiences? Worth it, or no?

[rumsfald]

Hi folks (and by folks, I mean Mission_Difficult, cuz that's the opinion I am trolling for),

Anyone have any experience with external DAC's improving (or not) the music coming from thine computing machine?

I saw a good review for this, made me kinda tempted http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003Y5F...PXMX0JATIS

Although, as soon as I read some more, the Audinst HUD-MX sounds like a competitor (though, with most hi-fi-bullshit, at more of a price).

Thing is, (as with most hi-fi-bullshit), I didn't have a complaint about my current inboard soundcard and grado sr60s till I read a review of the nuforce.

And so it goes. Any thoughts?

[Stein]

Build a $30-50 portable headphone amp yourself.
http://tangentsoft.net/audio/cmoy-tutorial/

[HeK]

Anything that calls it's self 'audio-grade' is questionable, as is anything that uses RJ45 to connect speakers (on the non-portable unit). Hello, banana clips?
I'm also weary about usb audio devices in general.

A know a Cpl at work who swears by his DAC, I don't know the specs, but I can ask him tomorrow if he's not on gate duty.
I know it's an SPDIF DAC, not USB.

[Mission Difficult]

Build a $30-50 portable headphone amp yourself.
http://tangentsoft.net/audio/cmoy-tutorial/

What he is looking at is an actual converter, not an amp. I haven't used anything like that before, but from what I've read it's pretty good for the money. There's a cheaper version of the one you linked that does away with the coax and rca outs. If you have a toslink or coax out on your computer, I would suggest looking into a converter for that instead of something that runs off of usb. But to answer your question, I think standalone DACs are very much worth it.

[at0m]

Depends on what you're doing with it. I believe my brother may make use of such items while making music in a recording studio, but I don't think it matters enough to be worthwhile for everyday use or he'd have bought one.

sauce: my brother is an audio engineer, dj, and musician

[rumsfald]

Thanks for the input, folks (bad pun, intended).

No coax for audio. I admit I've got an optical audio-OUT on my motherboard that I've never had occasion to use. I'm poking around a bit for a DAC that would use that instead of USB, but so far I've not seen one that tickles my fancy.

I am partial to the RCA jacks, because at least half the time, or more, I route my desktop sound to my audio system. (A Cambridge Soundworks Model 11 that I bought in 1993, thankyouverymuch I still love it. Though some days I worry that it might need a tune-up from dry-rot or somesuch, it still sounds as good as any loudspeakers I have occasion to be around. Yes, the old-school suitcase model).

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Well, since we are on the topic of audioporn, I don't recall if I mentioned this, but during the summer, as I was walking back from work, I noted that someone threw away a 1960s era Admiral tube-powered HiFi turntable/am/FM. It's like as long as a buffet table for some smallish 6-inch mid speakers. Needless to say, I absconded with it, and it is in fine working order, though the veneer needs some buffing. And, as a bonus, it uses RCA-inputs deep the in belly of it's chassis, so it very welcomely accepts the ipod, or, shudder, the electric guitar.

[HeK]

So, the Corp at the shop uses a Cambridge Soundworks DAC, but he tells me that he drools over this: http://www.arcam.co.uk/products,solo,dacs,rDac.htm

[rumsfald]

interesting, thanks, HeK, but at nearly $500, I will be content to drool too.

I was actually not _unhappy_ with my set-up. I merely became tempted with the promises of a sub-$200 part adding to my listening enjoyment. At that point, the $139 UDAC2 seemed intriguing.

I'm clearly too much of a cheapskate to fully give in to the audio-snobbery.

[Mission Difficult]

It says NuForce has a 30 refund period, so I say go for it.