Jump to content

Best $100ish DAC/Amp combo

pancoon
Go to solution Solved by xtroria,

Well the conversation got rather sidetracked.

 

Anyway, you don't need an amp or dac for M40x and it's certainly doesnt worth additional $100. If you can spend additional $100, you might as well get a better headphone.

Hey everyone,

I eant to purchase my first DAC/Amp for my PC. Since I am not a huge audiophile, I am going for around $100. I saw this one on Massdrop,https://www.massdrop.com/buy/monoprice-desktop-amp-dac, but if you turn off the unit, it seems to have problems turning it back on and thr DAC also turns off instead of just the Amp and your PC does not think there is an audio card. Any alternatives?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Why?

Why what xD. Why I want one? Better audio quality then my built in sound card.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Why what xD. Why I want one? Better audio quality then my built in sound card.

Is there something wrong with your onboard? E.G. static or non-functioning. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Why what xD. Why I want one? Better audio quality then my built in sound card.

 

An amp / dac combo won't make a shitty headphone sounds good, it's supposed to power the headphone first and foremost. What's the headphone that you use currently first?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey everyone,

I eant to purchase my first DAC/Amp for my PC. Since I am not a huge audiophile, I am going for around $100. I saw this one on Massdrop,https://www.massdrop.com/buy/monoprice-desktop-amp-dac, but if you turn off the unit, it seems to have problems turning it back on and thr DAC also turns off instead of just the Amp and your PC does not think there is an audio card. Any alternatives?

 

Wait, you have it already or planning to get one? How do you know about the problems?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Is there something wrong with your onboard? E.G. static or non-functioning.

Functioning fine, but DACs can really increase the quality.

An amp / dac combo won't make a shitty headphone sounds good, it's supposed to power the headphone first and foremost. What's the headphone that you use currently first?

I am about to buy a ATH-M50x

Wait, you have it already or planning to get one? How do you know about the problems?

I saw a review and these problems were very evident. The problems turning on the unit may be just for that unit. The DAC turning off with the Amp is for all the devices.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Functioning fine, but DACs can really increase the quality. No they don't.

I am about to buy a ATH-M50x Very wasteful.

I saw a review and these problems were very evident. The problems turning on the unit may be just for that unit. The DAC turning off with the Amp is for all the devices.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

The problems turning on the unit may be just for that unit. The DAC turning off with the Amp is for all the devices.

 

Ok, so let's waive about the turning on problem.

 

What's with the other problem? DAC turning off? If you switch it off, of course it will be off. 

 

It can select what input you wanna use, thus selecting what function you want.

 

115673.jpg

 

See that USB DAC - AUX IN switch? That's the switch.

 

When it's set to USB DAC, it will function as DAC + amp

When it's set to AUX IN, it will function as an amp only, needing an input from another source, from the jacks behind. 

 

If you wanna use it as a DAC only, in other words, you wanna use another amp instead of its built-in amp, use one of the jacks:

 

115674.jpg

 

Either PRE-OUT or LINE-OUT

 

So really, it seems I don't see/understand the problem. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

 I saw a review and these problems were very evident. 

 

Care to share the review for others to benefit?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Listen to them man, and just in case I ordered the ATH M40X instead of the ATH M50X, that price difference I don't know if it's worth it.

●CPU: i7-4790K w/H100i ●Mobo: MSI Z97 MPower ●RAM: Corsair 16GB Dominator ●GPU: EVGA ACX SC 780 3GB(X2) ●SSD: 850 Pro 256GB ●Case: 450D ●PSU: AX 860i ●Monitor: Asus PB278Q 1440p

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Listen to them man, and just in case I ordered the ATH M40X instead of the ATH M50X, that price difference I don't know if it's worth it.

It isn't, you pay nearly %50 more for hinges that rotate more, other then that they are identical. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

It isn't, you pay nearly %50 more for hinges that rotate more, other then that they are identical. 

 

Yeah, that's why I didn't went with the M50X.

●CPU: i7-4790K w/H100i ●Mobo: MSI Z97 MPower ●RAM: Corsair 16GB Dominator ●GPU: EVGA ACX SC 780 3GB(X2) ●SSD: 850 Pro 256GB ●Case: 450D ●PSU: AX 860i ●Monitor: Asus PB278Q 1440p

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Care to share the review for others to benefit?

Very long, but he goes over things.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Ok, so let's waive about the turning on problem.

 

What's with the other problem? DAC turning off? If you switch it off, of course it will be off. 

 

It can select what input you wanna use, thus selecting what function you want.

 

115673.jpg

 

See that USB DAC - AUX IN switch? That's the switch.

 

When it's set to USB DAC, it will function as DAC + amp

When it's set to AUX IN, it will function as an amp only, needing an input from another source, from the jacks behind. 

 

If you wanna use it as a DAC only, in other words, you wanna use another amp instead of its built-in amp, use one of the jacks:

 

115674.jpg

 

Either PRE-OUT or LINE-OUT

 

So really, it seems I don't see/understand the problem. 

Nvm. Anyways, is there any competitive DAC/Amps at similar price?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Very long, but he goes over things.

 

Oh, the part between 11:25 - 13:30

 

I don't know if I get it wrong, but its supposed to do exactly that. Why? Because it's an dac/amp combo. In 12:50 he compared it to the ODAC + separate amp. Of course that's different, because it's 2 different thing altogether. Perhaps he's hoping the DAC to be bus powered, while the amp being powered by its proprietary power supply. Well, honestly never seen/heard any dac/amp combo that work like that. Honestly, I don't think the guy in the video really understand the term 'dac/amp combo'

 

It's like saying, 'I wanna turn on my PC, but leave the HDD off'. Well, you can't do that, unless the HDD is unplugged, because when it's plugged, they work together as an integrated system. It's just doesn't work that way for an integrated system.

 

My Aune T1 does exactly the same as that on windows 7. If I wanna turn it on or off, ALL the unit must be on or off. I can't choose if I wanna just turn on the dac or the amp, because it's integrated, it's what the term 'dac/amp combo' is all about. 

 

- If I turn my PC on while the T1 is off, the PC will select onboard

- If I turn my T1 off while the PC is on, the PC will go back to onboard

 

That's just the way it is. And he confirmed it too by saying that his Topping D1 does exactly the same thing, because it's also a dac/amp combo.

 

If you don't wanna have that/can't live with that, then go with his solution, get a dedicated dac + dedicated amp, like his ODAC + amp. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

If you're looking for basic usb DAC/amp under $90: Schiit Fulla, FiiO E10k, SMSL M2. (and ZeosPantera/Zreviews has a video for each of them)

 

Not that more power is needed in this case, but USB only amps cannot compete with an amp with a dedicated power supply.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Not that more power is needed in this case, but USB only amps cannot compete with an amp with a dedicated power supply.

Not that anything is needed in the first place, OP dodged my question about whether or not he even needs one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Not that anything is needed in the first place, OP dodged my question about whether or not he even needs one.

 

Yes, it's all sadly familiar.

 

He probably read how some clown on head-fi got a DAC and it added soundstage and bass so now he thinks he needs one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes, it's all sadly familiar.

 

He probably read how some clown on head-fi got a DAC and it added soundstage and bass so now he thinks he needs one.

Its sad, I had this gif prep'd and everything hoping for a trainwreck. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Its sad, I had this gif prep'd and everything hoping for a trainwreck. 

 

You'll get another chance to use it, something tells me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

You'll get another chance to use it, something tells me.

I'm feeling that Surround Sound Thread right next to this one. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm feeling that Surround Sound Thread right next to this one. 

 

I'm looking forward to it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×