TheAudiophile

spwath just messaged me. He's getting the kit. Whatever he thinks is cool with me.

Yes, there are a few flagship DACs that have come out since then. I've built projects around them and a lot of them have great sound. No, the motherboard audio codec hasn't changed much. We've had the ALC8xx and ALC1150 for almost all of that time.

Remember how I offered up the kit right after you posted? I made sure to include the words "neutral party" for a reason. No, it's really hard to "build it wrong". Even individual resistor and cap values are printed on the board. I'm not going to dismiss anything someone who isn't biased against me or the idea of a DAC says after listening. You don't have to like me or my words. This is about improving one's audio equipment, not how you personally feel about me.

If anyone is curious, here is the original article/build log/experiment by Lukas Fikusz that I read back in 2009 when just starting to delve into how to improve my source. http://lampizator.eu/LAMPIZATOR/LAMPUCERA/CD%20DAC%20Lampucera%20lampizator.html There is so much useful information on his website regarding DACs.

I used to sell it for $349 in a cigar box when I was unemployed, orders totalled 12 and then I didn't have time after getting a real job. I sold upgraded Playstations too, as well as a few custom orders. The most complex build was an ES9018 with shunt-regulated power supplies, transformer I/V stage and 6N2P tube output. Nothing has sounded better than that so far, but that was the customer's money I was spending, not mine. Well outside of my budget.

edited to spwath. you replied while I was responding. Also, I believe that it still is a kit, they just show the finished picture.

spwath, You are probably a good candidate. I'm going to let this post sit for today in case someone not yet involved in the conversation yet sees the offer. If not I'll have you PM me your shipping address. It should all fit into a USPS $5 box which I will cover. You are familiar with soldering, right?

As stated in my original post, I bet the ones you heard were all very similar in signal path to your board. I'll even ship a pair of the output transformers to the volunteer neutral testing party to get a complete picture. Those I request be returned at the end of testing though. You still get to keep a very capable DAC.

This is not the attitude of an audio enthusiast, this is the attitude of a bandwagoner. If a truly neutral party comes forward and wants to test my DAC against their onboard sound, I will ship them one of my spare kits to do it with, free of charge.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CS4398-USB-DAC-USB-coaxial-input-audio-RCA-output-192K-24BIT-kit/272219985126?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D36142%26meid%3Da1f975013e74418aa180a2d356872bd1%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D161800752667

Your post was good, havoc. I dont think it should be last with prices as low as they are, but I liked your testing.

Condescension breeds condescension. Also, you few don't represent all audio enthusiasts on this board. There are a few people who have PMed me for advice since starting this thread.

Sure I agree with you but those types of people probably don't even read the audio forum. I'll go ahead and clear up that I'm speaking to audio enthusiasts.

Ah, now there's an actual post. We may be talking about very similar things using different words. Whenever I upgrade a component, I choose to either stick with it or sell it based upon if I can hear "further into the music" or "more sound information" and make sure frequency response has stayed flat. Describe what yardstick for you has to be "drastically different" for you to keep a component?

Hi SSL, thanks for that great post. Also, yes you have unless you didn't like any of the things you've purchased. Honestly it's probably best for your psychological health if you just unfollow this thread and ignore it. Just trying to help you out.