A good audio interface/ amp and dac

[bigbrain890]

Hello Everyone,

 

I'm not sure if this topic already exists, as I haven't done too much searching for something similar, so I'm sorry if this is a repost. Anyway, here's what I got.

 

I'm not exactly contempt with the audio solution on my motherboard. I've got an Asus M5A97LE R2.0. I want a good amp/dac combo, but something that also has some inputs for some audio recording. In this case, something like a Fiio E10 is out of the question. What I'm currently trying, is a Scarlett 2i2 by Focusrite. A friend let me borrow it to see how I like it, and I've got to say, I'm quite pleased. It's got two combo XLR and quarter inch mic inputs that work with Ableton live quite well. Still, this is a little over my price range. I'm wondering if you guys can recommend something similar maybe closer to the 100 dollar price point. The Scarlett is about 150...and I have to give it back today :mellow: haha.

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.  

[MisterZero]

A friend of mine uses something simlar to this paired with these, and you could add a good and or small DAC and you would have a solid recording/speakers setup.

I have honestly no idea about a god and/or small DAC, I just use my onboard audio, and it works just fine (mind you, I don't do anything professional and my speakers/headphones/ears are not good enough to notice a difference.)

 

Hope this helps

[SurvivorNVL]

It depends on your price range honestly.  If you want something good as an audio interface - Line 6 UX2 Pod is amazing and so is the RME Babyface, but the Babyface is upward 700 and even used is 600+.  The Line 6 is $100 / $150 last I saw.  As for Dac and Amp - Mayflower Objective is O2 is -really- good, but so is Schiit's modi and magni.  I used Schiit's Asgard 2 and Bifrost.  I've contemplated getting a tube AMP, but I like accuracy and punch over warmth and flow.

[SurvivorNVL]

Woops.  Misread the price thing  Anyway - I say Line 6 for audio interface with the pod Farm software and the schiit stack modi / magni is perfect, but that's having to save 100 - 150 once or twice for the full set-up but it should be a long lasting thing  Sorry for missing the price-range part of your post  Really tired.

[bigbrain890]

It depends on your price range honestly.  If you want something good as an audio interface - Line 6 UX2 Pod is amazing and so is the RME Babyface, but the Babyface is upward 700 and even used is 600+.  The Line 6 is $100 / $150 last I saw.  As for Dac and Amp - Mayflower Objective is O2 is -really- good, but so is Schiit's modi and magni.  I used Schiit's Asgard 2 and Bifrost.  I've contemplated getting a tube AMP, but I like accuracy and punch over warmth and flow.

 

Thanks for the suggestions, and you too MisterZero. I have heard of things like the Schiit stacks and the Objective products, which have seemed to take the audio market by storm. I recently learned that I have a friend using and Objective 2 amp and dac combo, and I'm able to borrow it from him. I'll try that out. Also, there's always the option of waiting till i get a bit more cash, so I can buy one of those Scarlet 2i2's. Thank you guys though, it's been helpful!