External soundcard/DAC recommendations?

2009-11-28 03:26:15

Using a lappy, so I can't really run a PCI slot one.

Anyway, what are some good recommendations? (Head-fi is not helping too much; it's hard to trust anything they say with when they also spout nonsense about cables and i have no idea what else)

Would the emu0404 be a good choice? Also, I feel like head-fi has been exaggerating quite a bit, so a somewhat related question: what's overkill and what's sensible, from a more scientific perspective? I know for example, that the Audio GD-compass is a pretty extravagant, but my ipod/laptop headphone out is not too ideal either.

External soundcard/DAC recommendations?

Reply #1 – 2009-11-28 04:27:42

I asked a very similar question is this thread:

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....showtopic=76065

I'm still deciding on what to go for, but the people who replied gave a lot of relevant info which I think you'll fine useful.

External soundcard/DAC recommendations?

Reply #2 – 2009-11-28 05:26:21

I just got myself a China made unit USB DAC - MUSILAND Monitor 02 US. It got raving reviews in one of the forums. I don't have much means to gauge how good it is - except that the bass is noticeable better than my 6 years old Dell Inspiron sound card. I can't tell the difference between my 2 years old Dell XPS sound card - except the Dell XPS has a very annoying hissing sound.

The features is really impressive - 24bits/192kHz, ASIO driver. For $140 - I cannot complain.

There is a lower model, which is MUSILAND Monitor 01 US. It is even cheaper, around  $90. If I were to do it again I will get this unit instead. The Monitor 02 has it own power source, whereas the Monitor 01 draws power from the notebook. I am using it to drive my Audioengine A2 active speakers. After some 3 weeks of listening, I am very sure that the limits is on the speakers. Monitor 01 would do just fine.

Take note that there are two variations - MUSILAND Monitor 01 US and MUSILAND Monitor 01 USD. The USD variation only has digital output. the US variation is more expensive, but has headphone and RCA output.

External soundcard/DAC recommendations?

Reply #3 – 2009-11-28 05:35:35

I would definitely chose one from known and respectable manufacturers of pro and semi-pro audio gear.

E-mu, Edirol, M-Audio, Tascam, Lexicom, Tapco, PreSonus,  etc.

see
http://www.sweetwater.com/c695--USB_Audio_Interfaces
and also don't forget:
http://www.sweetwater.com/c683--FireWire_Audio_Interfaces
Firewire is considered more reliable than USB.

External soundcard/DAC recommendations?

Reply #4 – 2009-11-28 11:16:24

What OS though? Cause I got a M-Audio Transit and the Win 7 drivers (and from what I read in the forum, even Vista drivers) suck big time. Like, SUCK suck. In my case I can't get 44.1 or 48 kHz if the input is disabled, analog audio fails to work after you reconnect the USB device, and stuff like that that usually don't come up with alpha drivers, let alone "final" ones.

External soundcard/DAC recommendations?

Reply #5 – 2009-11-28 14:58:49

What will you be using the device for?  If you don't need it to do anything other than output 2-channel audio, a plug-and-play USB DAC might be more reliable and easier to use.  If you plan to use it with headphones, an analog volume control is really nice.  I don't know what your budget is, either, but if you're going to be using headphones maybe look into the iBasso D10.  It's got some impressive features for the money.

External soundcard/DAC recommendations?

Reply #6 – 2009-11-29 02:12:19

Probably going to be using the device for headphones, but I want to try and by some bookshelf speakers local when I have more time.

I'm running vista right now.

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll look into it more!

External soundcard/DAC recommendations?

Reply #7 – 2009-11-29 06:58:10

I have the USB 0404 to a behringer deq2496 as a dac.  Not a bad setup.  The e-mu mentioning “class-a headphone amp” makes you think they were at least paying attention to the headphone section (plenty of positive reviews around), and the behringer, although lots of room for diy improvement in the output section (rip it all out), is well equipped for the price.  Also the bonus of a my-first-RTA box is nice too. 
As for the e-mu:

Drivers suck: not WHQL, and not ALSA compatible.
Their “clocksync” system has never been useful here.  It will however output with the AES bit set.

ASIO works great in winamp, foobar has issues with forgetting settings, ridiculous lag (again – drivers suck)
In windows7, After playing something via asio I have to manually change the output back to 96k for windows media center/system sounds to work again – and if you want digiout….

Something kinda awful that took me a min: This is a 4chan device - digital i/o are channels 3 and 4, not linked to 1 and 2.    Patchmix will not work with this unit.  ASIO drivers have a shift channel or channel mapping option however to get windows sounds (media center) through the digital out you have to run cables from the analog out to the analog in and set it to monitor the inputs.  This is the solution given in the manual.  Although this has worked fine it has my inner audiophile in the corner crying.  I’m sure there’s a way to get ASIO with media center, but I doubt firefox has a plugin for it. 

Overall not a bad unit, it works without a computer hooked up for everything that makes sense (mic preamp, standalone dac), has balanced i/o, and compared to my last one it’s pretty.  Next time I go somewhere I'll be making a battery pack and bringing it with for headphones.