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Gear / Technical Help => Playback Forum => Topic started by: midside on August 26, 2008, 03:01:17 PM

Title: Budget DAC?
Post by: midside on August 26, 2008, 03:01:17 PM

I know this question comes up from time to time but there hasn't been any talk lately and the market for budget DACs is always changing.  I am looking for a decent quality DAC in the $200 or under range.
I know there are many from China and Taiwan, some of the popular ones have been the Zhaolu and Zero.
Any suggestions?

p.s. balanced XLR outs is a plus :)

Title: Re: Budget DAC?
Post by: Todd R on August 26, 2008, 03:14:00 PM

No balanced outs and more towards the budget side of a budget DAC, but I've got the Super Pro Dac-in-the-box that I use with my Trends TA-10 T-amp that I like.  Definitely a nice DAC for the money.

http://www.obadimports.com/catalog/item/4377355/4684274.htm

Title: Re: Budget DAC?
Post by: jerryfreak on August 27, 2008, 05:23:06 AM

save up another $100 and buy one of the lucid da9624s that come up on ebay all the time. next step up are the benchmark/lavry units in the $700-$1200 range.

Title: Re: Budget DAC?
Post by: Nick's Picks on August 27, 2008, 06:26:26 AM

I'd also throw in for the LITE variety.

Title: Re: Budget DAC?
Post by: rustoleum on August 27, 2008, 12:20:51 PM

art DI/O

buy it stock in the price range you're looking for and then have the option of upgrading down the line.  ART has discontinued the DI/O, but you can still find it if you look around for it. 

Just looked for the company that did a lot of the modded DI/Os and couldn't find it.  does anyone know if Boulder Cable Company is stilling modding DI/Os a la the Mensa mod?

Title: Re: Budget DAC?
Post by: Massive Dynamic on August 27, 2008, 01:40:08 PM

Still around
http://www.boldercables.com/servlet/StoreFront

Title: Re: Budget DAC?
Post by: twatts (pants are so over-rated...) on August 27, 2008, 02:03:38 PM

Quote from: rustoleum on August 27, 2008, 12:20:51 PM

does anyone know if Boulder Cable Company is stilling modding DI/Os a la the Mensa mod?

From the website:
We are sorry to say that we no longer offer any mods or do any work on the ART DI/O.  We will honor our warranty on modded ART DI/Os for the original purchaser.

T