Hi all.
For those that use a PC/laptop for storing music/movies and controlling playback, what musical DAC should they buy?
My son doesn't have the budget to invest in a DS-player but like to get a bit better performance than the inbuilt Audio board in the PC offer.

And is it consensus regarding the cable/interface between the PC and DAC? A lot of talk about asynchronous USB's lately...

Searched without finding a similar thread before.

For a while I used a PC audio card SPdif out into the onboard DAC of a linn 5103 and really enjoyed the performance. It's also a nice pre-amp upgrade to the Kairn I had before. Using foobar you can manage your library and control remotely with phone, very convenient. Software is free should be able to pick up a 5103 fairly cheaply these days which belies its performance.

Alternativley the budget DAC arena is an option but a bit hit and miss. I do like the products from "ifi" though. I use the ilink and ipower going into my classe onboard DAC and really enjoy this.

Cheers
Andy

This is something I'm interested in too. I want a low cost solution for my shed.

On my TV I've got a Cambridge Audio DAC - the one Fredrick heard and thought sounded OK. I got it when it was on special offer at Richer Sounds - a bargain at £130 delivered. I've not done a proper test (cos it's only for the telly!), but it appears to be slightly more tuneful and has a better sound than a little iFi USB DAC (about £30) that I've also got. It's the one that's been raved about on pfm.

I remember that Jason Hector reviewed half a dozen DACs and he thought that the CA was the most musical up to about £400+.

The one I'm most interested in at the moment is a Raspberry Pi with an Audiophonics onboard DAC. The Audiophonics has a dedicated clock, which I don't think any of the others have. I've compared it to a RP with a PiDac+, and thought the Audiophonics was a bit more tuneful - enough to start being engaging, whereas the PiDac wasn't. The sound of the Audiophonics was way better too - open, detailed, spacious - quite impressive really.

The RP option has the additional benefit of being able to be used with DSs and controlled by Kazoo, which means I'd have access to everything on the NAS, Internet radio and Quobuz or Tidal -and all for about £110 !!!

My CA DAC has just developed a fault, but when it's been repaired I'll compare it with a RP/Audiphonics and see how it compares. There are quite a few alternative DACs for the RP too. I see a RP + DAC + PS thread coming on!

I think the Meridian Director is a very good USB DAC,it's also upgradeable with the separate power supply Meridian Prime PS. Also their really small one Explorer 2 is very good for the money. The first version Explorer is also one the best USB interface you can use into a good SPDIF DAC, Explorer 2 doesn't have a digital output tho.

Spannko wrote: On my TV I've got a Cambridge Audio DAC - the one Fredrick heard and thought sounded OK.

Is it the CA Dacmagic Plus, Dacmagic 100 or the Dacmagic XS you have?

It's a DacMagic 100

For what it's worth I have the following setup in my attic running as a very cheap second system: -

Raspberry Pi 2 Model B > IQAudio DAC+ > Audiolab 8000A > Acoustic Research AR28s

Currently running Volumio 1.55 on the micro SD card.

This Maplin DAC sounded more musical than the What HiFi 5xxxxx usual suspect DACs up to £200..I got it for £28 at the time .Maplin is way too expensive now. Here's the generic one for £33 at Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/607/dp/B004GCV8 ... ywords=Dac

Linnofil didn't rate it with his iPhone though not sure he got a bit perfect output from his phone ..I've got an enjoyable and engaging sound with it and my galaxy note 2 plugged straight into Aktiv klouts

I have a couple of the maplin dac's, they are ok on the tv but a bit flat and dull for music.
If you can spend a little more Beresford (www.homehifi.co.uk) do a musical dac at a reasonable price. I have the Bushmaster MK2 (it is spdif not usb) in a second system and really enjoy the results.
All in my own experience in my system of course.