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Author Topic: Budget DAC with Isolated Power - Supposedly Similar to ODAC  (Read 8513 times)

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Hands

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Budget DAC with Isolated Power - Supposedly Similar to ODAC
« on: July 27, 2013, 03:27:58 PM »
I stumbled on a budget DAC that uses the same ES9023 chip as the ODAC. Not only is it really cheap, it also claims to have a built in USB power isolater. That really intrigued me, as I'd seen some discussions on that topic in the forums here. Its predecessor was USB-powered, like the ODAC, and I have read that the original compares favorably to the ODAC (in that they're very similar).

Link to DAC:

http://us.hifimediy.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=51

There's a separate website for the Chinese store. That link above is for the US warehouse. Sometimes the two sites and pages will have info or pictures the other is missing (ex: the Chinese page shows the guts of the DAC).

I figure you could pick up a power adapter for $15 or less and, if what people are saying is true, have something comparable to the ODAC but with isolated power for under $100. I'm considering jumping for it, as I'm thinking it might be better than using my Auzentech Bravura as a DAC/line-out.

Thoughts? Anyone actually have experience with one of these DACs? (as a side, I'm also interested in other DAC options that might be better than my sound card for $150 or less, if you have any ideas...)

Edit: On second thought, I was re-looking at reviews for the Bravura...Perhaps there wouldn't be an appreciable difference between the two?
« Last Edit: July 27, 2013, 03:41:28 PM by hans030390 »
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shipsupt

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Re: Budget DAC with Isolated Power - Supposedly Similar to ODAC
« Reply #1 on: July 27, 2013, 04:26:40 PM »
I like Justin's Pico DAC.  You can find them in that price range used:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/669412/pico-dac-only-portable-dac



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Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

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Re: Budget DAC with Isolated Power - Supposedly Similar to ODAC
« Reply #2 on: July 27, 2013, 05:36:05 PM »
Well, unless it's super easy to find used products at that price, I tend to stick with what I can get new for my money. Either way, I'm thinking I'd have to invest a lot more to really see any sort of step up from the Bravura. It seems like the nicer Auzentech cards measure well when they're working right (which mine is).

Still might be a good budget DAC or at least something to play around with, especially with that isolated power. I bet the $42 USB-powered unit is pretty convenient.
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shipsupt

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Re: Budget DAC with Isolated Power - Supposedly Similar to ODAC
« Reply #3 on: July 27, 2013, 05:45:33 PM »
Well, it wasn't exactly hard to find that one... I only searched after I read your post...

But I can dig what you're saying.

« Last Edit: July 28, 2013, 07:49:32 AM by shipsupt »
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Re: Budget DAC with Isolated Power - Supposedly Similar to ODAC
« Reply #4 on: July 28, 2013, 03:22:27 AM »
Quote from: shipsupt on July 27, 2013, 05:45:33 PM
Well, it wasn't exactly hard to find that one... I only searched after I read you post...

But I can dig what you're saying.

I didn't actually look to see how common they were...lol just stating that preemptively.

Update: I really didn't even need a different DAC, as I'm sure the Bravura is more than adequate and probably has less issues than most DACs in its price range (if benchmarks from reviews are to be believed). Someone I found myself ordered an Onkyo SE-200PCI sound card based on a comparison between it and the ODAC. The reviewer more or less described the ODAC has being too flat and had a "digital sheen." My experience with the ODAC/O2 wasn't quite that severe, but I know what he's talking about when compared to my UHA-6S Mk.II. His comparison and comparative RMAA measurements sold me (along with other reviews and measurements I could find). The SE-200PCI looks like a pretty beastly sound card and should be a great DAC. I found it for $125...used...(Yeah, I know what I said earlier...).

Regardless, and back on point, I did read some impressions about this topic's budget DAC, and someone said it sounded much more like the SE-200PCI than the ODAC. That and its USB-powered sibling seem like really interesting budget DACs. I'd love to see some measurements on them. I've even seen DAC (same chip) that was the size of a small USB flash drive with a 3.5mm output on the side. Interesting...
« Last Edit: July 28, 2013, 01:31:57 PM by hans030390 »
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kiteki

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Re: Budget DAC with Isolated Power - Supposedly Similar to ODAC
« Reply #5 on: August 11, 2013, 07:54:44 AM »
The sonic differences between the $29 Hifimediy Sabre Tiny and the ODAC, are not really there.

If you can hear the difference in any serious, time-aligned, volume matched, rapid-switch DBT ABX, I'll give you $500 cash.

Send me an email, and get ready for Youtube.
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Hands

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Re: Budget DAC with Isolated Power - Supposedly Similar to ODAC
« Reply #6 on: August 11, 2013, 10:51:05 AM »
Quote from: kiteki on August 11, 2013, 07:54:44 AM
The sonic differences between the $29 Hifimediy Sabre Tiny and the ODAC, are not really there.

If you can hear the difference in any serious, time-aligned, volume matched, rapid-switch DBT ABX, I'll give you $500 cash.

Send me an email, and get ready for Youtube.

You know, they're cheap enough...I might just get one some day for kicks to see how it sounds, though I'd like to send it to someone who can do measurements on it.

Can I just have the $500 anyway?
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MuZo2

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Re: Budget DAC with Isolated Power - Supposedly Similar to ODAC
« Reply #7 on: August 11, 2013, 05:20:46 PM »
$29 Hifimediy is for Android phones with   USB (receiver) PCM2706 - Accepts up to 48Khz/16bit
There is another one for PC with USB (receiver) chip TenorTE7022L - Accepts up to 96khz/24bit input signals over USB
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uncola

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Re: Budget DAC with Isolated Power - Supposedly Similar to ODAC
« Reply #8 on: September 26, 2013, 03:52:51 AM »
I've had the version that feeds off usb power.  I only had the pcm 1793 dac in my aune t1 to compare it to, but it was superior to that.  I liked it a lot.. seemed pretty fast more detailed and extended high frequency than the aune t1, which I actually didn't prefer since my ultrasone headphones seemed bright and the aune t1 tamed the highs
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kiteki

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Re: Budget DAC with Isolated Power - Supposedly Similar to ODAC
« Reply #9 on: October 27, 2013, 02:08:32 PM »

I now actually prefer the sound from my internal RealTek soundcard to my Hifimediy, which surprised me.

Seems like I was spoiled by my ES9018 and AK4399, which are both clearly superior to the ES9023.

I rank the Hifimediy on the same level as the SanDisk Clip+, they sound almost identical when used as a source I think.

It IS difficult to beat those two at their low price, but a CM6631 / CS4398 is worth the extra investment http://www.ebay.com/itm/24-192-24-96-CM6631-USB-to-COAX-SPDIF-CS4398-AD8656-Headphone-amp-built-in-/251261466078

The sound of ES9023 is just too thin and digital, except for in the AckoDAC AKD-23S, yet even there I eventually disconnected it in favour of the more velvet and real AKM AK4396 type sound.

As for "smartphone handy DAC's", IME that's all a novelty so far, the software and amp section is more important in that case, such as Neutron player in the phone connected to an iBasso with rollable op-amps.

The weak link the Clip+ is the amp, as a source it's 'okay' sounding, Teclast X19+ is a slightly better source though for sure.

Sony Xperia Ray and Nokia Lumia 620 are both decent and nice sounding, especially the DAC in the Ray with Neutron player, and the amp in the Lumia is definitely 'lively', but ultimately they both suck compared to desktop DAC's.

Portable audio is a calamity, really!

I'm rather tempted by the HiFi E.T. MA9 since it uses PCM1704, however I have my eye on the VEVO X3 as well, which might be the best thing China has invented since gunpowder.

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