Jimster480
Major Contributor
Sex jokes? I mean topping has so many definitions...
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Bargain DAC Suggestions?
- Thread starter amirm
- Start date
watchnerd
Grand Contributor
But the others aren't as funny.
Jimster480
Major Contributor
watchnerd
Grand Contributor
Oh, I doubt it's on purpose.
My favorite example of Chinese audio branding gone wrong is luxury tube maker Psvane.
Apparently when they first started out, they were trying to name the product "Pavane", after the classical Baroque period dance.
But the first big batch of products got mislabeled, and rather than just chucking the order out or demanding a redo, they just changed the name to match the goof up and have been stuck with it ever since.
Jimster480
Major Contributor
lmao.... makes sense for many chinese brands. There is no way they can afford to redo the batch because the margins are too low.Oh, I doubt it's on purpose.
My favorite example of Chinese audio branding gone wrong is luxury tube maker Psvane.
Apparently when they first started out, they were trying to name the product "Pavane", after the classical Baroque period dance.
But the first big batch of products got mislabeled, and rather than just chucking the order out or demanding a redo, they just changed the name to match the goof up and have been stuck with it ever since.
Don't forget Meidong audio.
Jimster480
Major Contributor
I honestly think they had to know when making that one lmao
Rijimiriru
Member
Can anyone recommend me a DAC to use with my PC?
I will mostly be using it to listen to music, play games and watch movies.
My speakers are some very old Creative labs ones which I might be upgrading to something more decent soon.
The headphones I use are BeyerDynamic DT 770 Pro 80 Ohm.
I'm looking to spend up to 100euros, preferably less.
I will mostly be using it to listen to music, play games and watch movies.
My speakers are some very old Creative labs ones which I might be upgrading to something more decent soon.
The headphones I use are BeyerDynamic DT 770 Pro 80 Ohm.
I'm looking to spend up to 100euros, preferably less.
Veri
Master Contributor
If you want a dac+headamp and want to spend less than 100 euro, I'm afraid you won't find much if anything of considerable quality..
Cahudson42
Major Contributor
Hmmm..Well, for a DAC, you could use the $9 Apple dongle. Look at the review here on ASR. For the amp, less than ideal, but a Topping NX3s should be ok with your 80ohm DT770. $55 here on US Amazon:
Topping NX3s Portable Headphone Amplifier OPA2140 LME49720 USB Bass Gain HiFi Digital Audio Power Amplifier(Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J68NVYY/
Topping NX3s Portable Headphone Amplifier OPA2140 LME49720 USB Bass Gain HiFi Digital Audio Power Amplifier(Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J68NVYY/
Rijimiriru
Member
What does a headphone amp do exactly? I thought I only needed a DAC for better sound quality.
Veri
Master Contributor
A DAC without an amp can't drive headphone or speaker unless your speakers are of the powered/volume control kind.
A DAC just converts digital like USB to sound: analog signal. Generally to a line level, ready for amplification.
Many times the word 'dac' is used for a dac+amp though.
Rijimiriru
Member
I see, thanks for the clarification.
So it seems I need a dac with a built-in amp then
So it seems I need a dac with a built-in amp then
Veri
Master Contributor
YepI see, thanks for the clarification.
So it seems I need a dac with a built-in amp then
on 11/11 there's single's day biggest sales time in China, you could buy a Topping DX3 which seems to be ideal for your use case. The Topping DX3 on 11/11 is $197.99 instead of $219.99, you could get $3 new customer discount and $10 11/11 discount, $8 off every $150 spent, so looking at around $175. Still a lot more than your budget..OR like @Cahudson42 says you could get a $9 apple usb-c adapter, a 3.5mm interconnect cable and use as amp a Topping NX3S ($69,99 from amazon) or a JDS Atom (around $100). The apple usb-c is just fine, but you could later upgrade it to something else should you be so inclined... The atom also has a pre-amp function for speakers which is pretty cool.
You could start with a Fiio K3 (or an E10K), you then have the option to upgrade the amp or DAC later (I started with the K3, then upgrade to a JDS Atom amp and then upgraded the DAC to a Topping D50s).
Note sure where you're located, but the K3 is under 100EUR in several local Amazon sites... https://www.hagglezon.com/en/s/fiio k3
Note sure where you're located, but the K3 is under 100EUR in several local Amazon sites... https://www.hagglezon.com/en/s/fiio k3
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Rijimiriru
Member
Thanks! That Fiio K3 sounds like a good idea and it's around my budget.
I presume the sound will sound a lot better with it than just plugging my headphones into my soundcard?
Will it also work with my desktop speakers?
I presume the sound will sound a lot better with it than just plugging my headphones into my soundcard?
Will it also work with my desktop speakers?
It sounds *a lot* better than the on-board sound on my Gigabyte motherboard. The K3 has a volume controlled Line Out on the back that you can plug your Creative Labs speakers into. Note that the K3 will output to both headphone and line output simultaneously, so you need to manage the volume when plugging in headphones or switching on speakers.
Rijimiriru
Member
Excellent.
Thank you very much for all the useful information!
Thank you very much for all the useful information!
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