6 replies to this topic

[coodgee]

Hi guys,
Has there been any discussion about this upgraded dac kit from earlier in the year? Has anyone heard this DAC in action? I had a look for a thread about this but i couldn't find anything.

http://siliconchip.c...66/article.html

I am in the market for a dac for my HTPC and I am considering a DIY kit to get better value for my price range (under $500). I'm not very good at DIY audio but my dad is quite experienced and together we could put together most projects. I'm very interested to know what the quality of one these kits is like.

Are there any other kits that are generally rated very good for under the $500 mark? I have heard there are some good ones on ebay etc that come partially assembled.

Perhaps someone could point me in the right direction here?

[Cyber_Murphy]

Hi there,

I have no experience with the Silicon chip DAC kit.. But the good thign about SC kits is that they are complete kits, meaning case, transformer, hardware,, etc..
Now they even sell just the printed circuit boards if you want to source your own bits and pieces..

Other options for DAC kits are below: (some of these are not complete kits)

http://hifimediy.com...ategory&path=62

http://www.twistedpe...al/buffalo.aspx

http://www.junilabs.com/en/index.html

http://www.audionote...com/dac2_1.html

I know there are more,, and hopefully someone on here might ad some too.. But watch out for some of those "E-bay" DACS,, there has been a lot written about them over at DIYaudio

Hope this helps!

Ta
CM

[coodgee]

thanks for the reply Cyber_murphy. I'm also considering an audio-GD 3.1 at the moment. I wonder what would be better bang for buck?

[Cyber_Murphy]

thanks for the reply Cyber_murphy. I'm also considering an audio-GD 3.1 at the moment. I wonder what would be better bang for buck?

Not sure,, I've had no experience with audio-GD, but many on here have..

I have laways preferred DIY

Ta
CM

[peterpan]

hi,

audio-gd stuff is well made and are generally best at the price points they compete in, imho. i have had the nfb-2 and that was a great dac which you would have to spend
closer to a $1000 to better it, again in my experience and opinion and also in my system/room/ etc.
it would be hard to say what is better bang for buck? as with the kit you have no idea how it sounds till you build it, and there are lots of people on here who own audio-gd stuff that could
either let you listen to theirs or give you an idea of its sound.
i am not against diy as it can be a good way to get something nicer for the price and the fun of building it is also worth the experience.
i dont think you could go wrong either way as most silicon chip kits have been very good and i suspect this will be as well.

cheers
pp

[coodgee]

thanks Peterpan, I ended up going with the audio-GD 3.2 (they have a 3.2 model now!)

[joeyahoo1]

Hi guys,
Has there been any discussion about this upgraded dac kit from earlier in the year? Has anyone heard this DAC in action? I had a look for a thread about this but i couldn't find anything.

http://siliconchip.c...66/article.html

I am in the market for a dac for my HTPC and I am considering a DIY kit to get better value for my price range (under $500). I'm not very good at DIY audio but my dad is quite experienced and together we could put together most projects. I'm very interested to know what the quality of one these kits is like.

Are there any other kits that are generally rated very good for under the $500 mark? I have heard there are some good ones on ebay etc that come partially assembled.

Perhaps someone could point me in the right direction here?

Hi,
I've read ths article (I bougth the magzs). I like they use DIR 9001 (according to Audio-gd it has natural sound compared others), discrete I/V & output preamp (discrete/ individual components has better soundstage, low-highs more open, more lows, sound comes closer) but ths DAC is not for my taste. My objections : they use IC regulators in their PSU (not discrete) and a simple passive R & C on its clock (see the X'Tal on DIR9001 circuit means less accurate, usually around 220 pps. Active clock can reach 3-10 theoritically). Active clock gives better soundstage, sound instruments comeindividually. But of course tht DAC is not meant for a serious one and more fit for affordabilty

Edited by joeyahoo1, 04 August 2012 - 04:14 PM.