Anyone with experience or recommendation for a good USB DAC for PC?

[Ariortega]

Hello everyone,

I'm currently using the combination of a FiiO E10K and a Beyerdynamic DT 880. I'm using that combo for over 4 years now and I guess it's ok not bad in terms of sound quality.

But I want to upgrade, take my audio / music experience to the next level. Has anyone of you guys experience with some good USB DACs within the price range of 250€ ~ 450€ ?

Here's a - supposedly - good USB DAC I found: Topping DX5 lite. I would combine that with a Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro.

What combination are you guys using?

[PopinFRESH]

Are you just using it for the headphone amp or do you have speakers as well?

Also is it for a desktop or laptop?

[Ariortega]

Originally posted by PopinFRESH:

Are you just using it for the headphone amp or do you have speakers as well?

Also is it for a desktop or laptop?

Just using it for the headphone for my desktop PC.
(I'm going to buy some stereo speakers - Dali Oberon 5 - maybe winter next year, but for those I would buy a Denon PMA-1700NE).

[r.linder]

I just run my 770s through an audio interface, better results than the E10K and some more expensive DACs because of support for 192KHz audio.

[Crawl]

I run a Schiit Modius (DAC) and Magnius (Amp). The combo sounds great and can push even my most power hungry headphones like the HiFIman HE6SE. I also own the DT 1990 Pro and they sound great on it as well.

[emoticorpse]

How did you guys know that you were "missing out" on good audio? You tested a great system and then realized your own was worse or you just bought new gear and risked "same exact thing as onboard audio" and risk a waste of money?.

Because lately I'm listening to my onboard audio and I'm like "Damn, this sounds good!" lol. I wonder what I would think if I listened to like even a decent DAC thing. I am considering buying one on Amazon just to play around. Like a $70 one.

Also I got a pair of Corsair HS70 headphones. Are these like too much of garbage headphones to hear decent audio if I got a DAC?. I know they aren't crisp sounding but I think that's by design. Plus they're open back and I do like the bass on them.

[Ariortega]

Originally posted by emoticorpse:

How did you guys know that you were "missing out" on good audio? You tested a great system and then realized your own was worse or you just bought new gear and risked "same exact thing as onboard audio" and risk a waste of money?.

Because lately I'm listening to my onboard audio and I'm like "Damn, this sounds good!" lol. I wonder what I would think if I listened to like even a decent DAC thing. I am considering buying one on Amazon just to play around. Like a $70 one.

Also I got a pair of Corsair HS70 headphones. Are these like too much of garbage headphones to hear decent audio if I got a DAC?. I know they aren't crisp sounding but I think that's by design. Plus they're open back and I do like the bass on them.

Let me tell you this: before I bought my FiiO E10K, I also used my onboard audio (had a MSI Z270 M5) with my DT 880 and the sound was ok / good I guess. I decided to upgrade a little bit and got me the FiiO E10K. And even though, it was not a biiiiig step towards godly audiophile levels and such, I still was positively surprised, that a tiny little device could make such a difference. Everything, starting from gaming music / sounds, listening to my mp3s or movies had suddenly more detail, sounded "richer" (and for me definitely better).

So...should you decide to get a decent USB DAC (doesn't even have to be that expensive), let me tell you: you won't regret it, I promise!

[HypersleepyNaputunia]

so you plug usb in to your computer to fio then headphone to fio?

[emoticorpse]

Originally posted by Ariortega:

Originally posted by emoticorpse:

How did you guys know that you were "missing out" on good audio? You tested a great system and then realized your own was worse or you just bought new gear and risked "same exact thing as onboard audio" and risk a waste of money?.

Because lately I'm listening to my onboard audio and I'm like "Damn, this sounds good!" lol. I wonder what I would think if I listened to like even a decent DAC thing. I am considering buying one on Amazon just to play around. Like a $70 one.

Also I got a pair of Corsair HS70 headphones. Are these like too much of garbage headphones to hear decent audio if I got a DAC?. I know they aren't crisp sounding but I think that's by design. Plus they're open back and I do like the bass on them.

Let me tell you this: before I bought my FiiO E10K, I also used my onboard audio (had a MSI Z270 M5) with my DT 880 and the sound was ok / good I guess. I decided to upgrade a little bit and got me the FiiO E10K. And even though, it was not a biiiiig step towards godly audiophile levels and such, I still was positively surprised, that a tiny little device could make such a difference. Everything, starting from gaming music / sounds, listening to my mp3s or movies had suddenly more detail, sounded "richer" (and for me definitely better).

So...should you decide to get a decent USB DAC (doesn't even have to be that expensive), let me tell you: you won't regret it, I promise!

Do DAC's typically only output by headphone jack? My main audio I listen to is by bluetooth and over HDMI to my secondary display.

Would this kind of defeat the purpose? Or like it connects to your PC by usb and it process all audio going out through any interface? bluetooth/hdmi included? (does bluetooth quality defeat the purpose)?.

[Jamebonds1]

Originally posted by 尺．し工几句ヨ尺:

I just run my 770s through an audio interface, better results than the E10K and some more expensive DACs because of support for 192KHz audio.

USB interface is known to have high noise than on-board and PCI which is why you want motherboard with USB ports designed for DAC with adjustable voltage or isolation USB cable. Also, grounding must be setup proper.

[emoticorpse]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFgpAzae1Xg

This guy is breaking down DAC's pretty good and he's going slow as hell which is exactly how I need it delivered, in case anyone else wants a simple introduction.

[emoticorpse]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hI_JcTjBmA

This guy piggybacks pretty good with his explanation.

I am getting a DAC, it's official. I might as well since I screwed up the front headphone jack on my case lol and now I don't have a front panel headphone jack.

[76561199502155650]

i recently hooked up some 12 inch sub woofers i got at a thrift store to a home stereo system

it was analog an 16ohm compliant, they pump like crazy and are super loud, you don't need the sub woofer amp because the home stereo acts as the amp.


all in all the set up was like 20 dollars for the sub speakers, box included and like 15 bucks for the old school home stereo which was also bought at the thrift store on a different date.

for 35 bucks and a headphone jack to rca cable cost, you can pump some extremely amazing sounds out.

i don't understand why you would need a digital to analog , almost all computers are analog the digital ports offer really nothing in quality over the analogs , do yourself a favor and down grade yourself for a better experience, my digital audio receiver burned out due to improper heat sinks and industrys cheap standards, the HDMI boards are also junk, go with old school analog receivers they are amazing.

[Jamebonds1]

Originally posted by emoticorpse:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hI_JcTjBmA

This guy piggybacks pretty good with his explanation.

I am getting a DAC, it's official. I might as well since I screwed up the front headphone jack on my case lol and now I don't have a front panel headphone jack.

I have DAC too and worth it, but I have to use active USB because it is over 6 ft. I really want USB to fiber to USB so badly, but it is expensive.

[emoticorpse]

Originally posted by Jamebonds1:

Originally posted by emoticorpse:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hI_JcTjBmA

This guy piggybacks pretty good with his explanation.

I am getting a DAC, it's official. I might as well since I screwed up the front headphone jack on my case lol and now I don't have a front panel headphone jack.

I have DAC too and worth it, but I have to use active USB because it is over 6 ft. I really want USB to fiber to USB so badly, but it is expensive.

What's active USB? I'm thinking of this one https://www.amazon.com/BlasterX-External-Headphone-Surround-Sidetone/dp/B07FY45F2S/ref=sr_1_13?crid=29J4YM1Z4GJ&keywords=dac&qid=1690410698&sprefix=dac%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-13&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0&th=1

SoundblasterX G6, But I suppose if I can find one a bit cheaper like $75-100 that still looks cool, I will.

[Jamebonds1]

Originally posted by emoticorpse:

Originally posted by Jamebonds1:

I have DAC too and worth it, but I have to use active USB because it is over 6 ft. I really want USB to fiber to USB so badly, but it is expensive.

What's active USB? I'm thinking of this one https://www.amazon.com/BlasterX-External-Headphone-Surround-Sidetone/dp/B07FY45F2S/ref=sr_1_13?crid=29J4YM1Z4GJ&keywords=dac&qid=1690410698&sprefix=dac%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-13&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0&th=1

SoundblasterX G6, But I suppose if I can find one a bit cheaper like $75-100 that still looks cool, I will.

Most cables are passive USB cables that are good for 15 ft (mine should be under 6 ft), but active USB cables are a power boost and can be 25ft or 50 ft