usb non oversampling dac with us in mind

**scott_fx** · 08-11-2006, 12:34 AM

So if some of you have followed my threads about talking with someone about making a non oversampling dac with us in mind... our day has come. The guy that i've been talking with has design a dac with high voltage outputs. This dac will be less then the silverstone dac and uses better components. the catch is that you have to build it yourself and it requires soldering surface mount ic's. He is considering building a few complete kits but we'll have to wati and see if it's in the cards.

here is a link to the nos usb dac:
http://www.ecp.cc/HPDAC.html

so lets give this guy some report and you guys handy with the soldering iron should jump on this and forget about those crappy sb soundcards :-)

**scott_fx** · 08-11-2006, 10:00 PM

wow...i think i hear crickets!

douglas has added a pre-built price to his website.

**Kalt** · 08-11-2006, 10:28 PM

This is great news, ive been thinking of ways to eliminate my pxa-701 even if it meant loss of quality/tunning.

**scott_fx** · 08-11-2006, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by Kalt

This is great news, ive been thinking of ways to eliminate my pxa-701 even if it meant loss of quality/tunning.

this wont be at a loss of quality. you will probably need a x-over/eq (audiocontrol) or if any front end steps up and makes it possible to use a 1/3 octive 31 band eq, then all you'll need is an active x-over

**meddler** · 08-11-2006, 11:59 PM

will be keeping a close eye on this one.

**RedGTiVR6** · 08-12-2006, 06:41 AM

Originally Posted by Kalt

This is great news, ive been thinking of ways to eliminate my pxa-701 even if it meant loss of quality/tunning.

wow - I'm stunned!

I couldn't even imagine going there...lol

I'd go with this unit, if it could be proven that the quality is at least on par with the alpine.

**scott_fx** · 08-12-2006, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by Red GTi VR6

wow - I'm stunned!

I couldn't even imagine going there...lol

I'd go with this unit, if it could be proven that the quality is at least on par with the alpine.

hmmm...i wonder how we can prove it....

I talked to douglas and he also said he could swap out the mini headphone jack for some rca pigtails.

from the experience i've had with the headwise usb dac/headphone amp...the sound was leauges above anything i've experienced....but that was also a different...more forgiving audio environment.... using headphones.
but wow! it was amazing

**drPheta** · 09-18-2006, 09:47 PM

Any word on this? I'm considering either this unit or the Silverstone. At 195, though, Silverstone is looking better for me.

**scott_fx** · 09-18-2006, 09:55 PM

i should have some initial reviews tomorrow when my beyerdynamics headphones come in. it sounds pretty good with my reciever and cheap speaker setup in my room but it's a very poor system that has been abused so i'm not judging it on the sq just yet. This dac can be cheaper ifyou build it yourself. maybe you could work out a discount with douglas if all he has to do is the surface mounted solders and leave the rest up to you.

just based on design, this dac is much better then the Silverstone. it'll have a higher output voltage and uses better components.

i'll report back tomorrow or the day after with my initial impressions.