looking for inexpensive DAC

[BigFNDeal]

I am searching for an AFFORDABLE DAC! I recently bought Sony MDR-X400s, Kilpsch 2.0 speakers and MisterX is in the process of making me a headphone amp. I would like to use the optical out on my mobo for sound, but cannot find anything under $250. I was thinking more in the $100 range. I am have tempted to get an small receiver and use that to convert from optical to 1/8 in, but everything I find is far too big for the area of my desk I want to put it. I know this isn't the ultimate audiophile setup, but I'm getting what I can afford for now.

 

[strid3r]

There aren't a whole lot of choices in the $100 range. There's the Firestone DACs:
http://www.firestone-audio.com/cgi-bin/productsearch.asp?catseqnm=3

If you're willing to do some shopping around, Entech Number Cruncher 203.2 DACs pop up on eBay once in a while, and they are very nice for the price (seen them go for around $130-$140). Entech was a division of Monster Cable I believe, and they had some of the guy(s) from Audio Alchemy.

Silverstone also came out with a USB dac not too long ago, there are a couple reviews floating around for them:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...Ntk=all&N=0&minPrice=&maxPrice=&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

If you're handy with electronics and a soldering iron, there are some DIY usb dac designs out there as well.

 

[BigFNDeal]

Not looking for USB DACS, more opticall. My mobo has an optical out. I'll look on ebay for the ones u mentioned if either have an optical connection.

 

[strid3r]

Not looking for USB DACS, more opticall. My mobo has an optical out. I'll look on ebay for the ones u mentioned if either have an optical connection.

Oh right, forgot about the optical. There's 2 Entech units on eBay right now, they take both optical and coaxial:
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=entech+number+cruncher

Also, I think onboard sound solutions resample, so you might want to keep that in mind.

 

[Fryguy8]

misterx might be able to build you a DAC too...