Reddit mentions of HiFiMeDIY Sabre USB DAC Digital to Analog Audio Converter 96khz/24bit ES9023, USB to Optical Converter

> Audioquest Dragonfly Black

I haven't heard one but they get great reviews.
HiFimeDIY also get good reviews. Half the price of Dragonfly. 24/96 capable https://www.amazon.de/HiRes-USB-DAC-SABRE-ES9023-112dB/dp/B00AOH5JTQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=ce-accessories&srs=5656639031&ie=UTF8&qid=1493289789&sr=1-1

For an even tighter budget, consider this DAC: http://www.amazon.co.uk/HiFimeDIY-UAE23-ES9023-Optical-Converter/dp/B00AOH5JTQ/

Really good sound quality for such a simple unit. I have it and it was a clear upgrade over onboard audio.

The magni/modi is a great stack, but probably overkill for the HD598. If you want to try to dip into the audiophile market you can start with something like Hifimediy. (link: http://www.amazon.com/HiFiMeDIY-Digital-Analog-Converter-Optical/dp/B00AOH5JTQ)

The nice think about the hifimediy is that if you upgrade your headphone and amp, the hifime can still serve as an ok dac further down the line.

I looked at both the Objective2 and the Magi, and the O2 seems to be a lot more versatile isn't?

• So if I go O2 i should get a DAC like yours
  
  
• If I go with the shiit Magni, I take the same DAC, but the Magni wont let me do anything else than use it on my computer, correct?
  
  
• If I'm lazy i could go with the 2in1 audinst mx1/ aunex1 . Anything that differenciates those two with taking 2 seperate devices?

Honestly this will suit your needs properly without being needlessly costly. Volume us controlled by your PC's volume keys and it requires no drivers(software on PC) http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00AOH5JTQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1451792223&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=HiFimeDIY&dpPl=1&dpID=31WSNd5LI7L&ref=plSrch

That totally depends on what kind of file types you're running through your PC. I recently purchased a Hifimediy Sabre USB DAC for my 96k/24bit files and for the price it's amazing. If you're simply playing 320kbps mp3's don't bother. The money is better spent on speakers/headphones at that point.

Oh hell, I picked out the wrong one. They look just alike. Here is the DAC alone.

Yeah, but YMMV. Sometimes PC sound suffers from lots of noise/distortion, but that doesn't mean it necessarily does. If he does, he can go get a cheap DAC like the Sabre, use the same cable I linked below, and see if that improves it.

The sabre diy dac I was comparing my Mbox mini or mobo dacs to cost around 50 bucks by the way(Sabre DIY dac), but man, what a difference on the extreme high (air) and sub bass and its being fed into my bedroom system running a 20 dollar lepai amp. I'm not saying drop the life savings, just research and spend on the right thing. I find the dragon fly overpriced but it is superior to the sabre in various tests. If I were not planning on getting a dangerous music source for $900 (saving all year) I would def buy the dragon fly. The Dangerous music source is under priced for all the features it has, even the integrated headphone amp is mastering grade.

This is how I plan to save money for audio gear that I plant to keep for a long time 52 week money challenge

What's your opinion of this DAC?

http://hifimediy.com/sabre-dac-uae23
http://www.amazon.com/HiFiMeDIY-Digital-Analog-Converter-Optical/dp/B00AOH5JTQ/

I would probably try and use a Y Splitter and something similar to this. Not entirely sure if it'll all work together but it's the only thing I can think of that's basic enough to work in a car situation. Y Splitters can be tricky because some devices simply can't handle both the data and power input/outputs at the same time to make it worth using, and some phones don't even support Y Splitters at all. You may look into compatibility with your phone specifically. There may also be a better DAC that you can find that I couldn't. Everything else on Google was something either overly complicated, or wasn't the right product at all. Sometimes with Y Splitters as well, you can get the charging port to pass through the USB A port on the pigtail. So you may be able to find something that requires power but you can use the one cable. Most DACs though will use either their own power connector that goes out to USB or it will combine them into one and power via the USB. I use a cheapo DAC that converts my SPDIF to analog and is powered via USB.

Would this option be any better than any of the other ones listed or should I just go with the lower priced ones?

I also came across these:
http://www.amazon.com/HiFiMeDIY-Digital-Analog-Converter-Optical/dp/B00AOH5JTQ

i have this little amp with some small book shelf speakers and i love it http://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-LP-2020A-Lepai-Amplifier-Shipping/dp/B00FOK6974/ref=sr_1_5?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1405229745&sr=1-5&keywords=hifi+mini+amp best 20 bucks spent

and these are the small speakers i use to check mixes out in the living room and sometimes just to enjoy some tunes while cooking (condo, living room or kitchen? the lines blur),.they sound fair for the price
http://www.amazon.com/PLMR24-3-5-Inch-Weather-Speaker-System/dp/B001CXXDBM/ref=pd_sim_MI_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=12SZHXF0FR2DA98B7T3Y with a separate amp you can always upgrade the speakers.

these are 3 way but a little less cheap http://www.amazon.com/Dual-LU43PW-Indoor-Outdoor-Speakers/dp/B000A5S926/ref=pd_cp_e_0.

when it comes to near fields, to do actual pro work, for a good price, i went with the blue sky exo2.1 , they are full range with the sub, shielded because they are made for the desk, no bass reflex port on the satellites (the sound from the port holes comes out delayed, bad for mixing, unless very well engineered) and the woofer has separate control so you can turn it down because small rooms amp up the low end, all for for 500 bills (the price to value ratio is great, no doubt). if you find them used, the price is even lower. blue sky products are legit and you will have no need to buy monitors for a long, long time. i would save up, like 20 bucks every other day or so and in no time, you will have a legit, full range monitoring system that will gets even better with a little room treatment. all i know is "buy cheap, buy twice" http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/eXo2/

next is the equator d5 with dsp. i have not heard these live yet, but sometimes they are on sale direct from equator and they seem great on paper for the price http://www.equatoraudio.com/D5-Coaxial-Studio-Monitors-p/d5.htm but since i have not heard them like i have with my blue skies, i cant be anecdotal. here is a sound on sound review for a pro break down of their performance http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec12/articles/equator-d5.htm

and if you want to save money and have a truly great output to feed any monitor for 50 bucks, try the hifime diy sabre dac http://www.amazon.com/HiFiMeDIY-Digital-Analog-Converter-Optical/dp/B00AOH5JTQ/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405237210&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=hifi+diy+dac, i using it now in between digital to analog converter upgrades and if you plug right out of the usb port on the computer (no hubs) it sounds great, like really even compared to dac's in several price ranges above. read the first review, http://www.amazon.com/review/RIXL3WSR02G6/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00AOH5JTQ you will get a little smarter about digital analog converters. its one of the best reviews on amazon i have ever had the pleasure to read, and check out the users other reviews, he does a few headphone units comparing their price to performance ratio and will blow you away with his technical know how and fluid writing style. like the one on the Beyerdynamic DT-990-Pro: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2BUTFCE473Q9V/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

i dont know much about recording gear, as im mostly a listener, i use an adc/dac from behringer and it sounds decent for 30 bucks and no drivers http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA222-U-Control-Ultra-Low-Downloadable/dp/B0023BYDHK/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1405238098&sr=1-2&keywords=behringer+dac
sounds better than a tascam i had, that was overbuilt and 3-4 times the price. i choose this not be cheap, my focus is just on listening, it was what i wanted.

sorry about the long post but i dont half ass my posts. its like playing those brain training apps for me but not boring and actually productive/practical. take care. my hands are injured, so im not bothering with punctuation and formatting!

The 598s do improve from a nice amp/dac but not as much as the HD6xx stuff. It's a subtle sound difference assuming your computer already has good on board sound.

If you end up getting the HD598 and they are not loud enough or you hear significant background noise, get the Schiit stack (Magni + Modi) or half Schiit (Magni + Hifimediy).

The cheapest desktop dac/amp combo I would recommend is a Magni + Hifimediy Sabre for $150.