Poll: Worst DACs in Terms of Value - October 6, 2015

Discussion in 'Leaderboard, Overboard, and Deals' started by purr1n, Sep 30, 2015.

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What are the Worst DACs in Terms of Value? (unlimited selectable responses) October 6, 2015

Poll closed Nov 6, 2015.
  1. Teac UD-501 $850

    12.3%
  2. Mytek Stereo192 DSD $1500

    21.1%
  3. Chord Hugo (as a DAC) $2500

    40.4%
  4. Chord Hugo TT (as a DAC) $4800

    47.4%
  5. Audioengine D1 $170

    5.3%
  6. Yulong DA8 $1400

    31.6%
  7. Jeff Rowland Aeris $10000

    17.5%
  8. Resonessence Labs Invicta $4995 - increased from $3995

    26.3%
  9. Sony PHA3 $1000 (as a DAC)

    12.3%
  10. Oppo HA-1 (DAC section) $1200

    15.8%
  11. iFi iDSD non-BL Nano $200 (as a DAC)

    17.5%
  12. iFi iDSD non-BL Micro $500 (as a DAC)

    15.8%
  13. Any TDA1541 based DAC

    1.8%
  14. AK240/340 (as a DAC) $2500+

    26.3%
  15. Benchmark DAC1 $1000

    17.5%
  16. MSB Select or anything above the Analog $10000+++

    31.6%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. IndySpeed

    IndySpeed Friend

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    After getting a Schiit Bifrost Multibit for my desktop setup, I would say my Violectric V800 just got bested by something that was half the cost. For a Delta Sigma DAC, it is pretty good. But I'm not sure I can go back now... Darn it. I will probably upgrade my Violectric V800 in my main listening area to a Gungnir Multibit in a year or so.
     
  2. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Surprised to see the iFi iDSD Micro up there since it has a very powerful amp in it. I have the iCAN Micro in for review and feel it's pretty solid.
     
  3. Friday

    Friday Friend

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    It might be that iFi DACs built-in amps are quite shite, or at least that's how I feel about my iFi DAC 1. It is very powerful (much more than IEMs can handle) but it mushes up details real bad, and makes you wonder why they even bothered at all.
     
  4. mtoc

    mtoc SBAF's Resident Shit-Stirrer

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    Some on HF declare the Chord Dave is the best DAC in the world.
     
  5. GTABeancounter

    GTABeancounter Friend

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    I'm very late to comment on this thread and I will admit to my bias up front, but I have a hard time understanding how high (err low) the HA-1 ranks on this list.

    Evaluating the "value" of the HA-1 dac section in isolation compared to other combo units is really not that relevant or fair as an "apples to apples" comparison in my opinion. I'd suggest there are very few forum members that would ever even consider spending $1200 to use the OPPO as a stand alone DAC, and this is not any fault of Oppo's. The HA-1 is just about perfectly executed for what it is, a jack of all trades (master of none?) that represents outstanding value when one considers the feature set, build quality, and performance for the price. Its not the best by a long shot in any individual area to be sure, but surely it represents GREAT value given all that it can do well to very well.

    I know there are other AMP/DAC combos that appear on this list but the Oppo strikes me as different given its mission and overall value proposition. Honestly, is it just me or is it the only combo unit on the list that is more likely to be used for its AMP only (balanced & Class A!) than its DAC? That to me would be reason alone to not vote for it.

    Edited to add that I can now retract much of what I said above given Schiit's latest offerings over the past several months.....
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2017
  6. Priidik

    Priidik MOT: Estelon

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    OPPO HA-1 as a whole is alright piece of kit for not so juice hungry planar-mags.
    Good looking, great build quality and nice VU meters on fron display.
    For dac alone, probably 500 $ gets a better dac from some other company.
     
  7. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

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    How should I understand the results? Is Chord Hugo TT (as a DAC) $4800 the worst or Teac UD-501?
    As I am looking at the Massdrop offload of the Teac UD-501 surplus for $424 it looks tempting.
     
  8. M3NTAL

    M3NTAL Friend

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    I know the poll is over, but the Altmann Attraction DAC always seemed a bit overpriced to me. It was one of those "I must be missing the point" type of products for me.
     
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I have friends at MD and I want them to do well. But dont get the Teac. Get a Modi Multibit for $250.

    But if you decide on the Teac, I've got a fantastic 70lbs Class A up to 50w amp that used to cost well over $2299 new. You can have it for $400. This amp is a great deal.
     
  10. beemerphile

    beemerphile Friend

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    I'll go with Mytek 192 DSD. Ask the man who unfortunately owns one. Yeech!

    It is in the speaker system in my workshop (where it scrapes my eardrums while I toil away building old BMW motorcycles)...

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2017
  11. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    Anything from Chord (except maybe the Mojo).
     
  12. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    I had the UD-501. Don't buy it please.
     
  13. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    12000 EUR and it doesn't even have a power supply!
     
  14. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

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    Unfortunately,or maybe not I had around $800 budget and could not resists to join the Teac drop but.. Schiit Modi Multibit is on the way as well. If I really do not like the Teac I will have no problem selling it in Canada for not much less in exchange than I paid in the States. One of those sold yesterday on US Audio Mart for $500! It will be interesting in any case.
     
  15. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    It's a huge Delta in performance in favor of the Modi Multibit. Huge mistake going with the TEAC.
     
  16. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    Now he's making motorcycle parts. AMM always strikes me as shady as those companies that sell you crystals.
     
  17. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

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    That is possible that Teac will be a disappointment comparing to Modi Multibit , that's why I will have Schiit right next to it, comparing them side by side through the same headphone am.
    That is more like psychological decision :), to exercise some level of my own judgement and not be completely overwhelmed by the SBAF mountain of expertise. And I am not being sarcastic here.
    But in the worst case scenario it will not be a huge mistake, I think I can get away with like $100 CAN loss, no more.
     
  18. landroni

    landroni Friend

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    Nor a case!

    http://www.mother-of-tone.com/attraction.htm
    [​IMG]

    And while we're at it, let's throw the Tera Player in the mix... Whether it's 3K, 6K or 10K, as a DAC it's terrible value for a rudimentary TDA1545A design. I mean, how expensive can the parts be that you can squeeze in this box?

    [​IMG]
     
  19. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    Besides @Marvey and maybe @zerodeefex, I would be curious to know how many of the following have actually spent time with the Invicta:

    upload_2017-1-31_9-38-39.png
     
  20. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    I've heard the Invicta over the headphone output, I would say it isn't the worst in the list by far, especially with the Chord Hugo in the running.
     

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