all the daikor here.. something to ask.. I need an external sound card for laptop( mac book pro ) to drive harman kardon better.. which external sound card or Amp I can get ? sorry new in audiophile

iPhone > FiiO L3 LOD > FiiO E7
MacBook > FiiO E7



FiiO E7

FiiO E7

Soundcard for movie & gaming, DAC more on music/audio betulkah?

for T-muso nope, only use USB for power and data.

Not really...

Even in sound card have DAC for example Asus Xonar D2X. There are four PCM1796 DAC's on the D2X that can provide 24-bit/192 KHz resolution sound to all 8 channels.

Sound card internal need to access the back panel of PC casing, DAC via USB so it better. I don't thing the front I/O hub (in a ATX casing(CPU)) eg: my COOLER MASTER HAF 922 can be use cause the cable very thin .

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Added on September 18, 2011, 10:54 amSo, what is ur advice to choose between DAC or Soundcard?

This post has been edited by wkkm007: Sep 18 2011, 10:54 AM

Review : http://headfonics.com/2011/05/fiio-e9e7-au...le-on-a-budget/

Fully pure AMP!

Get some OLD thread for you

: Difference between DAC & Soundcards

In terms on music quality, DAC would be better.

Source : tablet , handphone , mp3 , laptop
Equipment : -
Requirement : single sided-cable, circumaural
Budget : max rm400

im looking for AKG K514 .. if there any other headphone better than this ?? at my budget
thanx in advance ..

Was finding a DAC that is good quality, near audiophile quality, at the same time affordable, my budget was around RM100, so possibly branded aren't suitable for me, as they are expansive.

I came across this DAC, but too bad the maker seems not to produce anymore. And quite affordable (rm90), with good quality. I'm kinda searching for this type of DAC, but most matters is the price.
USB DAC

Hope to find equivalent or nearby quality and pricing DAC, no internal amp doesn't matter, only need to connect from PC(netbook or laptop), from USB to amplifier, best if analog output(such as RCA), to bypass the lousy soundcard.

Hope someone can give me guidance for this matter.

Actually I've been wondering whether the new GoVibe Mini USB DAC is the same as GoVibe USB DAC? I mean the chip inside and the performance as well. But the price differ by RM100.

Anyone?

Maybe u can try T-muso USB DAC PCM2704 v2.

Or GoVibe Mini USB DAC for RM150.

not really, im using govibe usb dac -> e11 -> ortofon eq7

and gaming happily + listening music too

but i sien keep need recharge the e11, so now i want find replacement for it at home, for like 500 bucks

Did anyone tried Fiio's D3 or D5? I really need an advice, I might need to get a DAC soon, but both of them seems just so tempting, but I can't try them before buying. D3 uses optical in which my macbook has but don't know still working or not, it supports 24bit/192kHz, D5 only 16bit, uses USB but it has line out. Really struggling now :S

I'm currently not into DAC with integrated amp, plus my budget very low only. I think I gonna go with D3, ordered an adapter and a toslink cable from ebay gonna try on my friend's DAC see if it's still working or not first.

@wkkm007
IMO sound cards are said to be better for gaming only for it's surround sound support and possibly all the special effects (3D etc) that appeals to gamers. Just a guess.

Other than those, I don't see how sound cards are better than any equivalent DACs.

@noobandroid
I remember ClieOS' review mentioned that finding an extra battery + external charger for the E11 isn't much of a chore.. Have you looked into that?

@more2teayap
Wait for E10? ETA October IINM. Quote from headfonia:

Last I checked E10's price should be close to E11's. E10 is meant to serve the audiophile community, while D3/D5 is for the general consumer, hence the higher price and supposedly better SQ.

E10 is nice... I would wait for this.

You alredy have D3?

not yet, thinking of buying already, bought a mini toslink adapter and toslink cable from ebay and going to try on my friend's DAC if my optical out still works or not.

Yeah, I got an amp, Hippo Box+ D3 has it's own volume control, so I don't mind if I can't control the volume from my macbook.

Yeap, if you see the those shots of D3 there is a small metal handle, that's the volume control. It seems like a nice DAC only thing is it needs a mini USB for power, many in headfi used it for their TV audio, but for me I just want a good low budget DAC

that up/down switch is the volume control, or i'm wrong?

@nordingh
You know you want to have one.

Seriously, thanks to Mike's comment, I think I might not be able to wait till E17.

@more2teayap
Seems to me like you have made your decision on this one. So, what do you plan on using the D3 with? Cuz, AFAIK, if it's headphones, you'll end up needing an amp somehow. (So you can go near-max vol on your source and control the vol w/ the amp. Supposedly better SQ. Me no experience hence the 'supposedly'. )

p/s: Oh yea, some DAC's volume can't be controlled via PC/source, I don't know if D3 is one of them.

Ok boss! You're good to go!

D3 has its own vol control? A digital one? I was convinced that it was meant to be paired with an amp/active speakers since the only thing it does is convert digital source to analog output. (Dang, I need to read more. )

Sorry, all I see is the input selector. (Optical/Coaxial)

Anyway, from the reviews, seems like D3 is a really great thing for its price.


Attached thumbnail(s)

Ye lor.. where got volume?



That's to change input...

Up for Coax
Down for Toslink.



1 Digital signal coaxial input port:
2 Coaxial/Optical switch:
3 Digital signal optical input port
4 Analog audio signal RCA L/R output port
5 USB power supply input
6 Indicated light for signal status
7 Power indicator

Uh-oh, confirm ah? Cause i thought up means volume up down means volume down, if like that I can't use D3 already

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Added on September 19, 2011, 1:45 am*heart break* Guess I gonna go back to D5 or GoVibe Mini DAC But luckily haven't bought the DAC yet. Thanks for the info, nordingh.

This post has been edited by more2teayap: Sep 19 2011, 01:45 AM

Bro, you had posted in the wrong thread. Do it here instead: http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1849925

Curious, why do you need a volume control on a DAC

because my amp doesn't have volume control, and if i'm not mistaken there are people in headfi saying that I can't control D3 from my mac. Therefore the volume will be like coming out maximum amount.

i have the charger, but the issue is not that, it's when it is charging, I CANT USE IT!!!

thats why i finding plug powered

finding an amp:

details and soundstage main concern
need plug powered
relatively small in size, smaller than Uber Muzik tiny tube ok d
RM500