Hi guys,

I found Arcam irDAC and TEAC UD501 are of similar price. But cannot find comparison between them.

In term of built, design and components that being used, TEAC seems on the upper hand with its built-in toroidal transformer versus Arcam cheapo feel 12 volt adapter. TEAC also has DSD, which is missing on the Arcam.

While the great thing on Arcam is lots of good review where What's hifi is backing it up.

So which one to trust? Which one better? Any website has both in comparison?

This post has been edited by chanhin: Apr 26 2015, 11:24 AM

Teac UD501 or the the latest UD301 which allows for future software updates





This post has been edited by E1 - AKG: Aug 17 2014, 12:28 AM

TEAC UD-501 will give you more options to play around with a home setup compared to the Arcam irDAC

Just try reading up more sources to get a general idea on what to expect.

PS: I personally find whathifi biased in their reviews

This post has been edited by Problem: Aug 17 2014, 12:31 AM

Yes... What's hifi indeed bias toward UK branded product.

Possible TEAC is more towards headfi? Or it is actually superior to Arcam?

I audit the TEAC DAC..awesome for its price. others costing double doesnt sound as musical as this

if u can wait, explore the upcomin Sony HAP-Z1 too..they r beautifully made.

Can ask how you evaluate the Teac? on Hifi system or Headfi?

If I buy this one, I plan to use for hifi and pair it with Marantz PM8005

Although I am going to get a Senheiser headphone, but not going to use for headphone because always prefer speaker than headphone.

hifi definitely.
setup was:
source: roksan CDP
USB DAC: TEAC and 3 other brands
preamp: LAMM tube
amp: bryston 300W SS
Speakers: ATC floorstander

Thanks for the info. Teac seems has mixed review... But value for $$$ still very high~

Hi Uncle,

Can you list the differences between UD301 and UD501? Or any good website doing comparison. The areas that I am interested;

(1) As DAC for my stereo hifi. Both sound same? except 501 has more filter to play?
(2) As headphone DAC/amp. UD301 is better?
(3) If acting as pre-amp, only UD301 is capable to connect power amp directly and drive speaker right?

Just realised that the title of the thread had TECH instead of TEAC

1. The UD301 has the possibility of firmware upgrade but not the UD501.
2. For headphones output, both are quite similar.
3. Both can be a pre-amp.

Just done the correction.

I aware UD501 has more input, which I do not need.

And most likely the only advance of UD501 is its filter?

Also read that most reviews said hard to hear differences between 301 and 501...

So far it seems 301 is what I am looking for.

Both is also just so so. Budget dac

Wah... so action...

Just a low paid working level here... Cannot have everything high end le...

Incidentally, I'm looking at the UD301. chanhin, any lobang to share with good prices?

No offense, but Sonerin is right. The TEAC UD-501 was one the worst products that I owned, infact the shortest. The USB implementation is a joke and sound is very average, something that you would expect from mass produced AVRs with dacs.

Well, the sky is the limit when money is not At the price point, the Teac UD301 has no competition

Need to narrow down on the devices I want first... If you got lubang share share ya.

So bad???

I saw the photos inside all powerful things... unlike UK DAC claim expensive... but inside empty one... Some UK DAC even use 12 volt adapter... See also not siok la.

Will go to your shop to test. On paper UD301 said can cater for 600 ohm amp...

Any other DAC around RM2k to recommend?

Btw, your price very very expensive le..

Different manufacturers have different idea how to build them but that doesn't mean that more components is better. Sentinel92 can attest that most of higher end amps & dacs he sells actually have innards that are clean, straightforward and simple, less interference with components and unnecessary distortion by adding more chain to an electrical signal.

This post has been edited by Problem: Apr 27 2015, 11:03 PM

Are you looking for a DAC first and headphones amp second or the other way round? Which pair of headphones are you planning to drive it with?

This post has been edited by E1 - AKG: Apr 27 2015, 11:30 PM

Heard that before, but not really buying that words. Logic is rather simple. If less is more, those popular brand will just copy similar design rather than came up with complicated design to solve so much problems, which also add up cost.

Yes. It is more for DAC, then 2nd for headphone amp.

The reason is I found my PM6005 is a bit lacking power for KEF Q700. And I might upgrade to bigger speaker as well. And better amp is just an amp... which need another DAC.

For now, I am thinking of UD301 + PM8005? UD301 + poweramp? or UD301 + Krell 300i?

This post has been edited by chanhin: Apr 28 2015, 12:29 AM