Amfamora Posted December 29, 2019 Posted December 29, 2019 (edited) Good Morning, Is anyone able to recommend an Aussie made USB DAC besides the Klein 3? Thanks Edited December 29, 2019 by Amfamora
kelossus Posted December 29, 2019 Posted December 29, 2019 2 hours ago, Amfamora said: Good Morning, Is anyone able to recommend and Aussie made USB DAC besides the Klein 3? Thanks https://www.marchaudio.net.au/product-page/march-audio-dac1-audio-dac Note the price is in USD for some ridiculous reason. 1
Amfamora Posted December 29, 2019 Author Posted December 29, 2019 (edited) Thanks for the reccomendation Should say I am biased towards AK449* chips and something with a balanced output. DAC will be feeding an SMSL SP200 THX Amp. Regards Edited December 29, 2019 by Amfamora
Amfamora Posted December 29, 2019 Author Posted December 29, 2019 Just wondering if there was anything else available out there, possibly with the AK4497 chip anyone has found. I'm fairly certain the Klein will be my only option, Google search not making it easy to find Australian made options 1
PositivelyMusicallyGeared Posted December 29, 2019 Posted December 29, 2019 Australian manufacturers can use the tag "Australian" in their product page, to help Google search. 1
Guest Posted December 29, 2019 Posted December 29, 2019 I assume that for budget reasons, you are not able to consider the Fein II. Suggest you stretch the budget to get a Kraftwerk LPSU which will make the Klein III even better.
Hytram Posted December 29, 2019 Posted December 29, 2019 56 minutes ago, kelossus said: https://www.marchaudio.net.au/product-page/march-audio-dac1-audio-dac Note the price is in USD for some ridiculous reason. USD has almost become the default standard currency.. If you are trying to sell to a worldwide market as March Audio is advertising in one currency can simplify things 1
mwhouston Posted December 29, 2019 Posted December 29, 2019 (edited) Going with the AK4497 chip is a good start. I have just built two DACs based on boards that use this chip with USB, COAX and optical inputs plus six selectable filters and it sound s excellent. Previous to this I had another I made using the AK4495 chip. Also very good. But the “97” takes it up a notch. MoOde 4,5,6 supports it (I2S). Edited December 29, 2019 by mwhouston 1
Guest Posted December 29, 2019 Posted December 29, 2019 1 hour ago, Amfamora said: Just wondering if there was anything else available out there, possibly with the AK4497 chip anyone has found. I'm fairly certain the Klein will be my only option, Google search not making it easy to find Australian made options There is another factor you have not mentioned. Superb & responsive customer service from Clay Gieseler. And you have the added bonus of being close by.
kelossus Posted December 29, 2019 Posted December 29, 2019 1 hour ago, Hytram said: USD has almost become the default standard currency.. If you are trying to sell to a worldwide market as March Audio is advertising in one currency can simplify things Well drop the ".au" from the domain name. I have never seen another Australian manufacturer who advertises in USD with an Australian domain. It's somewhat misleading. 1
kelossus Posted December 29, 2019 Posted December 29, 2019 @Amfamora I have heard good things about Mwhouston's AKM dacs. Another one to consider. 3
Volunteer sir sanders zingmore Posted December 30, 2019 Volunteer Posted December 30, 2019 28 minutes ago, kelossus said: Well drop the ".au" from the domain name. I have never seen another Australian manufacturer who advertises in USD with an Australian domain. It's somewhat misleading. http://www.supratek.com.au/order-price-info.html 1
kelossus Posted December 30, 2019 Posted December 30, 2019 3 minutes ago, sir sanders zingmore said: http://www.supratek.com.au/order-price-info.html At least they put "US$" in front of the pricing as to avoid confusion. Still manufacturers like this are an outlier. 1
Volunteer sir sanders zingmore Posted December 30, 2019 Volunteer Posted December 30, 2019 7 minutes ago, kelossus said: At least they put "US$" in front of the pricing as to avoid confusion. Still manufacturers like this are an outlier. yes that's a good point. Would be better if March Audio also put USD there
MattyW Posted January 10, 2020 Posted January 10, 2020 The range of Gieseler DAC's comes to mind. Clay makes an incredible product and is a pleasure to deal with. My previous Gross DAC remains the best sounding commercially available DAC I've ever heard to this day. 2
Guest Muon N' Posted January 10, 2020 Posted January 10, 2020 His new one under development I think will raise the bar higher again
Amfamora Posted January 10, 2020 Author Posted January 10, 2020 I ended up with a Klein 3, funny you mention new versions being developed
MattyW Posted January 10, 2020 Posted January 10, 2020 (edited) 40 minutes ago, Muon N' said: His new one under development I think will raise the bar higher again I look forward to reading the reviews. I don't think I'll be in the market though as DIY has changed the Muji Studio DAC II into something that's very much to my sonic preferences. Incredible the difference changing the SAA7220 for a NOS reclock module made though I know I don't need to convince you of the worthiness of that! Edited January 10, 2020 by MattyW
Guest Muon N' Posted January 10, 2020 Posted January 10, 2020 4 minutes ago, MattyW said: I look forward to reading the reviews. I don't think I'll be in the market though as DIY has changed the Muji Studio DAC II into something that's very much to my sonic preferences. Incredible the difference changing the SAA7220 for a NOS reclock module made though I know I don't need to convince you of the worthiness of that! Everyone has personal preferences, TDA15141A running NOS may suit you or I but doesn't appeal to everyone. For myself it was also in part a budget thing. I'm expecting Clay's new DAC to have the best of old and new in It's sound, but that's just my speculation around it and we will need to wait and see.
MattyW Posted January 10, 2020 Posted January 10, 2020 2 hours ago, Muon N' said: Everyone has personal preferences, TDA15141A running NOS may suit you or I but doesn't appeal to everyone. For myself it was also in part a budget thing. I'm expecting Clay's new DAC to have the best of old and new in It's sound, but that's just my speculation around it and we will need to wait and see. I may need to make the trip to the coast to hear one when the time comes 1
Guest Muon N' Posted January 10, 2020 Posted January 10, 2020 How ever it sounds, it should be pretty awesome.
LuzArt Posted April 3, 2020 Posted April 3, 2020 On 10/01/2020 at 4:26 PM, MattyW said: The range of Gieseler DAC's comes to mind. Clay makes an incredible product and is a pleasure to deal with. My previous Gross DAC remains the best sounding commercially available DAC I've ever heard to this day. Are the USB inputs on the Klein DAC's good as is or is SPDIF and a separate reclocker preferable?
MattyW Posted April 3, 2020 Posted April 3, 2020 (edited) 9 minutes ago, LuzArt said: Are the USB inputs on the Klein DAC's good as is or is SPDIF and a separate reclocker preferable? You'll need to ask Clay about that as I have never had a Klein, just the Gross. I've since moved to an Abbas Audio DAC2.2SE TDA1541 out of the Ukraine which is in a totally different ball park in terms of price and performance. Well, pick it up from my mates place tomorrow anyway. He says it's the best he's yet heard in his system Still, for Australian made DAC's Clay's are probably the best out there...... Though there are probably Killer DAC's being made around the Gold Coast somewhere too Edited April 3, 2020 by MattyW
Guest Posted April 3, 2020 Posted April 3, 2020 21 minutes ago, LuzArt said: Are the USB inputs on the Klein DAC's good as is or is SPDIF and a separate reclocker preferable? Clay uses a Amanero USB board which is excellent and caters for DSD (which is available on the AKM DAC chip). Amanero are constantly tweaking the firmware to improve things and there is a software tool to upgrade it. No personal experience with S/PDIF and reclocker.
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