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Zilfallion
150
Mar 17, 2018
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So you know, I skimmed this, because something I've been considering in a DAC purchase is if I want balanced output for speakers if I pick up something like a JBL LSR305(or 308). Are there any decent options in the pure DAC department? The Topping DX7s is a full DAC/Amp. The Jotunheim's DAC is meh, and I won't want a 400 dollar pre-amp for a soso DAC.
Are there any decently measuring DACs with balanced 1/4" or XLR outputs in the ~300 dollar range? (Or under)
Mar 17, 2018
Juka
191
Mar 17, 2018
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ZilfallionBalanced is marketed towards the highend, save up some more to increase your budget and your options will grow
Mar 17, 2018
Zilfallion
150
Mar 17, 2018
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JukaIs that really an excuse though? I mean the low end Behringer UMC22 at $40 has balanced 1/4" TRS outputs. It probably isn't very amazing, and might not be a truly balanced setup(probably isn't), but it has balanced outs. The UMC204HD has them as well and measures OKAY(weak output strength, noise floor a little high when level matched against better DACs) for under a hundred and mic interfaces. Why is this not a thing on the solid 100-300 dollar DAC market where you see a lot of the really good performing level DACs? There's probably something out there that performs well with balanced outs. I mean, the DX7 went for 400 that's fully balanced with a headphone amp, the Jot-DAC is 100 and while missing a lot of the rest of the features you'd want, is balanced.
For headphones? Sure, Balanced isn't really that much of a difference for most things, but I don't really like the idea of shoving an RCA to XLR or 1/4" TRS into a powered speaker if there's something that's decent that has balanced outs.
Mar 17, 2018
thomasharrick
2
Mar 17, 2018
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ZilfallionYou're not going to get a good DAC with XLR or 1/4" for $300. The only hope you have is with this one: https://www.oppodigital.com/headphone-amplifier-ha-2SE/ (look at it on Amazon), which sounds great but only has a headphone jack as output. It's meant for the road.
Mar 17, 2018
ElectronicVices
2937
Mar 18, 2018
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Zilfallion1/4" is really more of a pro-audio staple (audio interface/PA gear), on the consumer side of things the Teac UD 301 can sometimes be picked up in that range and it comes with XLR. Massdrop had it's "bigger brother" the 501 for $359 but that one lacks pre-amp ability of the 301. The older Emotiva XDA 1/2 had both XLR differential output and pre-amp ability in that price range.
Mar 18, 2018
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