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Low Cost DACs

Currently I have my laptop connected directly via 1/8 jack from headphone outlet into 2 RCAs directly into my tube amp. Quality of sound is lacking to say the least!
I am considering adding an inexpensive DAC ( iFi AUDIO nano iDSD LE Portable DAC  or iFi Audio nano iOne DAC ) into the stream between the laptop & amp.My question is: will this influence the overall sound I'll hear out of my speakers? Will adding such a DAC help to increase the quality of sound produced by the system?
I'm not interested in spending a lot of money on a DAC as this is a source that I don't use as much as some others already in the system.
wcc10
turnbowm
353 posts
 

213runnin681 posts01-22-2020 6:51am"In my headphone rig I find that the Modi is brighter than the Modi Multibit, but not unpleasantly so...."

Which Modi did you compare with the MB?
213runnin
914 posts
 
I was referring to the Modi 3, now I see I didn’t actually mention that!  
wcc10 OP
119 posts
 
I’m sure you can find something you like at the $99 level.

I'm sure you're right, "213runnin," that there might be another DAC in that price range more to my liking.This, right now seems a bit "tinny." It may break in some and different cables might help. I'll play with it and hope it gets better. It's not bad considering it's certainly better than the direct connection I had before the DAC. So in that respect I can't complain.
usery
131 posts
 
When you tire of the Modi try this: https://www.khadas.com/tone-specs

~$100 on Amazon Prime. See the guy’s review for whom the KTB bested the $3,500 NAD MS M12.


turnbowm
353 posts
 
Ran across this Modi 3 review (revisited) that was quite interesting.

(164) Schiit Modi 3 Revisited (2 months later) - YouTube 

In the second part of the review, he talks about the sound quality improvement that resulted from placing small weights on top of the Modi 3 case. I didn't have those particular weights on hand so instead I placed a book on top of the case and was taken back by the sound improvements. In particular, the upper midrange and highs were cleaner and more focused.

It makes for a no-cost experiment and you might be surprised (and pleased) by the result. No reason to think it wouldn't work for other light-weight DACs as well.
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