Budget USB DAC

But I would still like to point out that the Hagerman and Blue Circle just convert the USB sugnal to a digital signal. You still need something to convert the digital to analog. The Stereo-link does the whole trick.

Also, cruise head-fi. There is a lot of info there on less expensive DACs.

Riffer ... this is from the Blue Circle web site:

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The USB Thingee

No, it doesn't have a tube in it. The tube is just for a visual reference.

The "USB Thingee" allows you to plug into your computer to access music files, internet radio and even DVD.

It can be used with the internal 24 bit DAC and output via headphone or line level to your stereo. For maximum sound quality you can use an external DAC via SPDTF or AES/EBU output.

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It does have analog L/R RCA output jacks, and a headphone jack. Am I missing "maximum sound quality"?

You are correct Riffer. I just went back in and re-read the UHF review on the Thingee. They were running the signal to another DAC.

Think I'll just go out and spend $20 on a Xitel HiFi-Link™ Audio Processor and be done with it.

I'm getting a Blue Circle USB Thingee. This is the info I got from the Blue Circle dealer:

The DAC in the Blue Circle USB Thingee can most certainly be used in lieu of an external DAC. In the UHF review they seemed to focus primarily on using the USB Thingee as an alternative to a dedicated CD transport or CD player. The reason why many folks have used this approach is they can take advantage of the added convenience that the computer-based system provides (large library of music online).

From an audible perspective the integrated 24-bit DAC in the USB Thingee is quite good. In terms of noise floor & overall sound quality it is a noteworthy improvement over the typical soundcard in the PC.

I'll do an update next week after I've had a few nights with the USB Thingee doing some comparissons. I'm sure it's going to be much better than the Soundcard to pre-amp connection I'm using now. I'll be sure to use the ASIO driver also. (I have a PC not a Mac.)

Sorry for the misinformation, I didn't realize there where RCA and headphone outputs on the Blue Circle.

Let us know how it sounds.