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punktdot
6
Aug 17, 2018
USB powered and the lack of an optical input sadly kills this DAC. Could have been such a nice product, how can an oversight like that happen?
What's next? An AMP with USB audio out?
gtb75
340
Aug 17, 2018
punktdotI agree that having optical and being externally powered would be nice. That being said, the optical issue is an easy fix with something like this: http://a.co/4MnKa5O As for the external power issue, I wonder if a hard drive splitter cable like the following would allow it to to be powered off a USB power supply / phone charger: http://a.co/1QmVAKh
Maybe CEE_TEE can chime in.
Motorrad
2900
Aug 17, 2018
punktdotYou are describing a different DAC...a more expensive DAC for a different purpose. If that's what you want, go buy one elsewhere. This is what it is and it's priced right. Good luck on your quest.
horseman612
31
Aug 18, 2018
gtb75Pretty sure that cable draws power from both of its A connectors, so it would not isolate you from noisy bus power - Schiit's Wyrd is built for exactly this purpose & will give you isolation and a good-looking LPS for $99, though I haven't actually used that product.
horseman612
31
Aug 18, 2018
MotorradThe issue people are having here though is that *doesn't* have to be a more expensive DAC, just a slightly larger one - we're talking literally a few 5-10 cent parts here, it seems like these are compromises made not for cost but to fit into an extremely tiny chassis for no good reason I can see (as this is more applicable as a desktop rather than a portable product.)
punktdot
6
Aug 18, 2018
MotorradMore expensive? I don't think a few 50c parts would really add much cost here. A DAC w/o a optical in has very limited use cases and USB power supply just doesn't cut in the audio world.
Motorrad
2900
Aug 18, 2018
punktdotAgain, it is what it is and for the price. The cost is kept low because they have not have not have not had to do any significant re-engineering and have kept the same form factor as the previous Grace. The inexpensive cost of the theoretical parts is not to going have much to do with the theoretical cost of the proposed theoretical product. I think we all know there is better stuff coming and that this will sell just fine...
I do not agree completely that 'USB power supply just doesn't cut in the audio world'. That's a rote and gross generalization, though if one is trying to step it up with differential inputs it would follow that one would want to upgrade power supply. USB PS definitely does not cut it in the High End audio world, but it perfectly acceptable in this format. I was skeptical, but after comparing the unbalanced xgrace with similarly chipped DACs, PS issues were not a big concern.
As for optical...it rarely crosses my mind and that reminds me that I should probably do some listening via TOSLINK...but likely won't.
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