# Audiophiles: Are aftermarket DACs of any use?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/audiophiles-are-aftermarket-dacs-of-any-use/848627>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 27, 2020, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/audiophiles-are-aftermarket-dacs-of-any-use/848627 "2020-02-27T22:40:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2020, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/audiophiles-are-aftermarket-dacs-of-any-use/848627/21 "2020-02-28T03:02:51Z")

</div>

> [@Whack-a-Mole](#):
>
> I have been looking seriously at the [Schiit Hel DAC/Amp](https://www.schiit.com/products/hel). Any opinions?

I don’t own one myself, but I’ve seen and heard nice comments.

To be honest, the DAC/amp I’d pick if I had to keep only one would be the old-fashioned Practical Devices XM5. It’s a bit more expensive, it’s plain-looking, it uses mini (not micro) USB, and it’s the opposite of ergonomic. But…it’s worked at 24-bit/96KHz with every laptop and desktop I own, it’s got every feature I want (including cross-feed), and the (built-in) battery lasts a long time. Plus, it’s heavy enough that it stays on my desk when I need it to and I doubt it would break even if I threw it at the floor. I’ve used it with Grados, BeyerDynamics, Sonys, Sennheisers, and just about anything else you can think of. For $275 (with the LiIon battery and fast-charger option), it just gets the job done.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2020, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/audiophiles-are-aftermarket-dacs-of-any-use/848627/22 "2020-02-28T04:29:01Z")

</div>

Anybody have any luck/experience playing DSD audio (1 bit/2822.4 kHz (or multiples, even 24.576 MHz exists)) through any of those DACs? I ask only out of morbid curiosity.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2020, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/audiophiles-are-aftermarket-dacs-of-any-use/848627/23 "2020-02-28T07:33:38Z")

</div>

> [@Tamerlane](#):
>
> I had a hell of a time with a modi/magni setup trying to get them to work consistently with Windows( 7 AND 10 ). Not just one set, either. My father had a pair and I tried swapping them around to temporary but no lasting effect. I am not the only one that has had that issue and believe me I tried a lot of solutions before finally just shrugging and writing them off for that usage( desktop PC using a pair of Sennheiser HD 600’s ). In fairness they worked just fine with my father’s Linux-based machine.

Hmm…you’d think getting the plug-and-play part right would be of prime importance when designing these. I 100% believe you. I am just amazed that Schiit didn’t nail this aspect. Clearly when people first setup their system and it all goes to hell out of the box they are going to have a lot of unhappy customers.

I was considering a [Modi/Vali 2](http://www.metal-fi.com/schiit-audio-vali-modi-stack/) stack. Now I am not so sure. Maybe try the less expensive Hel and see how that goes.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/audiophiles-are-aftermarket-dacs-of-any-use/848627.md?page=1)