since d/a converter of soundcards are not too good i decided to use digital out in connection with a d/a convertor. is there any device one could recommend? i looked for some reviews at google but didn't really find anything useful. i'm looking for a HIFI d/a converter. studio features are not needed.

i guess i still need a soundcard which doesn't resmaple because i think digital outs of creative devices (for example) also resample the digital outputs... ?

thanks, ben

I used to use the Midiman Flying Calf D/A converter. It's cheap, and very good. I can't find the official site for it anymore, maybe it's no longer available.

Then all my HIFI equipment got stolen, and I had to start all over again. This time I'm considering the M-Audio Super DAC 2496, however I'm short of cash at the moment. Besides the analog outputs of my Terratec EWX 24/96 are very good, so I'm in no rush.

According to what I've heard, read, discussed and tested, it seems that only an expensive DAC will do better than a good soundcard.
Soundcards have been improved these years, and a good Terratec (EWX, DMX 6fire...), M-Audio (Audiophile 2496) or I don't know what else, should be as good as a good hifi CD Player.

I agree with Pio2001. I also think that most likely there won't be any audible difference at all between one of these good quality soundcards and a higher quality expensive DAC.

A good deal with a headphone output and an analog volume control is the Benchmark Media DAC1. It also comes with very good jitter rejection and balanced outputs.

http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/digital/dac1/default.asp

Cheers


Thomas