Definitevely, I’m gonna to buy a DAC because I think my audio port is gonna break another time soon on my laptop (already sent once in RMA in order to resolder it, not gonna to send it twice(and it’s not because I’m rough on it)). So I only need a DAC stand alone as my headphones have low impedence and I don’t want to trow a lot of money in it. I’m thinking to get the ODAC – Stand Alone from Mayflower. Yeah? Nay?
How mobile do you need the DAC to be? The Schiit Modi will sound pretty much the exact same, but it's $45 cheaper. Or if you don't mind the wait you can get an ODAC from Head 'n' Hifi for $28 less than Mayflower. Shipping from Head 'n' Hifi was very reasonable too when I ordered from them.
Smaller footprint for me has I have not a lot of space on my desk (and if there is a good increase in the clarity of the sound in think I'm gonna to use it with my phone too while on transit). But the Head 'n' Hifi are not gonna to be more expensive at the end as they come from Switzerland? Need to be shipped to Canada.
Edit: After though the Swiss one will be cheaper anyway, cheaper shipping and gonna pay custom fees on both nonetheless (and damn the conversion rate for us is disastrous.To buy in CHF Franc or in Euro is more advantageous for me than in US $)
I actually own the ODAC from Head 'n' Hifi. The audio from it is so much cleaner sounding than the onboard audio from my laptop.
Here's a 2.5" harddrive, a loonie, and a toonie for scale.It's shorter in length than a 2.5" drive, but it's also a little taller.
EDIT: It could easily fit in most pants/shorts pockets, so it's definitely possible to carry it around if needed.
Ok thanks I'm gonna probably buy it tonight.
Of you're not in a terrible hurry, consider keeping an eye on massdrop, there's usually a good deal on DACs, although it all depends on the sort of connections you'd like to use.
As a rule of thumb any DAC is better than no DAC, as long as they get up to 24bit/48Khz you're getting your money worth.
I'm inscribed on massdrop but I've never seen any interesting DAC there for me. Plus I only need an audio output and that's it and I'm really leaning toward an open hardware solution. Thanks
If you don't plan on changing headphones/iems in the future, then sure.