Cheap D/A?

[plympton]

I know, this isn't the group to ask this, but I will anyway. :-)

There's a TON of threads on high-end replacement D/A converters, but are there any - similar to a DVD player's D/A that will convert the Coax or Toslink connections to standard 2-channel stereo inputs? I essentially want to have 2 SB outputs - 1 variable volume Analog and one fixed volume Analog.

Thanks!
-Dan

[bobschneider]

I have one of these I'm using with my Squeezebox, and like it alot. I've done a few mods to mine (better opamps and caps), but it sounded good before the mods.

http://www.pacificvalve.us/LTDACAM.html

If that one's not right for you, they have quite a few others, some even cheaper.

If you want to go cheaper than that, your best bet is probably looking for a used one on eBay or Audiogon. Outboard DACs depreciate pretty quickly, because the technology is still improving fairly quickly, so you can get one that was big bucks a few years ago for a cheap price today.

[plympton]

I have one of these I'm using with my Squeezebox, and like it alot. I've done a few mods to mine (better opamps and caps), but it sounded good before the mods.

http://www.pacificvalve.us/LTDACAM.html

If that one's not right for you, they have quite a few others, some even cheaper.

If you want to go cheaper than that, your best bet is probably looking for a used one on eBay or Audiogon. Outboard DACs depreciate pretty quickly, because the technology is still improving fairly quickly, so you can get one that was big bucks a few years ago for a cheap price today.

Thanks for the info! This DAC is more my speed at the moment, though I was hoping for a simple little box, this would work:

http://www.pacificvalve.us/DIYEDENSV04.html

or this

http://www.pacificvalve.us/LTDACAH2.html

Though I'm most assuredly NOT using this for Audiophile reasons - I just want a variable and a fixed analog out. Unfortunately, getting a digital receiver won't work - I want to "send" the fixed output, and have the variable output "local".

Finding one of these used would be sweet! :-)

-Dan