Heh, I have three of these!!

In order of performance:

1) Nixon USB Tube DAC.
This guy just plain kicks ass!! Sounds incredible. It's my main source. I've talked about it before. Limited flexibilty in that it is USB only. Luckily though, PC Audio itself is pretty darn flexible. YOu can rip all your cd's and you get internet radio. I am about to send it in to be upgraded to the lateset circuit and I am also going to buy the better power supply.
I've never heard the Chibi but they are essentially the same circuit, minus the tube buffer (different than a tube output stage - don't ask me to explain it)

2) Headroom Micro DAC
This is a very cool little unit too. USB or Coax/Optical option, and you can also power it with batteries. I haven't used it much with my main stereo as it lives at work.. but man, i have great tunes at work! Check out my little blog write up on them: http://forums.audioreview.com/blog.p...showentry&e=10

3) M-Audio Audiophile USB
Good but not great. If you're coming from an internal stock soundcard, you'll be pretty happy. But I went from this to the Nixon and the Nixon was a tremendous improvement. With Audiophile USB, you have many more options though. Recording analog sources into your computer. Digital or analog outputs, etc. For straight audio playback, however, go with one of the other units.


Other units to consider:

Lite Audio DACs. I haven't heard them, but supposedly they are great budget units. Cheap too. Google em. No USB inputs here, coax only i think.

Apple's Airport Express & Slim Devices Squeezebox
Not DACs per se, but a good way to get music off your computer and into your stereo. I prefer the AE, but many folks swear by the Squeezebox. I sweared AT it. I could never get it to work on my wireless networks. But many people don't have that problem at all.

Firestone Audio FUBAR - $120
cheap and supposedly good.


There are a lot of options. You could also always go used. I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

eric