JDSLABS ODAC/USB Digital Analog Converter

Simply said, this product did not work at all for the intended usage. When hooking it up to my computer and going through myOnkyo A-9050 amplifier and Klipsch RP-150M speakers it only produced a hissing sound and no actual audio, which was incredibly loud. I tested this on TWO computer and no dice. I even had a 1/8" ground loop isolator to try to solve the problem -- nope, didn't solve anything! Furthermore, when using my Focusrite Solo DAC instead, it actually worked perfectly. I intended to buy an additional DAC to use with separate speakers, but this DAC didn't work for me at all.

It does what it says on the tin.I can't tell much of a difference between it and my Fiio e10k's line out, It costs more, I'm sure it's better but I can't tell with Objective 2 + HD 650

Replaced Dragonfly DAC (could not get to work properly, audio tech support worthless) with this unit as read it is recognized as USB device and no driver needed. Came with 1 pager operating instructions - well written. Setup in 5 min, sounds great. Advanced setting easy to navigate with operating instructions to optimize sound setting, all thru Speaker setting in Window (it shows the ODAC as a USB device, just right click on that icon and setting options come up). Using with Windows PC and home stereo via RCA cable input to DAC to listen to Spotify. Highly recommend this device. Easy to install and make HUGE improvement in sound ( all types, jazz, funk, hard rock, classical).

I bought the naked board version and put it in my own enclosure. Kept it for about 6 months. More open sound stage and extended treble than the computer sound card, but had two faults:- The top end, though extended, was irritating - harsh and scratchy for lack of more descriptive terms. The tone from my sound card was better.- strange noise/blanking behavior. I experienced several very short duration 'drop outs' or noise events during nearly every thing i played. Not as aggressive as a record skip or CD blanking, but still noticeable.I wanted to like it, as I put it together myself - but it was not to be.Ended up with the Centrance Dacport LX, which has an even more open sound without the harsh top end and no odd behaviors. It's $50 more, but well worth it.

There was noise, with all my headsets and different sources.

Excellent sound from this ODAC and I can't recommend it enough. Great response throughout the audio range to the point where the default EQ presets in all my music apps just ruin the experience.

Perfect device. Perfect sound.

Regarding both DACS and amps, the law of diminishing returns starts at around $350 for the pair. The purpose of this pair is to take a digital signal from a computer device and make it into an analog signal that is sufficiently loud. Solid state amps do the best job at that, as they do not color, distort, mute, and add noises (popping, hissing, etc.) like tube amps do. As such, a $350 portable JDS Labs O2 amp and Standalone ODAC pairing will achieve 95% of the audio quality of any $5,000 or even $50,000 setup, marketing spam notwithstanding. A great alternative pairing is the $199 Schiit Magni 2 and Modi 2, but they are not portable and you may have to upgrade to the costlier Uber models of both (another $120 or so) to achieve compatibility with your equipment. Empirical evidence is minimal in the audio industry, which has opened the doors for outlandish manufacturers' claims that rationalize the ridiculously inflated prices of their products. Third-party measurements of sensitivity, efficiency, and the like are some of the few characteristics that can be objectively measured. Everything else is subjective and nothing more than marketing pseudoscience intended to reap the biggest profits for the manufacturers and retailers. Professional magazine reviewers are compensated to write rave reviews for overpriced "high-end" components, which are perpetuated and propagated by barely-literate, naive blue collar types who post "expert" reviews at so-called audiophile websites. Remember, in the audio industry, price is rarely proportional to sound quality. I should know, as I was a high-end audio salesman for several years. I suggest that you buy the $129 Standalone ODAC directly from JDS Labs.