I'm going to upgrade my source, and it has to be a standalone dac so I can use it with my computer. But I was thinking that it should also do A/D conversion so I can make better needledrops. Does anybody know of some good, preferably under 1k A/D/A's?

Anybody?

They exist. I've heard people on audiokarma like the...erm...something "audiophile"...soundblaster?

Then of course there's the FOTM from several years ago...the ART DI/O...but that doesn't have USB.

RME Audio makes a few things that might suit your needs. Not sure if they fit into your pricing though.

I have a bunch of audiophile record needle drops using the E-MU0404 USB as the ADC. They sound damn good.

Maybe a combination of Apogee Mini-DAC and Mini-Me? They'll set you back at least ~$1.5K, though.

EDIT - And Mini-Me is no longer available as of July 25.

The rosetta is basically the minime and minidac in 1 box

RME Audio makes a few things that might suit your needs. Not sure if they fit into your pricing though.

The RME stuff is pretty interesting, though none of them seem to have RCA's. I'd definitely get a rosetta but it's a bit too pricey..

I ended up getting a DBX Quantum off ebay. Here's some a quantum II (couldn't find any other than the small pic in the ad) http://www.rmcaudio.com/dbx/pics/quantumii_lrg.htm

Not sure what the differences are with the II, but I know the people at Zu use one as a dac at some shows. Now I just need some 1/4 -> RCA cables...

Does it have USB? Even if it doesn't, you still did real well -- I think (without having heard it) that that's a really good price for that, and that it'd be a step up on the Art DI/O.