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DAC's under $150?

I use a smsl su-1 in my main system streaming from my laptop>su-1>Yamaha cr-2040>ns-670 speakers. I also have the topping e30ii stack for headphones playback which I never use. I think they both sound great. I've had the more expensive smsl d0200, iFi Zen Dac and they sounded just a good, but sold them.
 
I picked up an SMSL SU-1 for the porch system. It does not sound as full bodied as the Geshelli JNOG2 with the same AKM493S DAC, but it sounds brilliant in its own way and is an absolute steal at $80.
 
I have a Topping E30II and it sounds OK for the price, fine for DVD. It allows for some "digital filter" settings that change the frequency response. None improve the uninvolving "texture" of sound which I find to be a pervasive listening impression. Sometimes it pays to spend a little extra and secure something that sounds just "right" from the beginning. Still a good deal as a filler in a non-primary system. PS...it is going into a tube integrated amp that has been properly restored with quality components. JMTC YMMV

Here's an interesting, if imperfect, video from a fervent audio enthusiast.

 
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Alternative choice you might want to consider:

At or marginally below this price point (more difficult nowadays due to inflation), you might be able to still find what i consider some of the best DACs below 200 Euro.

One is the so-called 'Lite DAC-AH' which uses 8 x TDA1543 chips and the other one is the 'R2R AD1865 NOS Tube Audio DAC' which is basically an AD1865 based DAC with a simple (yet effective) I/V tube output.

They might go around with slightly different names too.

So what they are?

They are 'NOS' (non-oversampling) to be used with either Coaxial or Optical sources. They do not support above 24bit, 96kHz (or 192kHz depending on the receiver chip) and are offered with limited warranty/support.

Although they might look unimpressive with their legacy chips and technology, they are redeeming in terms of audio quality.

I have both and they served me well. I experimented with different modifications while getting to know the NOS approach, whether i like it or not.

Before, i used several AKM and Burr Brown Sigma-Delta units that were pretty good on their own.

After trying the NOS approach with those particular legacy chips, it was clear as day for me which i prefer.

Now these two units have been succeeded by a TDA1541A based DAC, NOS and with I/V tube output (6N3P in SRPP configuration).
 
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Jim Creek said:
They should all sound the same. A DAC converts discrete digital codes to a corresponding number of discrete analog output values. The 0s and 1s from the digital source have only one correct analog output. If the DAC is programmed correctly and has an excellent op amp you will get that one tone, and only that one tone.

I will admit that most people here will swear there is a difference between DACs. Hence, few people will agree with me.
Click to expand...
They should not actually. And they don't.

It is not only the DAC chipsets and the corresponding output circuit that differentiates how two DACs actually perform and sound.

Power supply, receiver chip, layout and overall quality of parts come into play as well.
 
JoeESP9 said:
I'm reminded of the NE5532 that's so prevalent in a lot of pro gear. There are lots of drop replacements that sound a lot better.
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Kept reading the above from lots of folks through the forums.

And eventually, after trying 40 or so different opamps, some x100 times the price of NE5532, i came to the conclusion that it's not at all easy to beat it.

In fact, i realised that you need to try hard to find an opamp that's truly an improvement, in terms of audio quality.

Even more so, for the related, single-channel SE/NE5534.
 
I tried 6 or 7 DAC's in this price range that are commonly recommended on this board a year or so ago ..
In direct comparison, they're pretty much like flavors of ice cream ..Each one sounds at least a bit different from the other ..
Sometimes they're way different..

I ended up liking, and keeping the 'R2R AD1865 NOS Tube Audio DAC' .. "basically an AD1865 based DAC with a simple (yet effective) I/V tube output" @Evonimos mentioned ... the others were mostly meh ..

Purchase from a source that allows free auditions ..
Compare at least 2 of them directly to each other, in your system, in your room and keep the one that you like ..
Rinse and repeat at least 3 or 4 times ..
They're surprisingly variable ..
 
Evonimos said:
They should not actually. And they don't.
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They should, actually, since a DAC is supposed to perfectly convert digital to analogue; that's its job.

But they don't, because nothing is perfect.

Just like no turntable, cartridge, preamp, amp speaker, etc is perfect, and sound different.
 
Evonimos said:
They should not actually. And they don't.

It is not only the DAC chipsets and the corresponding output circuit that differentiates how two DACs actually perform and sound.

Power supply, receiver chip, layout and overall quality of parts come into play as well.
Click to expand...
I understand there is resistance to this point of view especially amongst audiophiles. The differences between DAC chips is next to nothing, not just in my opinion. Why should there be since they are coded to be as accurate as possible.

There may be a tiny difference in the op amps and bigger in discrete circuits. Discrete circuits are tailored for a particular warmer sound. Most people cannot tell any differences though.

Here’s a point of view I picked at random. https://geekmusician.com/hear-sound-difference-dacs/
 
Specifically regarding just the DAC chips:

In the real world, there are many companies that produce and market DAC chips.
And their product lines have several different offerings. At once.
Catering different needs.

Folks, that's enough de-facto proof, for the claim.
That is, that they should NOT be the same and/or sound the same.
They are made NOT like that on purpose.
 
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Jim Creek said:
Most people cannot tell any differences though.
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Point taken.
And to that, one might add the following realities:

Most people will not care at all, using their laptop speakers to listen to their music.
Or using a crappy, portable, mono-phonic Bluetooth speaker.
Or in an improved scenario, using an offensively sounding soundbar beneath their flat TVs.

For their ears 'it's all the same'.
 
Another Topping E30 satisfied user here.
Sometimes I use an Scarlett 2i2 too. Not strictly a DAC, but it's more polivalent. It sounds very good too.
 
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Evonimos said:
Specifically regarding just the DAC chips:

In the real world, there are many companies that produce and market DAC chips.
And their product lines have several different offerings. At once.
Catering different needs.

Folks, that's enough de-facto proof, for the claim.
That is, that they should NOT be the same and/or sound the same.
They are made NOT like that on purpose.
Click to expand...
I’m skeptical. Manufactures will add some features to a chip and charge more money for them. But they don’t sound any different to human ears.

The data in a music file has one and only only corresponding analog value. Period. All DAC chips are programmed to resolve that one analog value.

Here is another discussion on the issue: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/do-different-dacs-sound-different.943434/
 
Jim Creek said:
I’m skeptical. Manufactures will add some features to a chip and charge more money for them. But they don’t sound any different to human ears.
Click to expand...
It is good to be sceptical.

However, if you are seriously interested in evaluating such a claim, there is one sure way to do it.
Auditioning them personally using an appropriate method.

In my opinion, a preferred method to do this is the following:

Acquire a couple of digital audio transports (digital players) with every component equal, apart from the DAC chip themselves
Feed them the same signal (same music track) from the same source
Record the output of each DAC chip using a decent interface (i.e. PreSonus Studio 24c) and a recording software (i.e. Audacity)
Time-match and gain-match the recorded clips by using an appropriate software editor (i.e. Audacity)
Audition the above edited recordings using proper gear and a player capable of ABX double-blind listening tests (i.e. foobar2000 with the ABX comparator plugin)

The above softwares are free, easy to use and the ABX plugin specifically allows playback switching between the recordings, on-the-fly.
The latter is important, since audio memory of humans is very, very limited indeed...
 
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