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List of DACs Under $450

Wondering if anyone owns a Khadas Tone2... Price of 250 for this DAC doesn't seem so prohibitive...

Khadas-Tone2.jpg
 
Netdewt said:
I'd like of try making a list of all DACs under $450, and maybe some that are a hair over. This is a pretty ridiculous task, but I am a little OCD. I have to try.

My reason for going with $450 as my magic number, and not something more generic like $500, is because of the Cambridge Audio DAC Magic's is current retail price. Its popularity and good reviews had me sure that I would get one, but I had more research to do.

DIY DACs are included. Anything meant only for portable use has been mostly excluded (i.e. it has only headphone jacks). I am also including USB to Digital Out Converters and Wireless Transports. I expanded the list to include some DACs over $450, but under $1000, just because I ran across them, but I am not actively seeking them out.

Of course, I'm sure this has been done before. There are some lists and some guides out there too. Here goes! Help appreciated. Put in a good word if you own one of these. I'll try to update this with links and prices whenever I have time.

* * *

Under $150
Tianyun Zero (USB, AD1852, headphone, thread)
Jolida Glass FX DAC Mini (USB only, PCM2702)
LiTe DAC-Ah (NOS, 8xTDA1543, review, pg. 8, thread, page)
Firestone Audio Fubar II (USB only, PCM2702, review)
Super Pro 707 (USB, CS4398)
HRT Music Streamer (USB only, PCM1744, review)
NuForce Icon uDAC-2 (USB, headphone)
Twisted Pear Opus or COD (DIY, WM8741/PCM1794A, thread)
Gigawork LM-DAC3 (DIY, USB, CS4398, thread)
Toole Audio BantamDAC (DIY, USB only, PCM2702, thread)
Mute Audio GrubDAC (DIY, USB only, WM8524, thread)
AlienDAC (DIY, USB only, PCM2702, PCB, thread)
AMB y1 or y2 (DIY, 3.5mm, USB, WM8501/WM8759, thread)
Analog Metric "Greendac" kit (DIY, TDA1541A)
Analog Metric "Greendac" (DIY, page, TDA1541A)
Raindrop Hui AD1865N-K black (DIY, NOS, page, AD1865N-K)
Raindrop Hui Tube DAC (DIY, NOS, tube, 8xTDA1543)
DDDAC USB 1543 (DIY, NOS, USB, TDA1543)
Scott Nixon DacKit & USBdk2 (DIY, USB)
ezDAC (DIY, PCM1794/PCM1798)
Monica p2p wired (DIY, TDA1545A)

Under $250
XiangSheng DAC-01A (tube, USB, headphone, see Grant Fidelity)
Maverick Tube Magic D1 (tube, USB, headphone, AK review)
Aune Mini MK2 (USB, headphone, PCM1793, review)
VALAB v2.5 (NOS, 8xTDA1543, USB, review, thread 1, thread 2, see PV Fathom, see TeraDak, a.k.a. Gigalab Moon)
Yulong Crystal DA (USB, headphone, PCM2704)
Zhaolu D2.5 (headphone, CS4398)
Blue Circle USB Thingee (USB, headphone)
Firestone Audio Fubar I-O (ADC, USB only, PCM2902)
Firestone Audio Fubar III (USB only, headphone, PCM2702)
Pro-Ject USB Box (USB only)
E-MU 0404 (ADC, USB, headphone, AK4396, review)
Presonus Inspire 1394 (ADC, FW, headphone)
Edirol UA-25 (ADC, USB, headphone)
Pop Pulse UII (USB)
Pop Pulse 1796 (USB, PCM1796)
Raindrop Hui 2x TDA1541A blue (DIY, NOS, 2xTDA1541A)
Raindrop Hui 2x AD1865 red (DIY, NOS, 2xAD1865)
Twisted Pear Buffalo II (DIY, thread, ES9018)
Audio Sector DAC (USB or SPDIF, thread, TDA1543)

Under $350
VALAB v4.0 (USB, 8xTDA1543)
Beresford TC-7520 (headphone, USB, review, pg. 14)
Beresford TC-7520SE Caiman (headphone, USB, WM8716)
Grant Fidelity Tube DAC-09 (USB, headphone, tube, see XiangSheng)
Matrix mini-i (USB, headphone, 2xAD1955, review, pg. 29)
Mood Lab Concept (NOS, TDA1543)
Audio gd Compass (USB, headphone, AD1852, thread)
Audio gd DAC 200 (USB, AD1852)
Zhaolu D3 (CS4398)
Little Dot DAC (USB, balanced, WM8740, product website down, thread)
Musical Fidelity VDAC (USB, DSD1792, review 1, review 2)
Yulong DAH1 MkII (USB, headphone, review)
LiTe DAC-Ah Modified (NOS, 8xTDA1543)
Firestone Audio Spitfire (PCM1793)
Behringer Ultramatch Pro SRC2496 (AK4393)
Edirol FA-66 (ADC, FW, headphone)
HRT Music Streamer + (USB only, PCM1794, review)
KECES DA-131 (PCM1793)
Raindrop Hui "Bloodac" (DIY, NOS, page, 4xTDA1541A)
DDDAC 1543mk2 (DIY, NOS, USB, 12xTDA1543)

Under $450
Cambridge Audio DAC Magic (USB, balanced, review 1, review 2, thread, 2xTDA1305)
TeraDak Chameleon v4.5 (USB, 16xTDA1543, thread)
Diyeden Musiland MD-10 (USB, headphone, CS4398, review)
Zhaolu D3.5 (USB, 2xPCM1738)
Dugood DAC3W (USB, balanced, AK4394)
Firestone Audio Fubar IV Plus (USB, headphone, CS4344)
Behringer Ultracurve Pro DEQ2496 (AK4393)
KECES DA-151 (USB only, review, thread)
Devilsound (USB only, PCM2706, review)
MHDT Constantine (+)
Scott Nixon Chibi Dac & USBchibi2 (DIY, USB)
Scott Nixon USB.UFO.JF (DIY, USB only)
diyparadise Monica (DIY, NOS, sold out)
DDDAC 1543mk2 (DIY, NOS, USB, 24xTDA1543)
EC Designs TDA1543, resistors, superclock (DIY, I2S only, TDA1543)

Under $1000
Channel Islands VDA-2 (PCM1794)
Music Hall dac25.2 (USB, tube, PCM1796, review)
Promitheus (TDA1545A, review)
dAck! (NOS)
Moodlab Dice (NOS, USB, TDA1543)
MHDT Paradisea 3 (review)
MHDT Havana
Stello DA100 (USB, balanced, AK4395)
Benchmark DAC1 (balanced, AD1853)
Audio Note DAC 2.0 (DIY, NOS, tube, AD1865)
K&K RAKK (DIY, PCM1794)
Scott Nixon USB.UFO.JF2.2 & TD2.2 (DIY, USB, tube)
DDDAC 1543mk2 (DIY, NOS, USB, 60xTDA1543)
ackoDAC (DIY, thread, ES9018)
EC Designs TDA1541A, resistors, superclock (DIY, thread, TDA1541A)
Satch DAC kit (DIY, TDA1541A)

Possible Used Deals Under $450
Musical Fidelity X-24K (PCM1716)

USB to Digital Out Converters Under $450
HA INFO NG COAX
Trends Audio UD-10 (review)
Behringer UCA202
Diyeden Musiland Monitor (thread)
Pop Pulse PC LinkII
M-Audio Transit (review, 3.5mm)
M2Tech HiFace Asynchronous USB
XMOS Asynchronous USB (DIY)
AMB y1 (DIY)
Hagerman Technology HagUSB (DIY)

Wireless Transports Under $450
Apple Airport Express (mini optical)
Logitech Squeezebox Touch
Sonos ZonePlayer 90
DuGood WDDC Wireless USB to SPDIF
Pop Pulse PC Link Wireless
TeraDak TeraLink

Sources
http://stores.ebay.com/TAMS-AUDIO - Tam's Audio eBay Store
http://stores.ebay.com/waiwaivalvecompany - Wai Wai Valve Co. eBay Store
http://stores.ebay.com/shenzhenaudiostore - Shenzhen eBay Store
http://stores.ebay.com/vintageaudiolab - Vintage Audio Lab eBay Store (VALAB)
http://myworld.ebay.com/raindrop_hui/ - Raindrop Hui, eBay listings
http://myworld.ebay.com/zycamaniac/ - zycamaniac, eBay listings (Keces)
http://www.pacificvalve.us/ - Pacific Valve, Diyeden Musiland, Audio gd, Matrix, Moodlab, XiangSheng, Yulong, LiTe
http://mall.hifidiy.net/ - Aune, HifiDIY.net kits
http://www.audioadvisor.com/ - DAC Magic, VDAC, HRT
http://www.audiophilechina.com/ - Little Dot, Diyeden Musiland, Tianyun Zero, Zhaolu, Matrix, Yulong
http://www.audiophileproducts.com/ - Firestone Audio
http://diykits.com.hk/ - Wai Wai Valve Co.
http://www.cryo-parts.com/ - Pop Pulse, HRT, Zhaolu, Music Hall, Super Pro
http://www.ecdesigns.nl/modules - EC Designs assembled DAC modules, SD transport
http://www.dddac.de/ - Doede Duoma, DDDAC kits
http://www.twistedpearaudio.com/ - Twisted Pear Audio kits
http://www.amb.org/ - AMB Audio kits
http://www.audionotekits.com/ - Audio Note kits
http://www.kandkaudio.com/digitalaudio.html - K&K Audio kits
http://www.analogmetric.com/ - Analog Metric kits

DAC Chip Reference
http://www.vasiltech.nm.ru/files/cd-players/CD-Player-DAC-Transport.htm
Click to expand...
In my opinion only I would stay away from the Cambridge Magic one I had trouble with it.. it would just shut off or it would not play. Talked to Audio Advisor from who I bought it from and I had to send it back to England I think it was to get it fixed. They new a few got out that were bad but not enough for a recall this is what they told me./ I got it back a month later. I have other DACs but right now I am running the Dragonfly cobalt. I have all 3. For me they seem to work fine. I switch around. Also order a China one from a site never got it. Paypal got my money back and took the company off there site.
 
@tabarddn51 do you own the D50 mk lll or have you heard it ? I have the WiiM Ultra streamer using WiFi and it sounds very good in my system. However, I'm looking to purchase my first external DAC.

Can anyone recommend a decent power supply ? Seems the D50 mk lll does not come with one.
 

Hi hpm40,​

No I actually own a D50S, but have been thinking of upgrading to the mk III, mainly because of the frequency curves that can be applied. With the upgrades that I have made to my T/T rig over the last couple of years the digital side falls way behind it & I was quite empresses with the AudioScience review

Cheers
 
Netdewt said:
I'd like of try making a list of all DACs under $450, and maybe some that are a hair over. This is a pretty ridiculous task, but I am a little OCD. I have to try.

My reason for going with $450 as my magic number, and not something more generic like $500, is because of the Cambridge Audio DAC Magic's is current retail price. Its popularity and good reviews had me sure that I would get one, but I had more research to do.

DIY DACs are included. Anything meant only for portable use has been mostly excluded (i.e. it has only headphone jacks). I am also including USB to Digital Out Converters and Wireless Transports. I expanded the list to include some DACs over $450, but under $1000, just because I ran across them, but I am not actively seeking them out.

Of course, I'm sure this has been done before. There are some lists and some guides out there too. Here goes! Help appreciated. Put in a good word if you own one of these. I'll try to update this with links and prices whenever I have time.

* * *

Under $150
Tianyun Zero (USB, AD1852, headphone, thread)
Jolida Glass FX DAC Mini (USB only, PCM2702)
LiTe DAC-Ah (NOS, 8xTDA1543, review, pg. 8, thread, page)
Firestone Audio Fubar II (USB only, PCM2702, review)
Super Pro 707 (USB, CS4398)
HRT Music Streamer (USB only, PCM1744, review)
NuForce Icon uDAC-2 (USB, headphone)
Twisted Pear Opus or COD (DIY, WM8741/PCM1794A, thread)
Gigawork LM-DAC3 (DIY, USB, CS4398, thread)
Toole Audio BantamDAC (DIY, USB only, PCM2702, thread)
Mute Audio GrubDAC (DIY, USB only, WM8524, thread)
AlienDAC (DIY, USB only, PCM2702, PCB, thread)
AMB y1 or y2 (DIY, 3.5mm, USB, WM8501/WM8759, thread)
Analog Metric "Greendac" kit (DIY, TDA1541A)
Analog Metric "Greendac" (DIY, page, TDA1541A)
Raindrop Hui AD1865N-K black (DIY, NOS, page, AD1865N-K)
Raindrop Hui Tube DAC (DIY, NOS, tube, 8xTDA1543)
DDDAC USB 1543 (DIY, NOS, USB, TDA1543)
Scott Nixon DacKit & USBdk2 (DIY, USB)
ezDAC (DIY, PCM1794/PCM1798)
Monica p2p wired (DIY, TDA1545A)

Under $250
XiangSheng DAC-01A (tube, USB, headphone, see Grant Fidelity)
Maverick Tube Magic D1 (tube, USB, headphone, AK review)
Aune Mini MK2 (USB, headphone, PCM1793, review)
VALAB v2.5 (NOS, 8xTDA1543, USB, review, thread 1, thread 2, see PV Fathom, see TeraDak, a.k.a. Gigalab Moon)
Yulong Crystal DA (USB, headphone, PCM2704)
Zhaolu D2.5 (headphone, CS4398)
Blue Circle USB Thingee (USB, headphone)
Firestone Audio Fubar I-O (ADC, USB only, PCM2902)
Firestone Audio Fubar III (USB only, headphone, PCM2702)
Pro-Ject USB Box (USB only)
E-MU 0404 (ADC, USB, headphone, AK4396, review)
Presonus Inspire 1394 (ADC, FW, headphone)
Edirol UA-25 (ADC, USB, headphone)
Pop Pulse UII (USB)
Pop Pulse 1796 (USB, PCM1796)
Raindrop Hui 2x TDA1541A blue (DIY, NOS, 2xTDA1541A)
Raindrop Hui 2x AD1865 red (DIY, NOS, 2xAD1865)
Twisted Pear Buffalo II (DIY, thread, ES9018)
Audio Sector DAC (USB or SPDIF, thread, TDA1543)

Under $350
VALAB v4.0 (USB, 8xTDA1543)
Beresford TC-7520 (headphone, USB, review, pg. 14)
Beresford TC-7520SE Caiman (headphone, USB, WM8716)
Grant Fidelity Tube DAC-09 (USB, headphone, tube, see XiangSheng)
Matrix mini-i (USB, headphone, 2xAD1955, review, pg. 29)
Mood Lab Concept (NOS, TDA1543)
Audio gd Compass (USB, headphone, AD1852, thread)
Audio gd DAC 200 (USB, AD1852)
Zhaolu D3 (CS4398)
Little Dot DAC (USB, balanced, WM8740, product website down, thread)
Musical Fidelity VDAC (USB, DSD1792, review 1, review 2)
Yulong DAH1 MkII (USB, headphone, review)
LiTe DAC-Ah Modified (NOS, 8xTDA1543)
Firestone Audio Spitfire (PCM1793)
Behringer Ultramatch Pro SRC2496 (AK4393)
Edirol FA-66 (ADC, FW, headphone)
HRT Music Streamer + (USB only, PCM1794, review)
KECES DA-131 (PCM1793)
Raindrop Hui "Bloodac" (DIY, NOS, page, 4xTDA1541A)
DDDAC 1543mk2 (DIY, NOS, USB, 12xTDA1543)

Under $450
Cambridge Audio DAC Magic (USB, balanced, review 1, review 2, thread, 2xTDA1305)
TeraDak Chameleon v4.5 (USB, 16xTDA1543, thread)
Diyeden Musiland MD-10 (USB, headphone, CS4398, review)
Zhaolu D3.5 (USB, 2xPCM1738)
Dugood DAC3W (USB, balanced, AK4394)
Firestone Audio Fubar IV Plus (USB, headphone, CS4344)
Behringer Ultracurve Pro DEQ2496 (AK4393)
KECES DA-151 (USB only, review, thread)
Devilsound (USB only, PCM2706, review)
MHDT Constantine (+)
Scott Nixon Chibi Dac & USBchibi2 (DIY, USB)
Scott Nixon USB.UFO.JF (DIY, USB only)
diyparadise Monica (DIY, NOS, sold out)
DDDAC 1543mk2 (DIY, NOS, USB, 24xTDA1543)
EC Designs TDA1543, resistors, superclock (DIY, I2S only, TDA1543)

Under $1000
Channel Islands VDA-2 (PCM1794)
Music Hall dac25.2 (USB, tube, PCM1796, review)
Promitheus (TDA1545A, review)
dAck! (NOS)
Moodlab Dice (NOS, USB, TDA1543)
MHDT Paradisea 3 (review)
MHDT Havana
Stello DA100 (USB, balanced, AK4395)
Benchmark DAC1 (balanced, AD1853)
Audio Note DAC 2.0 (DIY, NOS, tube, AD1865)
K&K RAKK (DIY, PCM1794)
Scott Nixon USB.UFO.JF2.2 & TD2.2 (DIY, USB, tube)
DDDAC 1543mk2 (DIY, NOS, USB, 60xTDA1543)
ackoDAC (DIY, thread, ES9018)
EC Designs TDA1541A, resistors, superclock (DIY, thread, TDA1541A)
Satch DAC kit (DIY, TDA1541A)

Possible Used Deals Under $450
Musical Fidelity X-24K (PCM1716)

USB to Digital Out Converters Under $450
HA INFO NG COAX
Trends Audio UD-10 (review)
Behringer UCA202
Diyeden Musiland Monitor (thread)
Pop Pulse PC LinkII
M-Audio Transit (review, 3.5mm)
M2Tech HiFace Asynchronous USB
XMOS Asynchronous USB (DIY)
AMB y1 (DIY)
Hagerman Technology HagUSB (DIY)

Wireless Transports Under $450
Apple Airport Express (mini optical)
Logitech Squeezebox Touch
Sonos ZonePlayer 90
DuGood WDDC Wireless USB to SPDIF
Pop Pulse PC Link Wireless
TeraDak TeraLink

Sources
http://stores.ebay.com/TAMS-AUDIO - Tam's Audio eBay Store
http://stores.ebay.com/waiwaivalvecompany - Wai Wai Valve Co. eBay Store
http://stores.ebay.com/shenzhenaudiostore - Shenzhen eBay Store
http://stores.ebay.com/vintageaudiolab - Vintage Audio Lab eBay Store (VALAB)
http://myworld.ebay.com/raindrop_hui/ - Raindrop Hui, eBay listings
http://myworld.ebay.com/zycamaniac/ - zycamaniac, eBay listings (Keces)
http://www.pacificvalve.us/ - Pacific Valve, Diyeden Musiland, Audio gd, Matrix, Moodlab, XiangSheng, Yulong, LiTe
http://mall.hifidiy.net/ - Aune, HifiDIY.net kits
http://www.audioadvisor.com/ - DAC Magic, VDAC, HRT
http://www.audiophilechina.com/ - Little Dot, Diyeden Musiland, Tianyun Zero, Zhaolu, Matrix, Yulong
http://www.audiophileproducts.com/ - Firestone Audio
http://diykits.com.hk/ - Wai Wai Valve Co.
http://www.cryo-parts.com/ - Pop Pulse, HRT, Zhaolu, Music Hall, Super Pro
http://www.ecdesigns.nl/modules - EC Designs assembled DAC modules, SD transport
http://www.dddac.de/ - Doede Duoma, DDDAC kits
http://www.twistedpearaudio.com/ - Twisted Pear Audio kits
http://www.amb.org/ - AMB Audio kits
http://www.audionotekits.com/ - Audio Note kits
http://www.kandkaudio.com/digitalaudio.html - K&K Audio kits
http://www.analogmetric.com/ - Analog Metric kits

DAC Chip Reference
http://www.vasiltech.nm.ru/files/cd-players/CD-Player-DAC-Transport.htm
Click to expand...
And a list of face should include Gishelli Labs….in any configuration
 
I scanned your list but did not read all of the replies. That being said, don't sleep on Geshelli Labs. Great family business out of Florida, USA. I have the original J2 but they keep adding products and upgrading chips to their offerings. https://geshelli.com/
 
Last fall my Topping E30 died. After trying a few others in the $200 range, I opted for the SMSL C100, which is nearly identical to the SU-1 but has remote. I added a DIY linear regulated power supply, and had a MUSES02 opamp installed per oranda's post about cheap DACs....it's as good as he says it is. My system is fairly evolved and revealing, and the humble SMSL just shines. All in for a little over $200....highly recommended.
 
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