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List of DACs Under $450

sberger said:
Just started using this. Small footprint, extremely well built, comes with a remote and sounds great.

https://www.amazon.com/Decoder-SMSL...8?ie=UTF8&qid=1540403486&sr=8-18&keywords=dac
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https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...eview-and-measurements-of-smsl-su-8-dac.3778/
It measures less well than the Topping D50 and seems to have some issues. It doesn't appear to be a worthwhile purchase based on this evaluation unless you have specific needs that it satisfies.
 
travellersol said:
TOPPING D10 - $90
TOPPING D20 - $90
TOPPING D30 - $120
TOPPING D50 - $250

The brand Topping seems to be getting many praises from the following review site (Amir):

https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...iew-and-measurements-of-topping-d10-dac.2470/
https://www.amazon.com/TOPPING-ES9038Q2M2-DSD512-768KHz-Decoder/dp/B07BQTFWW1
Click to expand...

I'm running a Topping D30 and CCA. It's been flawless so far. I run it for hours on end it and it just works.

Also using Spotify premium and optical cable.
 
botrytis said:
Having MQA would leave it off my list, even though it has decent reviews. :D
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I don't get this, so merely having an MQA capability would cross a DAC off your list, no matter what other formats it's able to play and how good or well reviewed the Dac may be.

How far are you willing to take this anti-MQA obsession/fanaticism? Manufacturers who sell DAC's both with and without MQA? Since iFi has embraced MQA I guess its reasonable to assume iFi is now be a purveyor of questionable technology and ethics by your thinking causing you stop using your iFi Nano and consign it to the trash bin.
 
botrytis said:
The issue is, with most MQA DACS, do not switch back after MQA has been played. I might, if the readily switched back and forth, but they don't. It is a basic design of MQA.
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I'm going to have to have to ask you to cite multiple mainstream 3rd party documents verifying this claim and if by chance you can produce such validations of this claim its got to be a problem associated with a manufactures particular model and its quirky/faulty design. This sounds a lot like your claim elsewhere that analog tape can be Hi Rez if its wide enough and played fast enough, which is to say hogwash. If indeed it was the basic design of MQA 100% would suffer that issue unless the DAC manufacture designed a work around of which I would expect all manufactures to do if that was the case.

As an owner of multiple MQA capable DAC's I have never once encountered that issue nor did I when listening while comparing others at their home or at a audio store. In my estimation you're not doing your credibility any favors.
 
 
botrytis said:
It also has been shown in Mytek, and many other DAC's up to ones costing several thousands of dollars. So far the only DAC's that have shown to be clear of this issue are DCS, but they use their own design and programming for it.

So, I didn't prove you point at all. It has even been proven you can even fool the 'AUTHENTICATION' light by just doing some header modification of FLAC files.
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Lol, all DACs, I’m loving the bubble you live in man, quite entertaining!!!:rflmao:
 
From your own link, “it’s cosmetic“

If the cosmetically incorrect idiot lights on a Merdian explorer 2 or a lfl Dac confuse you perhaps you could move on to a Dac that has their firmware up to snuff.

Nice edit, I spend most of my time actually listening to music, not reading 400 pages of drivel from blogs and my limited post count reflects that.

I’ll leave you to your delusions, peace be with you.
 
I use the Meridian Explorer2 DAC $199. Visual sampling rate 44.1kHz~96kHz~192kHz led indicators/“idiot lights” authenticating tracks. Works great for listening to that Hi-Res Devil MQA!
66F11FFA-4D00-4A7F-B133-AC12F4B7F492.jpeg
DAC showing sampling rate and bit depth 192kHz/24bit studio MQA (Master Quality Authenticated)
Enjoy the music:music:
 
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botrytis said:
There are plenty. Look at independent sites. Even Roon gets stuck - https://community.roonlabs.com/t/roon-1-5-path-gets-stuck-in-mqa-with-cds-help/44137

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ifi-idsd-nano-bl-firmware-mqa-issues.872791/

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=40&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwi4l87U4LHgAhUN84MKHfeDAnI4HhAWMAl6BAgDEAI&url=http://patatorz.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/dCS-Network-Firmware-Release-Notes-398.pdf&usg=AOvVaw078HAroVt1ZsgffynO3zVl

I could go on. It is not a bug but a feature.

You THINK you don't have issues but in looking at the output, Archimago and others have proven that the MQA crap filters are still on. The only way to fix the issue is to turn off the DAC and turn it back on.

http://archimago.blogspot.com/search?q=MQA

A list of INDEPENDENT tests from Archimago.

You can also read the 400 plus pages of tests DONE by people who are Engineers, etc on MQA - https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/30381-mqa-is-vaporware/?page=1
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LOL- I call :bs: That first "Roon path gets stuck" link you posted was reported by me. Now THAT is ironic, you are linking a thread created by ME to support a point that I don't agree with... Too funny :rflmao:

BTW, it had nothing to do with what you are saying. This was all on Roon's side and had to do with a bug I uncovered shortly after I installed an update. They resolved it and everything went back to normal. Even with all the UAT and QA in the world sometimes little bugs get by in software updates. Roon is not immune to this.

tubeyea said:
Lol, all DACs, I’m loving the bubble you live in man, quite entertaining!!!:rflmao:
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Yup, bubbles can skew reality - but this is a first for me, a link to MY own actual tech support thread... Classic- it doesn't get much better than that...

The moral of the story is: He with the most links may be yanking your chain.:D
 
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Is Dynavox DAC-307 a good sounding DAC?

137132.jpg
 
Using the MASSDROP X AIRIST AUDIO R-2R DAC ($350) right now and finding it compares favorable against my Metrum Musette.
 
You may want to add this one to the list:

March Audio DAC-1 ($345)

0e2ecc_a852ac94c6ab40ea96a88932c4252394~mv2_d_5472_3648_s_4_2.jpg


It's based on the Khadas products, which are essentially DIY boards, similar to raspberry pi, from what I can tell.

This DAC measured really good on AudioScienceReview.com

I came across it when researching Raspberry Pi streamers. I prefer the DIY route, but if I wouldn't, the March DAC-1 sounds like a very affordable, no-BS, well made DAC.

But then again... nothing beats those old formats like that Tascam MiniDisc MD-801R MKII recorder I am running as I write this... so much fun, and there are lots of lights and buttons :)
 
How could you miss the following DACs is beyond me :

1. TubeMagic D2, w/ the tube and Burson opamps upgrade
2. IfI iDac2- alone or in tandem with iTube2

I have them both in certain stage of upgrade and do not want to hear anything else, especially if it is > $1500 .. The upgrades on their way, should turn them into little wonders, messengers of the audiophile truth, so to speak
 
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