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Mid-Fi DAC choices?

E.Auer

E.Auer

Super Member
Morning all.

I'm working on finalizing a simple streaming setup for my office.

I have a Saba 9080 receiver with a matching pair of Saba Box 45 speakers.

I like how the setup sounds a lot, and would like to get a CCA for it for streaming. (Or a airplay solution, not 100% sure yet).

I mostly stream Internet radio, Amazon Music, Youtube etc.
And also some of my own collection from a server, from MP3 to Flac.
Source is a rooted Android Phablet that can handle most protocols with the AirAudio app.

My living room streaming is handled by a Pioneer VSX-44, and that works fine.

I'm looking at some inexpensive solutions to get started, I don't want to invest a lot as I find the DAC field is constantly evolving as streaming gets more sophisticated and there is a good chance I will get something else down the road in the not so distant future.

What I'm looking at currently:

Muse

FiiO D3

Sanskrit 6th

I'd rather keep it at not much over $100.

Any thoughts?

TIA

Eric
 
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Hrmm... the Schiit Modi Uber would definitely get my vote if you can bump the budget up to $150. I think it's a considerable step up from your other options.
 
Iv been using the fiio for a few months and I'm very happy with it. It took a bit of fiddling with the output settings on my source (tv optical out) to get it working but haven't had any problems since.
 
I am also using the Fiio for my TV. I only use it for movies and it does a fine job - can't really say how it would work with streaming music.
 
I think that anything that is below $100 will not be an improvement compared to the DAC chip that you already have Chromecast Audio (AKM AK4430, buffered by the DRV632 line driver). Just turn on the "Full dynamic range" for the CCA (when use the analog out, if you use optical out, it doesn't matter).
 
SoNic67 said:
I think that anything that is below $100 will not be an improvement compared to the DAC chip that you already have Chromecast Audio (AKM AK4430, buffered by the DRV632 line driver). Just turn on the "Full dynamic range" for the CCA (when use the analog out, if you use optical out, it doesn't matter).
Click to expand...

Even compared to the Sanskrit or a Modi?

Eric
 
Modi 2 uses as DAC the AKM AK4490. Even if AKM says that it is an improved DAC, the rest of your system might not be able to provide a clear distinction between the two.
As for Sanskrit - I have been burned by Chinese merchandise several times. I guess I paid to learn my lesson.
 
Since we are talking cheap DACs the Hifime SPDIF Optical 9018 DAC for $59 is worth considering. It uses a Sabre ES9018K2M chip. Yesterday I put it in my main system replacing a Schiit Modi (the original one, 1?). My first impression is that it is better than the Modi. It has a more upfront presentation than the Modi and it seems to put a out little more bass.

This DAC is dongle sized and made of plastic which can be a big negative for some people. I have it tucked behind my stereo and it is not even seen. If you think the Modi is small this thing is tiny.
 
ldatlof said:
Since we are talking cheap DACs the Hifime SPDIF Optical 9018 DAC for $59 is worth considering. It uses a Sabre ES9018K2M chip. Yesterday I put it in my main system replacing a Schiit Modi (the original one, 1?). My first impression is that it is better than the Modi. It has a more upfront presentation than the Modi and it seems to put a out little more bass.

This DAC is dongle sized and made of plastic which can be a big negative for some people. I have it tucked behind my stereo and it is not even seen. If you think the Modi is small this thing is tiny.
Click to expand...

Very cool, Thanks.

Definitely worth a close look, like you I would hide it along with the CCA.

Eric
 
Honestly I would vote for keeping what you have until you can afford something better. I'm not saying that a $100 DAC isn't worth buying but it makes no sense to buy one only to replace it. The more that you can buy ahead and skip level ups in this hobby, the farther ahead you get in the long run.
 
ldatlof said:
Since we are talking cheap DACs the Hifime SPDIF Optical 9018 DAC for $59 is worth considering. It uses a Sabre ES9018K2M chip. Yesterday I put it in my main system replacing a Schiit Modi (the original one, 1?). My first impression is that it is better than the Modi. It has a more upfront presentation than the Modi and it seems to put a out little more bass.

This DAC is dongle sized and made of plastic which can be a big negative for some people. I have it tucked behind my stereo and it is not even seen. If you think the Modi is small this thing is tiny.
Click to expand...

I've also had very good results with a HiFime Sabre DAC.
 
  1. I have the cheap hifime diy sabre d ac and it is very good. I am currently using a couple of chrome casts with the cheap fiio dac (think its the e3) and big improvement over the dac in the chromecast if you use the mini toslink cable. Also another one to consider is the Behringer UCA222 ADC mainly for recording vinyl, but its DAC is pretty decent too for play back and its not too much but just noticed - no digital imput so never mind on the uca222 for the chromec
 
At this price level, I agree with the iFi nano-iDSD LE suggestion from above. But it's just USB, no SPDIF input.
 
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I chose the SMSL M3 since it has all I need: cinch out, headphone with volume control and it is USB powered.
 
I just bought the FIO D3 D03K Taishan so I can have audio going to my tv and stereo. I'm going to see which sounds better the FIO or the analog output on the Toshiba which is already a 192khz machine and sound pretty good. The FIO is supposed to have a Wolfsen Dac though another one same model said it had a Cirrus DAC. Should be here Thursday I will give my impression of it's sound.
 
dksp said:
I chose the SMSL M3 since it has all I need: cinch out, headphone with volume control and it is USB powered.
Click to expand...

How do you find the headphone output? I am tempted to try one to see if it sounds better with my PSB M4U1 than the headphone out of my RX-V1 which is probably a padded down speaker out.
 
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