Bargain DAC Suggestions?

[zephyros]

Did you guys see this yet?? SMSL SU-8 DAC, dual ES9038Q2M chips and XLR outputs, balanced DAC for $199 on Massdrop. I would say that's a bargain, as long as it works, lol.
http://www.massdrop.com/?origin=/buy/smsl-su-8-dac

Seems like they try to one-up topping D50 with XLR output and a Remote. Glad to see companies actually try to be competitive.

 

[Veri]

SMSL also recently released the D-1, dual ES9038PRO DAC !

http://www.smsl-audio.com/productshow.asp?id=146

Not a "bargain priced" item but some serious spec sheet there ...

Wow cool specs. The description is rife with bad translations though lol....
"With a perverted index, the feeling after hearing is also enhanced! Make it even more perfect!"

 

[Bhargu]

I just registered, but I've been visiting the site for a few weeks.

I had them send me a copy of the Melokin DA9.1 manual https://ufile.io/5miox

I'm close to buying one of these because it's an affordable ESS 9038 Pro implementation that includes a headphone amp with an adjustable output impedance, and allows for disabling some ESS chip features via jumpers. It also has balanced outputs on the PCB that you can break-out. I'm thinking about getting one of these and adding XLR jacks to the side of the case.

Do you still have the manual with you? That link seems premium only.

 

[frogmeat69]

Wow cool specs. The description is rife with bad translations though lol....
"With a perverted index, the feeling after hearing is also enhanced! Make it even more perfect!"

It's like that on Topping's site, Aliexpress, etc.......
Copy and paste Google Translator I'm guessing?? My index is always perverted, though.

 

[Elix]

After seeing all the new measurements of portable DACs (Topping NX4 DSD and Sabaj DA3) my money just went to xDuoo. Their X20 is about the best-measuring portable player overall on Reference-Audio-Analyzer.pro site (along with iBasso DX200). (Especially look at the impressive THD performance at low Ohms). It can also act as USB or Bluetooth DAC, supports DSD256 and costs juts over $200. A laughable amount of money for such performance and versatility. I think if Amir were to measure it, it would soon became a best-seller.

Edit: I hope referencing a different site isn't offending to Amir. And I made it sound like an advertisement, lol.

 

[Starcraft]

Dear friends,

I have visited this forum often and many of your tests made my opinions turn into, almost, facts.

Looking for a DAC I have the ideia you dont need to send hundrends to get a good or even an excelent one. I have a Dragonfly so I believe that is a good example.

So I wanted to start by just saying Thank you for your contribution to the pragmactic listeners all over the World.

 

[amirm]

After seeing all the new measurements of portable DACs (Topping NX4 DSD and Sabaj DA3) my money just went to xDuoo. Their X20 is about the best-measuring portable player overall on Reference-Audio-Analyzer.pro site (along with iBasso DX200). (Especially look at the impressive THD performance at low Ohms). It can also act as USB or Bluetooth DAC, supports DSD256 and costs juts over $200. A laughable amount of money for such performance and versatility. I think if Amir were to measure it, it would soon became a best-seller.

Edit: I hope referencing a different site isn't offending to Amir. And I made it sound like an advertisement, lol.

Not at all. We are all here to help each other with more data and others doing similar work is just goodness.

If you are in US and like to loan me your unit, I would love to measure it.

 

[amirm]

Dear friends,

I have visited this forum often and many of your tests made my opinions turn into, almost, facts.

Looking for a DAC I have the ideia you dont need to send hundrends to get a good or even an excelent one. I have a Dragonfly so I believe that is a good example.

So I wanted to start by just saying Thank you for your contribution to the pragmactic listeners all over the World.

Much appreciate my friend.

 

[amirm]

May I suggest the Melokin DA9.1 DAC+head amp?

http://www.qlshifi.com/en/wzcapi/da9.1.htm

It uses the ES9038PRO DAC, instead of the stripped-down Q2M version used in the Topping products (DX7s, D50). It would be nice to see whether the full 9038 chip (which cost signficantly more and uses much more power than the more common Q2M) adds any significant difference.

The DAC itself is also interesting, since it allows adjusting the chip parameters (dither, jitter reduction), has I2S support, provides adjustable impedance for the head amp (starting from 0 ohms, on the contrary to DX7s' high impedance) and outputs more power than the Pro-Ject S2 (through the OPA1622 buffer). The opamp and clocks are also user-replaceable.

Your review (and others who asked for it) is out: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...n-da9-1-es3098pro-dac-and-headphone-amp.3618/

Short answer, good promise, bad delivery.

 

[Veri]

Thank you for the Melokin analysis amir. It's a shame it did not hold up to the competition.

 

[sssn]

Zowie has an USB DAC/amp called VITAL and it's marketed towards gamers. It has an A/D converter for microphone input too.
https://zowie.benq.com/en/product/audio-system/audio-system/vital.html

Sennheiser has something similar:
https://en-us.sennheiser.com/audio-amplifier-gsx-1000
https://en-us.sennheiser.com/audio-amplifier-gsx-1200-pro

 

[Veri]

Zowie has an USB DAC/amp called VITAL and it's marketed towards gamers. It has an A/D converter for microphone input too.
https://zowie.benq.com/en/product/audio-system/audio-system/vital.html

Sennheiser has something similar:
https://en-us.sennheiser.com/audio-amplifier-gsx-1000
https://en-us.sennheiser.com/audio-amplifier-gsx-1200-pro

This is a bargain DAC thread, not sure overpriced "gaming gadgets" really fit the bill.

 

[Zerohour]

Hello, lurked around for a while here, but finally decide to chime in since I'm interested in how this measures:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/DAC...-PC-and-Phone-With-Headphone/32884715706.html

a bit marked up from the official Weiliang/Breeze Audio taobao store (its around 30 usd there), but I've seen mostly good things about their build quality so far. ES9028 for 30 bux seems like peanuts to me.

 

[amirm]

Welcome to the forum. I am not seeing the $30 price there, or on ebay. It seems to be $46. Is there another link for the lower price?

 

[Zerohour]

Its around $30 here (breeze audio official store):

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3-c.w4002-15493940501.70.763e1cfaRvjmOk&id=568408593852

but depending on how you order it, might add up to $40 (if you use an agent or forwarder), now that I think about it.

 

[amirm]

Ah, thanks. I thought it was another site with free shipping at that price.

I ordered it from ebay for $46 including shipping. Says July 20th to August 9th for delivery from China.

 

[baxo]

Hi, this is my first post and I would like to suggest these

$25
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Lus...id=5d79eea4-91af-47fb-bcad-dfe3f20f853d&tpp=1

$60
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...12010612/itm2home-1.8148356.15.75cb276eYI9ogu

It would be great if you can provide with the test results, thank you.

 

[amirm]

Welcome to the forum. I have tested the XtremePro/Speaka which did very well and are similarly priced: https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...-speaka-usb-dac-and-headphone-amplifier.2423/

They all seem to be the same.

 

[Ron Texas]

I am looking for a DAC which does not have an emphasis in the upper frequency ranges. It could even be a little laid back. Headphone support is not necessary, preamp functionality is preferred.

 

[amirm]

Just wait a few years and your hearing will be lost in the high-end and the problem will sort itself out!