What's the Best DAC for the Money - DAC Tier List - 25 DACS in 22 Minutes wt 3 Child Interruptions!
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- čas přidán 9. 10. 2021
- S Tier
Geshelli J2 (Forgot to Mention in the Video) bit.ly/3l9ND4b
Schiit Modi 3+ amzn.to/3AyzvHq
Earstudio M100 ii amzn.to/2YwT2el
Apple lighting to 3.5mm amzn.to/2YJ2nzw
Denafrips Ares 2 bit.ly/3Av6Kwc
A Tier
Topping E50 amzn.to/3iMJSku
Hidizs S9Pro bit.ly/3iSyqo5
B Tier
SMSL SU8s amzn.to/3mI4fkf
Schiit Bifrost 2 bit.ly/3lp6qtx
Orchard Audio Pecan Pi bit.ly/3Fwbcxc
FX Audio D01 amzn.to/30dxfJ5
Prozor amzn.to/2YF10Sz
Helm Bolt amzn.to/3AuaMDM
Soncoz LAQXD1 bit.ly/38FFIpq
Topping EX5 amzn.to/3Duww4i
C Tier
SMSL Sanskrit amzn.to/3DqF902
Dragonfly Red amzn.to/3Ft8fhb
Ifi Zen amzn.to/3oOodfW
SMSL M300 ii amzn.to/3FA5LgI
D Tier
Matrix Mini Pro bit.ly/3DqFAYe
Topping D50s amzn.to/3Fv4yrd
SMSL M200 amzn.to/2YF1A2H
F Tier
Ifi Neo IDSD amzn.to/3mK8SdI
Topping E30 amzn.to/3BsjQut
Topping D90se amzn.to/3akLVYJ
Hifiberry (Not a DAC) digi hat amzn.to/3Dsbpjm
Amazon Music and Disney Plus Free Trial amzn.to/3DRAVj9
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Recommended Speaker List
Around $100 (These prices will fluctuate between $75 - $150)
Sony SSCS5 - Lively amzn.to/3pZNnGk
Pioneer AJ First Gen - Laid Back
Neumi BS5 -Neutral amzn.to/3q0SR3B
Around $200
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ - Crystal Clear and Punchy emotiva.com?aff=9
Elac Debut b5.2 - Neutral amzn.to/2WPNQxw
Wharfedale Diamond 11.2 (In and Out of Stock) - Laid Back/Bassy/Detailed amzn.to/37W8hPA
JBL Stage A130 - Neutral/Great All Arounder at $179 the best value amzn.to/3t7gOHe
Around $400
Klipsch RP600M - Neutral amzn.to/3pBoXCf (This speaker’s price can fluctuate between $440-630 which is really dumb)
Jamo C93ii Bit - Boosted on Top amzn.to/3beIG6F (Can also be found cheaper at Crutchfield)
Q Acoustics 3030i - Neutral with Punch - amzn.to/2OQkpLo
Around $500
SVS Prime bit.ly/2LozJgF
Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 bit.ly/2ZckoD9
Around $600
Elac Uni-Fi UB5.2 - Neutral amzn.to/3s3srPG
Elac Debut Reference - Buttery but Detailed amzn.to/39bt6WC
Polk Reserve R100 - Neutral
Aperion Novus - Neutral and probably the best desktop speaker one can get $599 bit.ly/2Q1H9rW
Aperion Novus Open Box $449 bit.ly/3us8zGx
Wharfedale Diamonds Lush and Detailed amzn.to/3aBAso0 Come as singles
Recommended Amp List
Under $100
Aiyima A07 - Neutral and Full amzn.to/3g9YLNf
Around $130
SMSL AD18 - DAC/Amp Lively on top but solid tone controls amzn.to/3rVZxkN
SMSL SA300 $140 amzn.to/3u83oLs
Around $250
SMSL DA-9 Balanced Amp amzn.to/34SdbLs
Around $400
Emotiva TA-100 - DAC, Phono Stage, Pre Outs - Balanced and Tasty emotiva.com?aff=9
Vista Audio Spark www.vista-audio.com/products.htm
Recommended DACs
Ifi Zen DAC amzn.to/2T3wuyY
FX D01 amzn.to/3d9GY6U
SMSL SU8s amzn.to/2SWTGiw
Denafrips Ares 2 www.denafrips.com/ares
Subs
Emotiva SE8 emotiva.com?aff=9
Emotiva SE12 emotiva.com?aff=9
SVS SB1000 Pro bit.ly/3scmwsc
S Tier
Geshelli J2 (Forgot to Mention in the Video) bit.ly/3l9ND4b
Schiit Modi 3+ amzn.to/3AyzvHq
Earstudio M100 ii amzn.to/2YwT2el
Apple lighting to 3.5mm amzn.to/2YJ2nzw
Denafrips Ares 2 bit.ly/3Av6Kwc
A Tier
Topping E50 amzn.to/3iMJSku
Hidizs S9Pro bit.ly/3iSyqo5
B Tier
SMSL SU8s amzn.to/3mI4fkf
Schiit Bifrost 2 bit.ly/3lp6qtx
Orchard Audio Pecan Pi bit.ly/3Fwbcxc
FX Audio D01 amzn.to/30dxfJ5
Prozor amzn.to/2YF10Sz
Helm Bolt amzn.to/3AuaMDM
Soncoz LAQXD1 bit.ly/38FFIpq
Topping EX5 amzn.to/3Duww4i
C Tier
SMSL Sanskrit amzn.to/3DqF902
Dragonfly Red amzn.to/3Ft8fhb
Ifi Zen amzn.to/3oOodfW
SMSL M300 ii amzn.to/3FA5LgI
D Tier
Matrix Mini Pro bit.ly/3DqFAYe
Topping D50s amzn.to/3Fv4yrd
SMSL M200 amzn.to/2YF1A2H
F Tier
Ifi Neo IDSD amzn.to/3mK8SdI
Topping E30 amzn.to/3BsjQut
Topping D90se amzn.to/3akLVYJ
Hifiberry (Not a DAC) digi hat amzn.to/3Dsbpjm
Randy, what is your justtification for placing the Geshelli J2 in S?
I'm using the EarStudio M100 Mk 2 with my HiFiMan Sundara and it's quite awesome with the companion app. Lots of much more expensive DACs fail by lack of proper EQ and other essentials. Most headphones and speakers at any price can benefit from some careful EQ.
@@KevinTernes balanced. Sounds similar to d90se. Great soundstage. $300
Hey Randy. I do have a Dragonfly Cobalt and Apple Lightning to 3.5mm adapter. I don't think I can tell the difference in sound quality, the Apple adapter is just a little bit "rolled off" but no lack of details and which is "warm sounding" in "sound signature" if I speak in "audiophile's language''. Maybe that is why Apple never mentioned cutting edge DAC in their new products announcement event.
Thanks Randy you already answered my question I came here to the comments just to do that ask about the gicelli.
Never apologize for being interrupted by your children. They will be grown up and gone before you know it, cherish every moment you get to spend with them.
BS, 20 to 30 years is not a short time and it's life sucking.
I agree but doing the opposite.
Couldn't agree more dude. You'll regret all the things you didn't do when you had the chance to do them. Sounds a bit trite, but true nonetheless..
Yeah no worries. I'm there with ya my dood. 3 under 2.
Agreed!
Came in looking for some advice regarding my first DAC for my upcoming setup. Got not only that, but also witnessed one of the most wholesome dad moments on the platform. Great content, brief yet detailed, touched on the most important parts when it comes to purchasing such a device.
Getting pretty long here but thanks for the video, quality stuff. Keep up the good work.
Dude, you took the time to make this AND THEN GIVE ALL THE LINKS! This is amazing and what I was looking for.
Thank you! 😁
Oh heck man,, it's ok when child comes in. It is who you are and we understand. Too many DACS, a lot of details but this really helps my next step. Keep on!
I don't care what you are reviewing...you are funny as heck...continued success!
Loved the vid today complete with the child interruptions! Always entertaining and informative. Covered so many of the DACs featured by the manufacturers.
One of your best videos yet Randy and Im glad you included your kiddie interruptions. You not only show your kids lots of love which in today's world is special, you do a superb job of tiering a complicated item.
Thanks Randy, really appreciate you listing the different tiers for dacs. I know all things are subjective but I watch because you give your honest opinion and don't worry about what some people say.
I completely agree with your assessment of the Topping E30. I sent it back because it was an ear burner. So many people were saying how wonderful it was when it came out. They kept going on and on about the wonderful measurements.
Where we differ is on the SMSL Sanskrit MKII and Schiit Modi 3+. I have the opposite impressions of them. I find the SMSL to be smoother in the mids and highs and it certainly isn't thin sounding to me. I like the Modi, except I can't stand the bright LED. It gives me flashbacks to gaming rigs from 15 years ago.
I bought a Dragonfly Red nearly seven years ago, and have been quite pleased with its performance. If I'd watched this video first, I might have bought something else instead. I'm not feeling an urgent need to upgrade at this time, but this is an excellent video for people who want to purchase their first DAC... which should be everyone who does not currently have one. Thanks!
Edit: Wow, that Geshelli J2 looks wonderful. Now I actually have a slight urge to upgrade.
I would find this more useful if you first rated their sound quality & features without considering their cost. Then once you have them classified as, say A class, you show cost by its placement horizontally with the cheapest to the left & the most expensive to the right. So the sweet spot is higher & to the left. That way you could look & see what are the best DAC’s for under a $100 or the top contenders for around $200-$250 or the best irregardless of price. A combined rating mixing cost, sound quality & features into a single combined score just isn’t as useful.
Agreed, while I Really loved the vid and want more of them, THIS is what I was hoping for. I watch because I trust your opinion (and like how you present it). With a pure SQ ranking I could just scrub the list for my budget and be happy.
That seems like a big ask… knowing your own budget, you could easily just see what’s at the top in you price range and connection style needs.
I totally agree. IMHO It's more usefull if the tier is based on sound and not the price. You can fit your budget thereafter--and budget is flexible.
See the name of his channel...😂
Good idea
Geshelli j2 for me at the moment. Got it on your recommendation and arrived here in Ireland in 6 days. Really good DAC and every bit as good as the audiolab m-dac + I had at 3 times the price. Well done Geshelli.
Hi Sean, where did you purchase? How about custom fees into IRL?
@@barrystamp8600 Hi Barry. Straight from Geshelli labs in Florida, lovely to deal with. €25 delivery to my door in Dublin. No customs fee yet. Its 2 weeks since I got it. So don't expect a vat or tax bill at this stage. Hopefully. Have had tax and vat bills in the past. Don't know how it bypassed customs. But got a schiit mani from schitt to my door in the past, also avoided customs.
@@seanoreilly8603 Thanks Sean, looking at this or maybe the new Topping DX3 PRO+.
@@barrystamp8600 don't know the topping. But the Geshelli still good. If you are in Ireland, I was hit with a very late FedEx customs bill for €57. I paid it. But dac still only stands me €350 or maybe a little less actually. 2 x coaxial and 2 x optical out. Plus I paid extra for the USB port. You could save if not needed.
Thanks for the information as an old poor getting back into music and audio. Upvote because of your daughter's interuption - as my daughters are now grown and it melted my heart to hear her little voice and to remember the joy of those days when they were small. Enjoy your family and children, it goes so fast.
It happens in the blink of an eye. My wife and I are recent empty nesters. We miss them terribly.
8 months ago you reviewed the topping e30 and said it "sounds great and a great value and a great dac"
Today you "can't even listen to it"and it's bottom of the list.
What changed?
Was wondering the same...
He doesnt know what hes talking about
Maybe he has heard better sounding units which pushed it to the bottom of the list.
If it sounds harsh now, it would've sounded harsh then (during his first review)...
Sometimes I cannot listen to my favorite DAC. Harshness seems to be the big thing with it. So I use a softer sounding one. The mammalian inner ear is one friggin amazing piece of evolution. People have no idea. Many chambers. Different cells and even crystals that float on a jelly! People also listen to music too loudly for too long. If you limit to no more than an hour a day, you should be OK. But it is cumulative. If you burn up your ears in an hour, it will be elevator levels the rest of the day. Also, as you age, your hearing goes to hell. Starting in your early 20s! But more noticeable by mid 40s. Especially for men.
All of this adds up. A DAC really needs a month of testing and comparison to be sure. Even then, as always, the audio engineering is what really matters the most! I have some 16/44.1 recordings that are incredible. But there are plenty of 24/192 or higher that are garbage. Many pop recordings after 2000 are also heavily over manipulated and in doing so, they eat up resolution. Some pop music is only 8 bits!
This is why used CDs are a big bargain right now. Cheap. You own them. The Sony and Phillips engineers knew what they were doing and 16/44.1 is really all 95% of us need!
Love the authenticity, on your evaluation as well as your style..thank so much for your work.. from a Hong Kong audiophile
You hit the nail on the head.....for many higher priced products, there is nothing in the quality of the output that justifies the price. I have been able to purchase a wider variety of (mostly portable) audio equipment by watching Vids from Zeos, DMS, Josh Valour and now you.... keep up the good work.
Great video Randy! Lots of substance and information and still fun! Keep on mate!
I was actually thinking about buying the ifi zen dac v2 but after watching this I’m kinda hesitant on buying it now.
Would the ifi zen dac v2 be a good upgrade from the FiiO btr5 and FiiO k3? Or should I just go for the ones that tier put on top tier. Trying to run both OH10 iem and Dt 990 pro 250 so I’m in a position where I don’t know anymore. And for the price to be below $200 if possible.
My favorite video of yours to date. Thanks, mainly, for the child interruptions. You are so great with them. ❤️
Yo my good man, it’s amazing when you allow the kids to add a little bit of sparkle in your video. Shows how awesome of a dad you are. Have a great night and thank you for an amazing review
Hello, great video! Could I please get some advice? I’m running Focal Clear Pro headphones with my Luxman L-225 Amp (made in 1985). And I love both of these components. But, for the Dac I’m running the Schiit Modi 3+. Do I need to upgrade the Dac to something higher up to keep inline with the great quality of the rest of the set up?
A question, if I am using a portable DAC between my headphones and my 3.5mm jack MP3 output, is it better to use the balanced output jack instead or it does not matter since I am using DAC?
Great job man thank you for all the great vids and showing how to save and have great sound and being respectful over the kids they are truly a gift my 2 are the best thing that ever happened to me have a son and daughter my best friends my son got me back into audio he is such a good little guy blessed keep up the hard amazing work thank you again man
Thanks! i very much enjoy watching and learning from your vids. Keep up the excellent work.
I admire the fact that you took the time to review the most popular DACs out there. I as looking for a review like this. One reason why I dislike the SMSL DACs (or any other company which does so like them) is that they don’t include a power supply for their DACs, which is why they are misleadingly cheap. Not everyone uses a DAC only for USB, which is why the Zen DAC was given a low score and also USB requires a lot of treatment to sound better than spdif fibre optic toslink or coaxial rca.
Thank You for putting in all the work to bring us this review!!! It took me some time with a few different DACs to hear a difference, but I now believe. 👍👍👍
Great list! Thanks for putting it together.
Have you experienced any of the Aune products? Bought an X1s on a whim and have been very pleased but I don't have anything to compare it to. Trouble is that I can't get better than a certain quality out of my laptop with the USB connection so I can't actually hear it "full strength".
I got Geshelli J2 + Topping A90+ Hifiman Sundara. Was thinking of updating headphones for better soundstage. Any suggestions?
Cheap audio man this was a really good review. I’ll be looking back at this video to reference relative differences between decks. Really nice job and unlike most videos I’ll be looking back at this one for reference thank you
Is it really needed when my pioneer elite has multiple 32 bit 192k DACs in it already? Especially when AVRs convert analog inputs into digital for time alignment and DSP anyway and then back to analog before the amp stage.
Newbie here . . . I'm confused. If I stream from my phone to a vintage analog receiver, do I need a DAC or just a streamer? What would you recommend? Thanks
Hi. I like the topping brand for a DAC, already have a schiit mani for records, but looking into topping because of the kHz indicator. A bit confusing though because they have different levels ( understand that ) but what is the difference between the E and D lines?
I bought an ES100 back in 2019 great little device but never liked the physical buttons. It unfortunately died for a couple months ago since it’s charging port decayed.
Very interesting information. Loved the interruptions, time runs Fast so enjoy your time with your kids!
Thanks for all the great work. I have to disagree on some of what you say - but not much. Your channel is growing on me and I find myself seeking it out when I have a bit of downtime to watch. I like your no-nonsense approach. I hope your subscription base grows bodaciously! I'm going to try one of those DIY speaker sets. Back in the 1970s, I virtually memorized the Speakerlab Tech papers. They were really great. Looking forward to expanding what I think I know 😃. Best of the Best to you, Brother!
I've been using minidsp products for many years with great success. It let's you really roll up your sleeves with the software, including EQ, crossovers and REW. The specs are great and sounds wonderful once dialed in. Not plug and play but great for learning and affordable.
I love my ifi Hip DAC 2. Pretty well priced, sounds great, has good power output, has 3.5 mm unbalanced, and 4.4 mm balanced outputs, is very well built, and it's portable so you can take your more portable cans or IEMs with you. The battery life on it isn't bad and it charges quickly. Definitely recommend for $189.
Nice. Which is a good dac to upgrade my Bluesound node streamer?
Thanks for this - I have the SMSL M200 and wondered if I could do better? It was my first DAC and sounded ok to me ... I guess I should expect even better with the higher tier DACs.
( Could a tier list be done for speakers? )
I have a Fiio K3 headphone dac, and after watching your reviews I am buying the Svs Prime with Cambridge Audio AXA35 should I consider to buy another dac for them or the Fiio would drive them fine?
What is the difference between the ifi Zen, the ifi Zen Air, the ifi Zen 2, and the ifi Zen signature?
For a budget home theater I need a Dac with remote. I have an amp and JBL 530. Is the Sanskrit the way to go? Any suggestions in that price range? I am considering the Loxjie A30 but the extra $40 does not seem worth it.
I own the ifi zen dac for my stereo setup with expensive tube amp and monitor audio gold speakers. Does the dac need replacing? How much do i stand to gain?
Excellent, will be purchasing a Sith Audio training sword in the near future. People might get antsy about teaching children about blade use at a young age, but the younger you start, the safer they'll be when they're older. Just requires knowledge of the three fundamental rules of Sith Audio blade safety:
1. Treat every Sith Audio blade as if it were loaded.
2. Leave the safety on and your fingers off the hilt until ready to slice or stab.
3. Never aim your Sith Audio blade at an object unless you are prepared to destroy it.
Happy blading!
I'm a bit new to this but how can I figure out what's best for me? I have a CD player from 1988 a Yorx d8500 and I usually hear DACs used for newer and much more expensive CD players. Any advice?
I can’t get enough of your delivery! And your daughter interrupting is so my life! Keep up the great work.
Hi, did you leave out Smls vmv d1se, which seems to be considered a flagship product for smsl, on purpose? If so, what are the reasons?
Thanks for a good summary of bang for buck, love it. If anyone knows why the Toping D50s is tier 3 (Randy, you said long in the tooth) yet it measures higher accuracy than many in the list at audioscience and can be had sub $200. I can't see why it is ranked D vs C or even B given price/cost. Which similar priced and functioned DAC would be the best in it's place (that doesn't just have balanced output)? This is an open question for you viewers. Thanks for any suggestions. I guess the E50 but two tiers higher?
Measurements really don't mean that much. Sound quality can't be measured by a computer.
I would like to know too, I know it but reviews usually praise it. Is it because there are 1Mii copies? That does not make sense to me..
I thought he was harsh on the D50S. It might lack balanced out but it's got BT 5.0 in which the E50 doesn't have.
Great video! Noticed that you commented on a lot of the dac options based on if using with speakers or headphones. I am looking to get a dac/amp for the hd560s headphones. Is there a specific dac/amp(s) you would recommend for these headphones? Once again great video.
SMSL su-8 should be in S tier . for such an inexpensive DAC , it actually performs well in a HIGH END system and budget system. The same can be said for Bifrost 2. Congratulations for the success of your channel.
I'm thinking of getting either SMSL DA-9 or the AO200 and a DAC that costs up to US$250-300. Is it better to get a DAC with balanced outputs suchs as the Soncoz LAQXD1 or is the Topping E50 a better choice even if it has no balanced outputs?
Depends on your system and future plans. If your amp doesn’t have balanced inputs and you don’t plan upgrading to something that does then there is zero reason to seek out a DAC with balanced outs.
Hey Randy…I think you promised me a tiered list or better yet, an X-Y graph of cost vs sound quality (maybe color coding warm vs analytical for amp matching) for speakers a while back…did I miss that? Would still love to see that…and maybe one for amps as well!
Keep up the hard work…we are beneficiaries of that with every video.
This idea is far better than a tier list which is either performance or value but not both.
Are you suggesting the hot & crazy scale? :p
what do you think about the K5Pro? I m looking for something dac/amp with flexible inputs that i can hook to my pc and then to my stereo amp where my speaker and turntables go to but i also want to listen to that stuff on headphones so i wanna be able to route that signal from the stereo amp back to the dac/headphone amp answell.
I've not heard that one
Which equipment requires 'break in' ? Amps, speakers, cables n' interconnects, DACs, streamers, DAPs . . . if so, do you allow time for this? Do you notice improvement, with some gear, after a period of time?
Hi Randy.Which tier does the new SMSL SU 9 n dac fit in ?Thanks in advance .
I'm curious about the difference in audio profile between the Ifi Zen and FX Audio - I've got Sennheiser HD600s and I prefer a mellower sound in the high end
You started your video by acknowledging and appreciating others in your field because you believe they deserve it.
First time viewer and I like you already.
A noobie question; for my home stereo; Adcom GFA 555 (1988) Adcom GFP 915 preamp (the only recent purchase because the old GFP 555 just died), Yamaha TX 492 tuner (2) Yamaha 585 CD changers and a pair of Klipsch La Scala speakers also from 1988, what sound improvement if any could I except by adding a good quality DAC say the Denafrips Ares II? Or do I need an such an addition at all to my system? Although I have watched several of your excellent videos on the subject but just the same I probably are still a DAC agnostic. Your advise would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Best regards. Lajos
I have the SMSL SP200 Amp Looking at a Dac Was looking at the SU-9 EX5 and the E50. How is the amp on the EX5 and does the othere amps sound different then the thx sp200
You don't mention the Wiim Mini in your rankings. Where would you rank it now? Is it as good as the Earstudio?
Thanks to you, I bought a Schitt Modi 3 DAC today. I haven't had a good chance to really listen, but I noticed that I had to decrease my sub volume a bit so it looks like my bass response is already improved. Can't wait to crank it up!
For some reason this video autoplayed after I watched New Record Day's latest post. I still watched it all. Thanks for this Randy!
Have you listened to the HRT streamer 2 dac? I know it's old now..but? It sounds pretty good in my opinion
@cheapaudioman Would you see any benefit to running a WIIM Pro into a Geshelli Labs J2? Thanks, Brent
Randy… amazing review! Although there have been so many DACs out to date. However, I personally have an Apogee Groove USB DAC. I highly recommend it
I have the Schiit Modi 2u and would like an upgrade and I’ve got around $300 to play with. What would you recommend? Modi 3+? Is it even an upgrade?
Do like my DAC.
Old school. Pink triangle Da-capo (HDCD filter), spdif and clock lock input cards. Full DC psu in separate box. I use it clock locked to a Logitech Transporter in my LMS setup.
One of few dac’s that doesn’t use an off the shelf dac chip but actually relies on a 1bit discrete circuit to fulfill DAC duties. It may not be best any more in all areas but still one of the most solid and analogue sounding DAC’s ever produced.
I do occasionally compare it to newer equipment but still haven’t found something to unseat it from my rack.
I have a raspberry pi and a Auris Audifi streamer. I am going to buy a dac . Should I go get a Smsl do100 for the streamer or a digihat for the pi ? I am having issues with getting 96khz from the Auris audifi? Does it limit the coax output to 44.1?
You're still the chief of cheap in my books. Thanks for this excellent service. I've already ordered a sword for my new born nephew. He'll not be swordless, not if I can help it.
This is my first time on your channel. The reviews was good and the children interruptions was lovely 😊.
I replace my Schiit modi 3 for a Schiit Modius and it sounds great. At 199 US $ I think it worth a try.
Appreciate the heads up …. was considering the Modi 3….will consider the modius now
@@markostendorf1122There’s 15 days satisfaction policy for Schiit products. So you can return it if you don’t like it. It is very easy.
The Modi Multibit is a revelation compared to both of those for $250. It's a mini Bifrost, and is incredibly smooth and detailed.
Every time I see a conversation about DACs I wonder if I'm missing out on something. I love my Marantz AV receiver with all of its capabilities. Is the DAC in the receiver THAT bad?
Really entertaining. Thanks for the breakdown.
Another great video
I think you should be on TV
Your sarcasm and the way you talk to the camera is world class
I do have a question I wanted to buy a standalone dac , will all of these work?
Great list!
Out of curiosity you ever looked at the JDS Labs DAC/AMP (Element II)? I think they are great but I would love to hear your opinion
Hello mr Cheap Audio man. Why did the J2 make the S tier? Does it sound that good compared to everything else?
My DAC is a 1995 Philips 1549/T1. I found some information about the 1549 and other versions too but not about my specific T1 version. Can someone who really understands about HIFI help me? I'm new and confused with this about DACs.
Can someone tell me if my DAC is good/normal/bad quality? what potential does it have if I combine it with other components? I can't find much information on the internet.
Thanks
If you were getting started would you get the Geshelli J2 over the Schiit Modi 3?
Great video I just wonder about what dac for what you need it for. Looking to upgrade my CD player sound. Under 300 bucks or go for the Emotiva cd play
Loved your thoughts on these. Would love to see more rankings more dongle dac!
P.s. well done for being a great dad : )
Great content. Love it. You should check out the Beresford DAC, particularly the Camen DAC from a little known manufacturer (globally) from the UK. They do ship internationally at very small cost for amazing sound quality and it's eminently modifiable. (I have zero sales attachment to this Company).
If you have a SMSL M100 and find it too bright, use your remote to set the filter to FL4. FL4 lowers the treble to -5dB @ 20khz (maybe even -5dB @ 15khz - that’s a really smooth slope, really makes a difference).
15khz is mostly inaudible, especially as one ages, and most music doesn't even contain much content at those levels.
I wonder if it's an issue with the device 🤔
@@thunderpooch It's more that I have weird hearing quirks and I can very much hear 15khz+ (too much actually) so that helped.
Nice! Have you heard the Schiit Modius yet?
I did watch the whole video but I do agree with the others who said it might make more sense to rank them all in an absolute sense just based on how good the DAC is. And then do a secondary list that ranks the products’ overall value based on the DAC itself as well as the other features and the price. Just my 2 cents
curious how you would rate the RME ADI-2 DAC FS. i hope you do get to review that one to see if you think there's any value to it using the same grading parameters you used for this list :)
darko really likes the rme. the display is cool as well.
I haven't heard that one, personally
Only dac you'll ever need
Question- what does any other DAC do differently from the Apple one. If the Apple one is great at reproducing an analogue version of the digital signal isn’t that the ideal solution rather than introducing a lot of extra electronics? This DAC stuff is getting a bit confusing
Practical, no-nonsense, real world comments -- fun on the side! Great work Sir!
Any chance there is a speaker tier list .. not sure how that would look but I like to know what speakers are bright compared to buttery to transparent etc ??
What am I missing? I am trying to find a 5.1/7.1 DAC. I want something with usb input. There is barely anything in this field. I have a 30yo 5.1 the b&w305 and so on, which is capable of better, but the yamaha 520 is not, it is noisy. I use an asus xonar external soundcard, and the 6 channel input on the yamaha. The reason I never upgraded, is that I listen to music and watch movies as well, and... because of nothing is good for both, so I thought a component system might do. Listen to music in 2.1, capable of 5.1, why is that a so rarely discussed topic? Or what am I doing wrong?
You really got me laughter at the beginning with the plastic sword! Awesome. Thanks…..
what you think about xduoo dac? I had xd05 and like him. What s good now?
What's a good DAC for active speakers, I have the Marshall Woburn 2.
Any help would greatly be appreciated
Hello sir! Love your videos. So I have been looking at the TOPPING D10 *OR* a Behringer UMC202HD (stereo mic pre amps for recording + 192kHz 24 bit playback $89) have you listened to either or both of those? I liked this review - you seemed to really LIKE the TOPPING E50 (you did NOT seem to like any of the other ones) The E50 uses ES90668AS - the D10 uses the ES9038Q2 - do you think it is that DAC chips in these things that causes you to say one sounds GOOD (E50) and another (E30) sounds harsh. I do no want harsh, I am not sure what the Behringer uses... I don't want to spend $$$ - like $100-ish would be OK. I mostly want to use to listen to Amazon Music Ultra HD (24 bit, 96/192kHz - although I am not sure where they get the sources, etc (not that that matters as long as it sounds good)! THAT would be a cool video for you to make - where do Amazon/Tidal/Apple Music/Spotify get their files from? I have listened to the same songs on multiple services and there appear to be completely DIFFERENT versions - some older (classic) recordigs have hiss (I like hiss) , some don't (hiss reduction), some sound good, some don't etc, Hard to tell exactly what the heck you are listening to but Amazon Music does make some attempt to tell you what is supposedly making it to the DAC and being turned into an analog signal... I would be plugging a laptop USB out into the DAC and running probably RCA outputs into an analog PREAMP / POWER AMP (Carver C-1 and Carver M-1.5t running Dahlquist DQ-10s). I have all of that classic gear sitting around - it all needs various refurbishing but I am thinking that would be fun (and expensive, and probably would end up sounding not that great (LOL))
Don't know which video I saw the Topping D10S in, but it mentioned the optical output. This is exactly what I needed when my onboard sound circuit died on my Asus X570P motherboard. Number one i needed a soundcard or equivalent. Secondly I have a Samsung soundbar that I use for the computer and it is only a HDMI or optical input. The D10S is working great with no sync issues like bluetooth was having on my PC. Thanks cheapaudioman.
Question Randy; Will a dedicated DAC make my old Onkyo, probably from the mid-2000 years, CD Player sound better? Will the DAC override the DAC in the CD Player? Eventually I would like to get a dedicated transport, I haven't yet attempted the streaming thing, but it is tempting. Really appreciate your work.
If the CD player has a coax or optical digital output then you will definitely benefit from a new dac. Even top of the line players from a decade ago probably don’t have as good of dacs as even the really affordable ones now
@@cheapaudioman Thanks Randy, I kinda' dig that Gheshelli you forgot to mention!
I'm so glad you didn't edit the girls out. Very sweet, bossing the Dad day job, but - she left without the Sith Audio Plastic Learn To Fight Japanese Sword.
Fun list and I love that you leave the child interruptions in your videos.
Schiit Modi3 and done. Was my gateway to hi rez music. Now have a Node. Your channel is great because it’s “real”. Best part was the kids.
What is a good DAC for a computer? I'm on a budget (living on VA disability) and I want to use some old car audio gear to build a system with a set of speakers, and sub, and amp... from a car I recently sold. Looking for something that will plug into a USB or headphone jack, than have a set RCA outs. I have a power supply to run it, and an EQ with sub outs for the sub channel.
Very helpful. Thanks 👍