Working through my backlog of stuff to test, I finally got to do some preliminary testing of two budget DACs:
1. FiiO Taishan
https://www.amazon.com/D03K-Digital-Analog-Audio-Converter/dp/B009346RSS
2. SIGNSTEK Mini USB DAC
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00FEDH...00-other-smile-us000-pcomp-feature-scomp-wm-4
My reference for comparison was the iFi iDAC2 which retails for $349 or 17 times more money.
FiiO does not have USB input. To feed it audio I used the Coax output of iFi iDAC2. SIGNSTEK does have USB input so I used that as a complete system. It also has Coax input but I could not get it to work. Nor could I find a manual for it.
I have not bothered to measure frequency response. Instead I focused on just running a couple of high frequency tones through them. One was a 14 Khz tone at 48 Khz and the other was 11.05 Khz at 44.1 Khz.
All measurements are performed using my Audio Precision analyzer using its unbalanced inputs. $5,000 AC cords were used on the AP to reduce its noise level (not really). FFTs spectrum analysis is average of eight (8) runs to lower the instrument's own noise floor.
Let's look at the 44.1 Khz response first:
Please note that the analog output of these DACs is not matched. Specifically the SIGNSTEK has much lower output. In that regard, its output needs to be shifted up and its noise floor would then be the worst of all three. It also has more spurious peaks. There a few around our central tone and a couple further out.
FiiO output is surprisingly good, essentially matching the iFi DAC2.
Stepping back, this is excellent performance for all three really. Even the SIGNSTEK produces distortions that are 100 db below signal level.
All three have that odd second harmonic at 22.1 Khz. I thought that may be in my file but analysis using Audition did not show it. It is above audible level so other than bothering your tweeter, it is harmless.
Next I tested 14 Khz tone using 48 Khz:
Good grief! Clearly neither SIGNSTEK or FiiO have proper 48 Khz clock. SIGNSTEK's distortion products are just 50 db below its signal peak!
FiiO is 10 db better with distortions 60 db below peak.
Conclusion
If you are only playing CDs these $20 DACs perform admirably. I expected garbage output but that is not what I saw at this sample rate.
At 48 Khz (and likely its multiples) these are garbage products. Wonder if there is a step up product that has proper 48 Khz support at not too much extra money.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to members watchnerd and RayDunzi for recommending these products for test.
Note: measurements can easily show wrong data courtesy of my aging brain and poor user interface. So I welcome any corrections or comments from manufacturers and members.
1. FiiO Taishan
https://www.amazon.com/D03K-Digital-Analog-Audio-Converter/dp/B009346RSS
2. SIGNSTEK Mini USB DAC
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00FEDH...00-other-smile-us000-pcomp-feature-scomp-wm-4
My reference for comparison was the iFi iDAC2 which retails for $349 or 17 times more money.
FiiO does not have USB input. To feed it audio I used the Coax output of iFi iDAC2. SIGNSTEK does have USB input so I used that as a complete system. It also has Coax input but I could not get it to work. Nor could I find a manual for it.
I have not bothered to measure frequency response. Instead I focused on just running a couple of high frequency tones through them. One was a 14 Khz tone at 48 Khz and the other was 11.05 Khz at 44.1 Khz.
All measurements are performed using my Audio Precision analyzer using its unbalanced inputs. $5,000 AC cords were used on the AP to reduce its noise level (not really). FFTs spectrum analysis is average of eight (8) runs to lower the instrument's own noise floor.
Let's look at the 44.1 Khz response first:
Please note that the analog output of these DACs is not matched. Specifically the SIGNSTEK has much lower output. In that regard, its output needs to be shifted up and its noise floor would then be the worst of all three. It also has more spurious peaks. There a few around our central tone and a couple further out.
FiiO output is surprisingly good, essentially matching the iFi DAC2.
Stepping back, this is excellent performance for all three really. Even the SIGNSTEK produces distortions that are 100 db below signal level.
All three have that odd second harmonic at 22.1 Khz. I thought that may be in my file but analysis using Audition did not show it. It is above audible level so other than bothering your tweeter, it is harmless.
Next I tested 14 Khz tone using 48 Khz:
Good grief! Clearly neither SIGNSTEK or FiiO have proper 48 Khz clock. SIGNSTEK's distortion products are just 50 db below its signal peak!
FiiO is 10 db better with distortions 60 db below peak.
Conclusion
If you are only playing CDs these $20 DACs perform admirably. I expected garbage output but that is not what I saw at this sample rate.
At 48 Khz (and likely its multiples) these are garbage products. Wonder if there is a step up product that has proper 48 Khz support at not too much extra money.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to members watchnerd and RayDunzi for recommending these products for test.
Note: measurements can easily show wrong data courtesy of my aging brain and poor user interface. So I welcome any corrections or comments from manufacturers and members.