I study amirm's reviews but admittedly, the numbers are over my head. I do take his advice though. Is there somewhere that he has a "list of recommended DACs"? I am looking for a GOOD DAC that isnt crazy expensive and that I can grow into. I am looking for something with volume control as well and a remote. Thanks in advance!
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DAC ratings?
- Thread starter DOYAM
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Welcome to ASR!
Go to the electronics reviews page (see below). There is a button at the top left named "Goto Rankings". Click on it and pick the filters to narrow down the devices you are interested in. There is a column for Amir's recommendations. The default metric is SINAD (signal to noise and distortion). Click on the number will get you to the product review/measurement page. Click on the device model will get you to the manufacturer's product page. For the details such as whether the device includes remote and volume control, you may need to look it up in the review.
Go to the electronics reviews page (see below). There is a button at the top left named "Goto Rankings". Click on it and pick the filters to narrow down the devices you are interested in. There is a column for Amir's recommendations. The default metric is SINAD (signal to noise and distortion). Click on the number will get you to the product review/measurement page. Click on the device model will get you to the manufacturer's product page. For the details such as whether the device includes remote and volume control, you may need to look it up in the review.
fieldcar
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Welcome to ASR @DOYAM
The only thing you really need to do is find something with a SINAD above 90dB. Everything over that range will sound 100% identical. I cant remember what the actual audible threshold is. I think it's 80dB. I suggest benchmarking yourself. Try this klippel listening test to find out how good your hearing is. Good luck finding a nice DAC!
https://www.klippel.de/listeningtest
*I just scored -15dB in an noisy office with fans
, but I usually get -33dB and the best I've gotten is -39dB. Compare this number to the SINAD & Dynamic range in the reviews to get a good feeling for how good a modern DAC is.
The only thing you really need to do is find something with a SINAD above 90dB. Everything over that range will sound 100% identical. I cant remember what the actual audible threshold is. I think it's 80dB. I suggest benchmarking yourself. Try this klippel listening test to find out how good your hearing is. Good luck finding a nice DAC!
https://www.klippel.de/listeningtest
*I just scored -15dB in an noisy office with fans
, but I usually get -33dB and the best I've gotten is -39dB. Compare this number to the SINAD & Dynamic range in the reviews to get a good feeling for how good a modern DAC is.
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DVDdoug
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I'm a "picky listener" but don't have "golden ears".* I've NEVER heard ANY defect from a DAC (or a soundcard, or CD player, or AVR, or anything with a built-in DAC) EXCEPT when I've heard NOISE from a soundcard. For example, I've had a soundcard that put-out noise when the hard drive was accessed (or maybe there was always some audible noise that got worse with the hard drive... I don't exactly remember).
* When I was younger, I used to THINK I had exceptional hearing (and my hearing was probably better when I was younger ) and I was sort-of an an "amateur audiophile" on a budget, always trying to improve my stereo. But the real deal is, my hearing isn't better than anybody else but most people just don't care as much about sound quality and they don't give it much thought. Back in the vinyl days, the clicks & pops drove me nuts and most people didn't seem to care as long as the record didn't skip. (Of course I knew it didn't take golden ears to hear that!)
* When I was younger, I used to THINK I had exceptional hearing (and my hearing was probably better when I was younger
) and I was sort-of an an "amateur audiophile" on a budget, always trying to improve my stereo. But the real deal is, my hearing isn't better than anybody else but most people just don't care as much about sound quality and they don't give it much thought. Back in the vinyl days, the clicks & pops drove me nuts and most people didn't seem to care as long as the record didn't skip. (Of course I knew it didn't take golden ears to hear that!)
AnalogSteph
Major Contributor
If "not crazy expensive" includes approx. 350-600 US$, you should have plenty to pick from. Generally with balanced output as well, which I would also consider sensible for anything to "grow into".
Zensō
Major Contributor
If it fits your budget, the RME ADI-2 DAC FS is most likely all you’ll ever need while providing some interesting features you can grow into. To me it seems reasonably priced for all it does.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...version-2-dac-and-headphone-amp-review.13379/
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...version-2-dac-and-headphone-amp-review.13379/
- Thread Starter
- #8
Thanks for the advice. I understand there are different levels here and I should have clarified my range. I guess less than $200-$300 and I'm willing to buy second hand for now. I am picking up a Schiit Vidar to power my ELAC B6.2s so I want something decent but $600 is out of the question for now. I like the Loxjie D30 but cant find it new.
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Go to the review Index as NTK suggested. You can limit the price range to see what fits your budget as part of that index. Probably several to choose from by Topping or JDS labs or maybe SMSL.
MarkS
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If you could stretch your budget just a little bit, the Topping EX5 should be a very good choice for you. It‘s a very well performing balanced DAC with volume control, multiple inputs, remote and it has a good headphone amp just in case you‘d ever want that. For 350$ it offers a lot of features in a compact form factor.
Amir has reviewed it a few month ago.
I don't believe the SD-9 includes a DAC. You'll need a DAC between the SD9 and Vidar.
AnalogSteph
Major Contributor
All basically good options, I think - read the review threads. Might throw in Topping EX5 as well (much like the SU-8s, + headphone amp, - BT I think). I guess you want a volume knob, so no E50?
You have just one Vidar? This may prove a bit of an issue, since it looks like that amp is an IEC Class I device with either stereo RCA or a mono XLR input for BTL operation. You may end up having one hell of a hard time getting rid of ground loop issues entirely when using the RCAs. Not entirely the smartest construction IMHO. I guess you could always ditch it for a decent Hypex-based job with balanced inputs if need be.
You have just one Vidar? This may prove a bit of an issue, since it looks like that amp is an IEC Class I device with either stereo RCA or a mono XLR input for BTL operation. You may end up having one hell of a hard time getting rid of ground loop issues entirely when using the RCAs. Not entirely the smartest construction IMHO. I guess you could always ditch it for a decent Hypex-based job with balanced inputs if need be.
Zek
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There is new one, but with another DAC chip
https://hifi-express.com/products/2021-loxjie-d30-hifi-digital-audio-dac
or in EU
https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/dac-...tooth-50-mqa-32bit-768khz-dsd512-p-15638.html
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