Aiyima DAC A5 Pro

[Jeromeof]

On a very strict budget but interested in getting a reasonable good DAC - I know I should spend $150 etc on a quality DAC but looking at a basic system with a Wiim Mini Streamer optical output into this DAC into an Aiyima A07 (which I already own) then into some reasonable bookshelf speakers).

So looking for reference this is the DAC https://www.aiyima.com/products/dac...fier-digital-optical-coaxial-pc-usb-converter

Roughly $400 to spend:
1. Wiim mini $100 (slightly more as I live in Ireland) - using Dollars to give rough estimates
2. Aiyima DAC A6 Pro (roughly $80 with shipping / import duty etc ) (obviously there are cheaper DACs and there are much more expensive ones - this one hasn't been measured - but I do like Aiyima products they seem to have reasonable quality control at reasonable prices and this price allows me to spend more on speakers)
3. Aiyima A07
4. Wanted to spend as much of the rest of the budget on decent bookshelf (so rough $220)

Maybe I am old school but I always feel the speakers (and the room) and probably the music source make the majority of the difference (hence the wiim mini + A07 and possible this DAC) allow me to spend a little more on decent speakers.

Thanks for any advice / recommendations

 

[delta76]

You are right, speakers and the room have much bigger impact on the sound quality than DAC/amp, given that they are decent. If I read you right, you have $400 to spend total? how's about 2nd hand market?

 

[tifune]

On a very strict budget but interested in getting a reasonable good DAC - I know I should spend $150 etc on a quality DAC but looking at a basic system with a Wiim Mini Streamer optical output into this DAC into an Aiyima A07 (which I already own) then into some reasonable bookshelf speakers).

So looking for reference this is the DAC https://www.aiyima.com/products/dac...fier-digital-optical-coaxial-pc-usb-converter

Roughly $400 to spend:
1. Wiim mini $100 (slightly more as I live in Ireland) - using Dollars to give rough estimates
2. Aiyima DAC A6 Pro (roughly $80 with shipping / import duty etc ) (obviously there are cheaper DACs and there are much more expensive ones - this one hasn't been measured - but I do like Aiyima products they seem to have reasonable quality control at reasonable prices and this price allows me to spend more on speakers)
3. Aiyima A07
4. Wanted to spend as much of the rest of the budget on decent bookshelf (so rough $220)

Maybe I am old school but I always feel the speakers (and the room) and probably the music source make the majority of the difference (hence the wiim mini + A07 and possible this DAC) allow me to spend a little more on decent speakers.

Thanks for any advice / recommendations

what do you currently own?

 

[Jeromeof]

You are right, speakers and the room have much bigger impact on the sound quality than DAC/amp, given that they are decent. If I read you right, you have $400 to spend total? how's about 2nd hand market?

I have been looking at the 2nd market but sadly its terrible in Ireland and with Brexit mostly people in the UK are not shipping stuff to Ireland anymore via eBay. Definitely no decent DAC's second hand in Ireland, some old speakers but nothing I would trust.

I do have a more premium setup in the living room with Q 3020i's and some dolby surround speakers and a Denon receiver. I also have a spare raspberryPI - so before I got the Denon I was using the A07 with the 3020i's and a raspberryPI (with VolumIO) as a network streamer - sounded great but my SO wanted a home cinema setup. So another room in the house will have this new setup, sadly not allot of budget but I want to do it mostly right and be somewhat convenient (Airplay and Amazon Music support on the Wiim Mini being convenient IMO).

 

[NewbieAudiophileExpert]

How did you go with the Aiyima Dac A5 pro?

The reason that I ask is that i've seen that 'Fosi-Audio' sells the exact same one, under their brand name... in fact there is like 5 different brands selling the exact same product(s) under different names..

I'm considering purchasing it, because why not, but always sus on the stuff that's not been properly reviewed..

 

[Jeromeof]

I got one and I think it’s excellent for the price. Obviously this is subjective but the output from the headphone Jack and the rca output seem excellent to my ears! As a DAC I doubt it could tell the difference between this and one twice the price . I imagine aiyima saved money by not including a screen and the box which is fairly generic. I cranked up tte volume on the headphones to see could I hear any noise and it was completely silent when playing a silent track.

So overall on a very limited budget this is a good DAC

 

[ninetylol]

You can get the Polk ES20 for 230 at the moment in europe. Amir reviewed them.

 

[Jeromeof]

You can get the Polk ES20 for 230 at the moment in europe. Amir reviewed them.

Yes I am very tempted - might go for them tomorrow

 

[kaopad999]

How about the Wharfedale Diamond 12.2's or Mission LX3 Mk2's ?

 

[Jeromeof]

How about the Wharfedale Diamond 12.2's or Mission LX3 Mk2's ?

Thanks for the suggestion - I got the Polk ES20 in the end (mainly because of the Amir's review, it was within the budget and I liked the fact that it mostly doesn't need a subwoofer) - the base response is great. Though my next 'mini' project is looking at some Room EQ as I think in the particular room I have this setup needs some Room EQ done - so I am investigating using the Raspberry as a DSP.

 

[Monamtb]

I bought the Aiyima A5 Pro and was totally negatively surprised.

I only wanted to use it as a DAC/ preamp but as soon as I used it I had to crank up the volume of either the AudioPro Addon T3+ to about maximum volume to get to listening level. The same when I tried it with the Topping PA3s amp.

As soon as I used the SMSL SU-1 I had a normal volume dial of about 8 to 9 o clock position to have very good room listening levels. Same with my Topping D10s, just played excellent compared to the Aiyima.

Aiyima sent me a replacement board that had the same issue though.
Maybe it works well as a headphone amp but as DAC/ preamp this is a total failure for me.