Best USB DAC+AMP that can be used with a phone (for under $300?)

[BlackTheoria]

I currently only have a phone, no computer, and I'm aware of the limitations portable DAC+ AMP combos can have, so I'm expanding the question to include desktop solutions as well as portable ones as I am more likely to use the setup at home anyways.

(I'll probably just run Tidal or Qobuz through UAPP.)

 

[Juanrdp]

I am using a LOXJIE A30 (€150 a couple of years ago) for my daughter's room and the truth is that it delivers.

You can connect it via Bluetooth with your cell phone and the truth is that for what it's worth it performs decently, it's not high fidelity but for that price a DAC, headphone amplifier and speaker amplifier you can't ask for more I guess.

 

[ZolaIII]

What you want to do with it and running what? Dongles start at 10~25$, BT at 40~50$, balanced a bit more. Desktop at 100$ and up depending what you want from additional futures and so on. There is index and based on requirements you can start there but make sure that you know what you want.

Master Audio Review Index

www.audiosciencereview.com

For example best performing for running to larger monitors or stereo speakers would be Topping D50 III but it's without headphone out.

Topping D50 III Balanced DAC with EQ Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping D50 III balanced stereo DAC with support for parametric equalization. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $229. Sorry for the quality of the picture/display. It is quite dim compared to my photography light and when I tried to...

www.audiosciencereview.com

For very sensitive low impedance IEM's you will have hard time finding better than anaemic Apple EU USB dongle (500 mV or - 12 dB to 2V unbalanced) which costs 8~10 $.
Anyhow enough to show you that you get the picture.

 

[BlackTheoria]

Sorry for the late reply. I was looking for a desktop solution for home use, but used with an Android phone for now as that's all I have to feed it right now. So I am looking at the Topping DX3 Pro+, the SMSL C200, and the FiiO K7 and K11. The only pair of headphones I currently have are a pair of AKG K701s and I'm not absolutely sure how much power they take to achieve peak performance. I don't know if I want (true) balanced output, either, as I've never used balanced headphones but if I want that option open to me in the future I'd have to go with the FiiO K7. So, all in all, not sure.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Consider a setup that allows Parametric EQ to be applied to your AKG 701 headphones.

EDIT - suggested option removed for being less than ideal for this usage case......

 

[staticV3]

Consider a setup that allows Parametric EQ to be applied to your AKG 701 headphones.

Correcting the K701 is somewhat complicated by its truly awful unit variation:


(In purple are the two units measured by Amir, in gray those measured by oratory1990)