Best value DAC with COAX in and USB-C powered with metal casing

[quocheiser]

Hi everyone, I need a hyperportable setup where I'm able to carry multiple DACs around with me to use with different sources.

The likelihood of the DACs being damaged on their travels is high, so I would prefer to keep costs very low and the casing metal if possible.

USB-C is much easier to cater for power-wise from a hub than USB-B. I'd prefer not to use USB-B to USB-C adapters or adapter cables that increase costs and complexity.

It seems that SMSL got on the USB-C train years ago, while most affordable Topping models still use USB-B?

However, it seems that SMSL DACS have more QC issues than Topping?

Any recommendations for other brands or particular models would be helpful, as there seems to be an overload of choice these days.

 

[staticV3]

SMSL has three DACs that fit the bill:

D1

Foshan ShuangMuSanLin electronics Co., LTD. founded in 2009 which located in Shenzhen, China. And our branch company VMV Technology(HK) Company Limited registered in HK in 2013. Our company is specialized in the audio DAC, stereo headphone amplifier, power amplifier, and with own R&D...

www.smsl-audio.com

SU-1

Foshan ShuangMuSanLin electronics Co., LTD. founded in 2009 which located in Shenzhen, China. And our branch company VMV Technology(HK) Company Limited registered in HK in 2013. Our company is specialized in the audio DAC, stereo headphone amplifier, power amplifier, and with own R&D...

www.smsl-audio.com

C100

Foshan ShuangMuSanLin electronics Co., LTD. founded in 2009 which located in Shenzhen, China. And our branch company VMV Technology(HK) Company Limited registered in HK in 2013. Our company is specialized in the audio DAC, stereo headphone amplifier, power amplifier, and with own R&D...

www.smsl-audio.com

Defects aren't unheard of, but are really rather rare on these USB-powered devices I feel like.

If you prefer made in the US: https://www.schiit.com/products/modi-plus

 

[quocheiser]

SMSL has three DACs that fit the bill:

D1

Foshan ShuangMuSanLin electronics Co., LTD. founded in 2009 which located in Shenzhen, China. And our branch company VMV Technology(HK) Company Limited registered in HK in 2013. Our company is specialized in the audio DAC, stereo headphone amplifier, power amplifier, and with own R&D...

www.smsl-audio.com

SU-1

Foshan ShuangMuSanLin electronics Co., LTD. founded in 2009 which located in Shenzhen, China. And our branch company VMV Technology(HK) Company Limited registered in HK in 2013. Our company is specialized in the audio DAC, stereo headphone amplifier, power amplifier, and with own R&D...

www.smsl-audio.com

C100

Foshan ShuangMuSanLin electronics Co., LTD. founded in 2009 which located in Shenzhen, China. And our branch company VMV Technology(HK) Company Limited registered in HK in 2013. Our company is specialized in the audio DAC, stereo headphone amplifier, power amplifier, and with own R&D...

www.smsl-audio.com

Defects aren't unheard of, but are really rather rare on these USB-powered devices I feel like.

If you prefer made in the US: https://www.schiit.com/products/modi-plus

Oh wow I didn't know about the D1.
Reading up on it via ASR, there seems to be slight things wrong with it (overly sensitive capacitive touch controls) which are solvable by a 3D-printed mod.

 

[oldpainless]

Oh wow I didn't know about the D1.
Reading up on it via ASR, there seems to be slight things wrong with it (overly sensitive capacitive touch controls) which are solvable by a 3D-printed mod.

Mine has no such problems, so we don't know if it was an initial release batch that has the issue, or an overall design issue. Given I've no issue, and some others are the same, it would seem to lean towards a batch (maybe initial?).

 

[MaxBuck]

Schiit Modi not working for you?

 

[quocheiser]

Schiit Modi not working for you?

It's not cheap in Germany unfortunately

 

[unpluggged]

Khadas Tone Board + any cheap €5 aluminium enclosure of matching dimensions from AliExpress.

 

[TheKoC]

I use a SMSL DS100 für simple duties, it even has two headphone outs and a volume control on top, all in a small (metal) package.

 

[wiggum]

AIYIMA DAC A2 Pro

Product description:Product name: DAC-A2 ProChipset: ESS9018K2M+CM6542+JRC5532D+GL3510PC-USB sampling rate: 24bit/96khzPC-USB operating system: Windows XP / window7/8/10 / Max OS/MAC/LinuxOptical fiber/coaxial sampling rate: 24bit192khzFloor noise: -128dBDistortion: 0.005%Signal-to-noise ratio...

www.aiyima.com

I think you can buy this for US$ 60 on sale either on Amazon or AliExpress.

I have this and sounds very clean and plenty of power. The extra USB ports are a bonus.