DAC/audio interface for Kali IN-8 V2

[Langestijn]

Hi all,

I've been reading up a lot here. Ton of information!

Previously I had Tannoy Reveal 502's and I just upgraded them to Kali IN-8 V2's.
But here comes the question: I had the most budget audio interface (Lexicon Alpha) and since I bought it, it gives annoying white-noise when changing the volume and it's really starting to bug me so I'm looking for an upgrade. I already tried cleaning it and what not, but it's probably just faulty components.
I only listen to wav/flacs and don't produce music so inputs are not important. What I do want are: Volume knob on the front, headphone input, balanced XLR or TRS outputs. As of now I have Pioneer HDJ-2000's which are also in need of an upgrade somewhere upcoming year, so some integrated amp would be nice. My budget is +- 200 euro's.

My eye has fallen on these:

- SMSL D100 (but the availability is meh, so would be hard to get them for the normal retail price, and the price is already stretching my budget)
- Fosi Audio ZD3
- SMSL RAW-MDA (Stretching the budget, but does have build-in amp so that could be handy for future headphones which might need it)
- Topping e2x2 (this is currently looking as the best value for what I'm looking for)
- Motu M4 (stretching the budget quite a bit and comparable to e2x2 from what I can see)

And: Are any of these gonna make any audible difference compared to the crappy Lexicon Alpha I had? Otherwise I might just go for the lowest priced one. Of course the noisy volume knob would be fixed which is already a clear win for me.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Rednaxela]

Welcome!

How about SMSL D-6s?

 

[Langestijn]

Hm, also a good contender! But it lacks amp, so wouldn't the Topping e2x2 bring more value?

 

[Blumlein 88]

SMSL D12 DAC & Headphone Amp Review

This is a review, listening test and detailed measurements of the SMSL D12 stereo USB DAC with Bluetooth support. It was sent to me by the company and is selling for US $126. The D12 deviates from typical SMSL DAC by using a 7 segment display. It is white and get hyper bright (there are many...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Maybe the SMSL D12 if your headphones are low impedance. Has good power for low impedance phones, marginal power for high impedance.

It also would leave a budget for a basic JDS headphone amp to add on that has plenty of power for phones.

 

[Langestijn]

SMSL D12 only has RCA tho, no balanced outputs, so thanks but it doesn't fit my wishlist . So the Topping e2x2 is still the top contender I think? Edit: I just found out there is also an E1x2. Since I don't need any mic inputs that cuts the costs even more with the same performance.

Coming back to my other question: Are any of these gonna make any audible difference compared to the Lexicon Alpha?

 

[Langestijn]

SMSL D12 only has RCA tho, no balanced outputs, so thanks but it doesn't fit my wishlist . So the Topping e2x2 is still the top contender I think? Edit: I just found out there is also an E1x2. Since I don't need any mic inputs that cuts the costs even more with the same performance.

Coming back to my other question: Are any of these gonna make any audible difference compared to the Lexicon Alpha?

And I also found out there is a Motu M2 instead of M4, again i don't need the inputs so that puts it also closer to my budget.

 

[AnalogSteph]

The M2 is a good one. Also, with any headphones that aren't overly impedance-critical but can use a decent amount of output voltage, Audients (e.g. iD4 MkII) tend to be a good choice as well.

There's some more potential candidates on the DAC-amp front like the SMSL DL200 and DL100 or their M300SE (although the last one is more like a DAC with bonus headphone out as it doesn't have a ton of output voltage).

 

[Langestijn]

Hi all,

I've been reading up a lot here. Ton of information!

Previously I had Tannoy Reveal 502's and I just upgraded them to Kali IN-8 V2's.
But here comes the question: I had the most budget audio interface (Lexicon Alpha) and since I bought it, it gives annoying white-noise when changing the volume and it's really starting to bug me so I'm looking for an upgrade. I already tried cleaning it and what not, but it's probably just faulty components.
I only listen to wav/flacs and don't produce music so inputs are not important. What I do want are: Volume knob on the front, headphone input, balanced XLR or TRS outputs. As of now I have Pioneer HDJ-2000's which are also in need of an upgrade somewhere upcoming year, so some integrated amp would be nice. My budget is +- 200 euro's.

My eye has fallen on these:

- SMSL D100 (but the availability is meh, so would be hard to get them for the normal retail price, and the price is already stretching my budget)
- Fosi Audio ZD3
- SMSL RAW-MDA (Stretching the budget, but does have build-in amp so that could be handy for future headphones which might need it)
- Topping e2x2 (this is currently looking as the best value for what I'm looking for)
- Motu M4 (stretching the budget quite a bit and comparable to e2x2 from what I can see)

And: Are any of these gonna make any audible difference compared to the crappy Lexicon Alpha I had? Otherwise I might just go for the lowest priced one. Of course the noisy volume knob would be fixed which is already a clear win for me.

Thanks in advance!

Woops, little correction needed:
It was the SMSL DL100 I was looking at, not D100 .. I need to pay more attention while writing... The availability of this one is better and just in my budget + headphone output on the front which i prefer over the back.

 

[Langestijn]

Haha thanks AnalogSteph, see my reply I posted as you posted yours

 

[JIW]

Woops, little correction needed:
It was the SMSL DL100 I was looking at, not D100 .. I need to pay more attention while writing... The availability of this one is better and just in my budget + headphone output on the front which i prefer over the back.

Consider the DL200 instead of the DL100 since the latter only has one gain setting for the headphone amp which may lead to noise on sensitive headphones or IEMs. Also, you can use the cables you already have to connect the speakers since the symmetrical output is using TRS connectors.

 

[Langestijn]

Hmm it's probably gonna be either the DL200 or DL100 since the price is pretty much the same. I did read somewhere that the DL100 has a clicking noise when changing songs though. Is that also with the USB connected to my USB as input? Or is that only with bluetooth or something? Because that would annoy me a lot..

Also, I read a lot of bad reviews about the DL200 because of bad quality control and it breaking down in no-time.. Anyone have an idea if this changed? Because if the chance on a faulty unit is that high, I might be better off with a DL100.

 

[JIW]

Hmm it's probably gonna be either the DL200 or DL100 since the price is pretty much the same. I did read somewhere that the DL100 has a clicking noise when changing songs though. Is that also with the USB connected to my USB as input? Or is that only with bluetooth or something? Because that would annoy me a lot..

Also, I read a lot of bad reviews about the DL200 because of bad quality control and it breaking down in no-time.. Anyone have an idea if this changed? Because if the chance on a faulty unit is that high, I might be better off with a DL100.

I have had my DL200 for almost a year without issues. The issues seemed to be related to Bluetooth use which I have not done, though.

There is some muting if USB data is interrupted for some time. This is due to the XMOS 316 USB receiver used and there are ways around it in the driver settings on Windows and a workaround in macOS. Slight clicking and muting occurs when sample rate is changed.

 

[antcollinet]

Coming back to my other question: Are any of these gonna make any audible difference compared to the Lexicon Alpha?

Apart from the volume pot noise, you are unlikely to be able to hear any audible difference from the Lexicon.

 

[Langestijn]

Thanks Antcollinet! Too bad, but it is what it is.

Hmm the sample rate thing is bad though.. Because I mostly have flac/wav, but some mp3's as well since some unknown artists don't release their music in lossless quality

Anyone knows if the DL100 also has this sample rate clicking problem?

 

[gorb]

I’ve been using the smsl raw-mda1 with my IN-8 v2 for a few months without any issues.

 

[Langestijn]

Hmm I'll first wait for an answer about the DL100 (clicking noises) if that one also has weird noise problems, then I might need to spend a bit more and go for the raw-mda

 

[Langestijn]

I read it's review thread, DL100 also clicking noises... but apparently the raw also has them (see the review thread)? @gorb can you confirm that your raw-mda1 is fine?

 

[gorb]

What clicking noises are you referring to? Can you provide an example?

I’d say so far all good with mine

 

[JIW]

What clicking noises are you referring to? Can you provide an example?

I’d say so far all good with mine

For USB input, during sample rate changes and after receiving no signal for at bit. For sample rate changes, it is most evident without any signal.

 

[Langestijn]

I jumped the gun and ordered the raw-mda1. I'll let you guys know if I have any problems or everything is fine (as well as in the review thread).