DAC up to $168

[Petr_ence]

Hey, could someone give me some advice on choosing a DAC? I'm considering either the K11 or the SMSL DS100, but I can't seem to get my head around which is better. Alternatively, if anyone has a tip for something better, this was recommended to me.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[LTig]

If they are in the green or blue range they are transparent so will sound the same. Decide on features, reliability, customer support, look, ...

 

[antcollinet]

Hi, and welcome to ASR.

The K11 is an R2R dac. A very old fashioned design which typically don't perform well. There are some recent releases that do OK, but this particular model is specified as THD+N of 0.025% which is equivalent to SINAD of only 72.

The DS100 I can see no measurements.

There have been hundreds of DACS from all price ranges measured here. As @LTig states, just choose one of those from the blue/green sections of the SINAD chart with the price and features you need.

(Go to the audio review index, select "audio electronics" then put DAC into the search box. Sort by price ascending. Find one in your price range with a SINAD of at least 100 (for me I would say 80), a "yes" in the recommended column, and the features you need). Check out the linked review for other measurements if you want.

Feel free to come back here with your shortlist to ask for further comments.

 

[dan_uk]

How about - https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...30-ii-lite-dac-review-and-measurements.47518/

 

[Petr_ence]

Co třeba - https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...30-ii-lite-dac-review-and-measurements.47518/

Interesting

 

[dan_uk]

Zajímavý výběr.

Or https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...pping-dx3-pro-review-dac-headphone-amp.27148/

 

[Petr_ence]

Hi, and welcome to ASR.

The K11 is an R2R dac. A very old fashioned design which typically don't perform well. There are some recent releases that do OK, but this particular model is specified as THD+N of 0.025% which is equivalent to SINAD of only 72.

The DS100 I can see no measurements.

There have been hundreds of DACS from all price ranges measured here. As @LTig states, just choose one of those from the blue/green sections of the SINAD chart with the price and features you need.

(Go to the audio review index, select "audio electronics" then put DAC into the search box. Sort by price ascending. Find one in your price range with a SINAD of at least 100 (for me I would say 80), a "yes" in the recommended column, and the features you need). Check out the linked review for other measurements if you want.

Feel free to come back here with your shortlist to ask for further comments.

Maybe I would like to talk about the SMSL DT100, because for the price it seems quite decent compared to the K11. Does anyone have experience with this?

 

[Petr_ence]

And what about Tone2 Pro

 

[MaxwellsEq]

And what about Tone2 Pro

Khadas Tone2 Pro Review (DAC & Amp)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Khadas Tone2 Pro portable USB DAC and balanced headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by the company for testing. As configured, it sells for $199 from the company website direct. From the pictures, the unit didn't look all that nice but in...

audiosciencereview.com

 

[Petr_ence]

Khadas Tone2 Pro Review (DAC & Amp)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Khadas Tone2 Pro portable USB DAC and balanced headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by the company for testing. As configured, it sells for $199 from the company website direct. From the pictures, the unit didn't look all that nice but in...

audiosciencereview.com

Yeah, I read that, but I'd like to compare

 

[antcollinet]

Yeah, I read that, but I'd like to compare

Do you mean the DL 100.

SMSL DL100 DAC and Headphone Amp Review

This is a review, listening tests and detailed measurements of the SMSL DL100 balanced stereo DAC and headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $179. The DL100 is a fair departure from standard SMSL offering in that it uses a stamped steel enclosure instead of machined...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Both DACs will sound identical. (both are audibly transparent).

I'd go for the SMSL for the more useful/conventional form factor, the HDMI ARC, and the balanced outputs.

 

[Petr_ence]

Myslíš DL 100?

SMSL DL100 DAC and Headphone Amp Review

This is a review, listening tests and detailed measurements of the SMSL DL100 balanced stereo DAC and headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $179. The DL100 is a fair departure from standard SMSL offering in that it uses a stamped steel enclosure instead of machined...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Oba DAC budou znít identicky. (obě jsou slyšitelně průhledné).

Šel bych po SMSL pro užitečnější/konvenční tvarový faktor, HDMI ARC a vyvážené výstupy.

No, https://www.smsl-audio.com/portal/product/detail/id/870.html

 

[antcollinet]

No, https://www.smsl-audio.com/portal/product/detail/id/870.html

So we don't have independent measurements of that here. Manufacturer spec says 115dB, and I have no reason to disbelieve that. So like the other two will be audibly transparent.

So if it does what you want, is a fine option.

 

[Petr_ence]

So we don't have independent measurements of that here. Manufacturer spec says 115dB, and I have no reason to disbelieve that. So like the other two will be audibly transparent.

So if it does what you want, is a fine option.

Ok, I have another question, the DS100 has a CS43131 chipset from Cirrus Logic and supports PCM up to 32bit/768kHz and DSD512. It offers support for MQA and MQA-CD decoding,

The FiiO K11 is equipped with a CS43198 chip and supports PCM up to 32bit/384kHz and DSD256. It doesn't have MQA.
Which chip do you think is better?

 

[antcollinet]

Ok, I have another question, the DS100 has a CS43131 chipset from Cirrus Logic and supports PCM up to 32bit/768kHz and DSD512. It offers support for MQA and MQA-CD decoding,

The FiiO K11 is equipped with a CS43198 chip and supports PCM up to 32bit/384kHz and DSD256. It doesn't have MQA.
Which chip do you think is better?

It doesn't matter. What matters is how well the whole device converts analogue to digital without noise or distortion and with flat frequency response. That is what is measured on the output of the DAC. It is possible to do this well with a "weaker" DAC chip, or badly with the best DAC chip.

Also - no need to worry about high resolution formats. There is nothing the human ear can hear that can't be encoded in redbook (16/44.1kHz) digital audio. I feel I want to have 24/48kHz so that I know I'm well into the safe zone (but I don't really need it). Anything more than that is just pointless, and can in fact result in lower fidelity.

MQA especially is a scam.

 

[jcarys]

Ok, I have another question, the DS100 has a CS43131 chipset from Cirrus Logic and supports PCM up to 32bit/768kHz and DSD512. It offers support for MQA and MQA-CD decoding,

The FiiO K11 is equipped with a CS43198 chip and supports PCM up to 32bit/384kHz and DSD256. It doesn't have MQA.
Which chip do you think is better?

It doesn't matter, they are both going to get the job done. If you still play MQA files, then your decision has been made for you.

 

[RHO]

Ok, I have another question, the DS100 has a CS43131 chipset from Cirrus Logic and supports PCM up to 32bit/768kHz and DSD512. It offers support for MQA and MQA-CD decoding,

The FiiO K11 is equipped with a CS43198 chip and supports PCM up to 32bit/384kHz and DSD256. It doesn't have MQA.
Which chip do you think is better?

As was said before, the K11 would have a SINAD of 72 according manufacturer specs. Which means it's not audibly transparant.
It doesn't matter what chip is inside. Compared to an audibly transparant DAC it objectively performs worse.

 

[JIW]

As was said before, the K11 would have a SINAD of 72 according manufacturer specs. Which means it's not audibly transparant.
It doesn't matter what chip is inside. Compared to an audibly transparant DAC it objectively performs worse.

That is for the K11 R2R not the K11. There are two K11 models.

 

[Petr_ence]

As was said before, the K11 would have a SINAD of 72 according manufacturer specs. Which means it's not audibly transparant.
It doesn't matter what chip is inside. Compared to an audibly transparant DAC it objectively performs worse.

Ok, thanks for the help. I'll probably try the DS100, it's not talked about much, but at least I'll compare it and possibly let you know what I think about it.

 

[Petr_ence]

That is for the K11 R2R not the K11. There are two K11 models.

What are the right specs?