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Dedicated DAC recommendation (up to 300 USD/EUR) to replace Dragonfly Black dongle

in_Flanders

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Joined
Dec 28, 2024
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Hi,
I am looking for a new DAC for my home computer desktop set-up. The home PC is streaming TIDAL.
I feel that the Dragonfly Black dongle is my weakest link. Once I have a new DAC I would re-use the Dragonfly on my work laptop.
My budget is about 300 USD/EUR (although there is one DAC that has attracted my attention at 400 EUR so I suppose I could go that high)
I'm in Belgium, Europe.

Requested specifications:
  • Dedicated DAC; no headphone amp. The DAC will feed a Schiit Asgard 2 which serves both as my headphone amp and as a pre-amp to active Ruark speakers/ B.K. subwoofer
  • A desktop DAC is fine; no need for portability.
  • Unbalanced output is OK: I don't have any balanced headphones or speakers.
  • USB input
  • RCA output
  • No volume knob

I've been reading the forums here and looking on other sites and the choice is overwhelming me. Even the ASR master review list is rather long!
So I would really welcome your recommendations. I'm wide open to any manufacturer.

Thank you.
 
I really like my Schiit Modius E, function-wise: USB-C, optical & coax S/PDIF, and AES/EBU inputs handle anything I might want to feed it (I have used all of the inputs at one time or another), and it has both balanced & unbalanced outputs. I never have any issues with it at all: it just works.
 
I really like my Schiit Modius E, function-wise: USB-C, optical & coax S/PDIF, and AES/EBU inputs handle anything I might want to feed it (I have used all of the inputs at one time or another), and it has both balanced & unbalanced outputs. I never have any issues with it at all: it just works.
Thank you.
The DAC I mentioned liking at 400 EUR is the Schiit Modi MultiBit! But... it doesn't get much love here :-(
I hadn't considered the Modius just because I do not have any balanced gear.
It's 359 EUR and out of stock right now in Schiit Europe but I will for sure put it on my list.
 
Hi,
I am looking for a new DAC for my home computer desktop set-up. The home PC is streaming TIDAL.
I feel that the Dragonfly Black dongle is my weakest link. Once I have a new DAC I would re-use the Dragonfly on my work laptop.
My budget is about 300 USD/EUR (although there is one DAC that has attracted my attention at 400 EUR so I suppose I could go that high)
I'm in Belgium, Europe.

Requested specifications:
  • Dedicated DAC; no headphone amp. The DAC will feed a Schiit Asgard 2 which serves both as my headphone amp and as a pre-amp to active Ruark speakers/ B.K. subwoofer
  • A desktop DAC is fine; no need for portability.
  • Unbalanced output is OK: I don't have any balanced headphones or speakers.
  • USB input
  • RCA output
  • No volume knob

I've been reading the forums here and looking on other sites and the choice is overwhelming me. Even the ASR master review list is rather long!
So I would really welcome your recommendations. I'm wide open to any manufacturer.

Thank you.
Topping D50 III is excellent and I think does all you ask and more. ASR Review of Topping D50 III
 
Hi,
I am looking for a new DAC for my home computer desktop set-up. The home PC is streaming TIDAL.
I feel that the Dragonfly Black dongle is my weakest link. Once I have a new DAC I would re-use the Dragonfly on my work laptop.
My budget is about 300 USD/EUR (although there is one DAC that has attracted my attention at 400 EUR so I suppose I could go that high)
I'm in Belgium, Europe.

Requested specifications:
  • Dedicated DAC; no headphone amp. The DAC will feed a Schiit Asgard 2 which serves both as my headphone amp and as a pre-amp to active Ruark speakers/ B.K. subwoofer
  • A desktop DAC is fine; no need for portability.
  • Unbalanced output is OK: I don't have any balanced headphones or speakers.
  • USB input
  • RCA output
  • No volume knob

I've been reading the forums here and looking on other sites and the choice is overwhelming me. Even the ASR master review list is rather long!
So I would really welcome your recommendations. I'm wide open to any manufacturer.

Thank you.
Given your requirements, I would definitely recommend the SMSL SU-1.
Very good test, very good sound, even in comparison with DACs in the €/$ 400-500 price range (personal experience), around €/$ 80. Plus the tried and tested AK4493S with the USB XMOS XU316 with a maximum of 768kHz/32Bit or DSD512.
You can of course spend more money, there is almost no upper limit.

SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC Review
 
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And why does it have optical and coaxial outputs only rather than inputs? (or is the back panel mis-labelled?)
Because it's a Bluetooth receiver.
 
Given your requirements, I would definitely recommend the SMSL SU-1.
Very good test, very good sound, even in comparison with DACs in the €/$ 400-500 price range (personal experience), around €/$ 80. Plus the tried and tested AK4493S with the USB XMOS XU316 with a maximum of 768kHz/32Bit or DSD512.
You can of course spend more money, there is almost no upper limit.

SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC Review
Thank you. That's very interesting. It doesn't even use a separate power supply.
Somehow it feels wrong that I would buy something cheaper than what I'm replacing! On the other hand, if I find that I don't like it for my home PC setup, its form factor is such that I could use it with my laptop.
Will certainly add this to the list.
 
I can be used as a USB DAC, but its primary function is a BT receiver with analog and digital outputs. Don't see the point in arguing here.

A similar device is the Fiio BR13, which does have coaxial and optical inputs. Not SOTA D-A conversion quality, though.
 
Thank you. That's very interesting. It doesn't even use a separate power supply.
Somehow it feels wrong that I would buy something cheaper than what I'm replacing! On the other hand, if I find that I don't like it for my home PC setup, its form factor is such that I could use it with my laptop.
Will certainly add this to the list.
You can spend more money, but this DAC has the same high-quality components that are used in much more expensive DACs, e.g. RME, which would be a very good recommendation from me if you are willing to spend the money.
And as Amir's test shows, SMSL has developed the DAC well and integrated the AK4493 very well. You will find many more expensive DACs in the lists that are worse.

I have a few DACs here, in almost every price range. I happened to have the SU-1 here because a friend was enthusiastic about it and wanted to know if others were better. He couldn't hear any difference between the SU-1, a SU-10 and a DO400.
 
To me it sound absolutely right and one of the most satisfying thing i can think about, a real tangible sign of improvement and consciousness.
But due to developments in the last 10 years, in the audio sector, an expensive/overpriced product is often replaced with a better one that is also cheaper, especially with DACs.
This also works very well with amplifiers such as the PA5 II or Sabaj A30a, even if the other amplifiers are 5-10 times more expensive.
However, companies such as Cambridge and NAD managed to do this in the 90s, and some of these devices are still competitive today.

So this seems to be a problem that only exists in people's heads.

I replaced 2 audio devices this year, one costing several thousand euros with one costing less than 500 euros, and one costing 2000 euros with one costing 260 euros.
And I'm very happy with that, it wasn't downsizing and it doesn't feel like that to me either. ;)
 
You can spend more money, but this DAC has the same high-quality components that are used in much more expensive DACs, e.g. RME, which would be a very good recommendation from me if you are willing to spend the money.
And as Amir's test shows, SMSL has developed the DAC well and integrated the AK4493 very well. You will find many more expensive DACs in the lists that are worse.

I have a few DACs here, in almost every price range. I happened to have the SU-1 here because a friend was enthusiastic about it and wanted to know if others were better. He couldn't hear any difference between the SU-1, a SU-10 and a DO400.
Thank you Roland68. Yes, wise words.
I think I have also been the kind of person who tends to equate price with performance and it is becoming clear to me that this is simply not true when it comes to DACs!
 
To me it sound absolutely right and one of the most satisfying thing i can think about, a real tangible sign of improvement and consciousness.
Thank you; good to know
Schiit Modi Multbit $299, end game dac.
Thank you very much. Here in Belgium it's 429 EUR which is a bit more expensive (but it includes the import duty and taxes so I mustn't grumble.)
The Modi Multi Bit is the one around 400 EUR that I already had my eye on.
But... it doesn't make it onto the ASR recommended list, the 2018 review here is negative and it's at the top of my bduget range :-(
What is your experience with it please? I do like Schiit, but 400+ EUR is a lot compared with 80 or 230 EUR.
 
Thank you Roland68. Yes, wise words.
I think I have also been the kind of person who tends to equate price with performance and it is becoming clear to me that this is simply not true when it comes to DACs!
Now I'm going to be even meaner to you, the SU-1 is the cheapest device in the Sinad list with these measured values.
So you can spend more money on a device with a better Sinad, which is really not audible, or take one from the lower part of the list. ;)

But what you say applies to many areas today, e.g. food, especially for vegan and processed organic food, medicines, computers, flashlights, 3D printers, clothing, etc. Recently there was a report where clothing for discount chains was sewn by the same employees as luxury clothing from well-known and very expensive brands, one after the other.
I have long been wearing only the better €10 T-shirts and €15 polo shirts from Decathlon, because the branded items that cost 5-10 times as much are often not as well made and, above all, do not last as long. The same applies to the hiking boots that I wear as everyday and work shoes. I used to spend a lot of money on expensive and high-quality branded goods, but the quality has deteriorated so much that it is no longer worth it and the quality is often worse or only slightly better.

Best R2R stereo DAC Review.png
Best R2R stereo DAC Review Kopie.png
 
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