I've been looking for a new DAC and came across several options. I don't care about features. All I care about is the best audio possible. So far I've come across two options. The modius and the m300 mkII. I would like to know which is better. If there is anything better than these two for my budget, tell me, and try to provide reasoning. If it helps, I already have THX 789.
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Help with a balanced DAC under $300
- Thread starter OctoEmu
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Zensō
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Comes down to availability really. That, and if you want a remote. For my listening, I rely on DAC volume adjustments as Im a distance away from non-remoted amps . Modius doesnt have one- and is fixed output.
I dont think you would find any sonic differences.
The Geshelli is a bit long in the tooth in that company- and its balanced outs were not as clean as the RCA- plus it doesnt have USB input- though I know Geshelli are working on a new DAC as we speak
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Oh- and maybe https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/soncoz-la-qxd1-balanced-dac-review.13459/ (variable volume, but no remote)
- Thread Starter
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The Soncoz LA-QXD1 looks solid, however, it appears to have distortion in the SINAD test and has no multitest. That aside, when compared to the modius it wins in SINAD, IMD distortion, and dynamic range, but loses by default in multitone and THD+N ratio vs frequency. It also lost in jitter.
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QXD1 multitone added later https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...la-qxd1-balanced-dac-review.13459/post-404408
Again- for me between the Soncoz, M300 and the Modius I believe all transparent sonically- so its looks and remote for me- the SMSL every time on that count.
- Thread Starter
- #7
Then It would appear the QXD1 is better than the modius
There were some solid options named already, can't go wrong either way. You might also consider the Motu M2/M4 (https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/motu-m4-audio-interface-review.15757/) if the ADC and maybe additional headphone output are of any interest to you.
Somewhat of a noob here. Hi!
Watching this topic with interest as I am also looking for a reasonably priced balanced DAC. The thing is, I don't think I need a case at all for the DAC since I am building my own experimental design of a single case with a Raspberry, a DAC and a Purifi 1ET400A setup inside. For thermal and functional reasons I'd rather rip the DAC board out from whichever retail case and place it bare in there.
I thought the Khadas Tone Board looked pretty decent: nice SINAD score, no unnecessary case. So I went ahead and ordered it, but now after researching more I'm a bit afraid of unavoidable ground loop noise forming with the unbalanced RCA to XLR connection. Besides, as I understand, the higher standard 4v output of balanced outputs seems to give higher quality options for what kind of buffer setup could work with the 1ET400A.
Would anyone more experienced like to shed any light: do you think in my case, for a very short run from the DAC to a buffer on front of 1ET400A, the actual merits of balanced would be of any significance?
Watching this topic with interest as I am also looking for a reasonably priced balanced DAC. The thing is, I don't think I need a case at all for the DAC since I am building my own experimental design of a single case with a Raspberry, a DAC and a Purifi 1ET400A setup inside. For thermal and functional reasons I'd rather rip the DAC board out from whichever retail case and place it bare in there.
I thought the Khadas Tone Board looked pretty decent: nice SINAD score, no unnecessary case. So I went ahead and ordered it, but now after researching more I'm a bit afraid of unavoidable ground loop noise forming with the unbalanced RCA to XLR connection. Besides, as I understand, the higher standard 4v output of balanced outputs seems to give higher quality options for what kind of buffer setup could work with the 1ET400A.
Would anyone more experienced like to shed any light: do you think in my case, for a very short run from the DAC to a buffer on front of 1ET400A, the actual merits of balanced would be of any significance?
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- Thread Starter
- #13
Get your own post! In all seriousness, the tone board is a good option for what you are wanting to do. Balanced won't change much if anything as the apple pi DAC performs slightly worse, so balanced has a good chance of being balanced out by the difference. So if you care enough about slight difference (Or can even find one) you could get the Orchard Audio ApplePi DAC and Volume+Clocker
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Hi,
just as eesahe wrote before me, I'm a total noob when it comes to DACs (and also most other HiFi). I finally want to upgrade my system (currently PC with Foobar2000 on Win 2008 R2 and Asus Xonar Essence STX). Also I have an "old" but great Panasonic TX-P50VT20E that I love and want to keep for a while.
I want to be able to stream 4k to the TV (future TV will have 4k) and lossless digital audio to the DAC. Would something like this work?
Android or iOS tablet (FLAC files + Tidal -> Plex / Roon / other app?)
-> Chromecast with Google TV (2020) in TV
-> TOPPING E30 (USB via Chromecast)
-> DIY Biino mk2 passive preamp (other input is DIY 2pi pre phono preamp)
-> DIY Symasym dual mono amp
-> DIY Menhir Clone horn loudspeaker
Would that setup work? Am I loosing somewhere quality? What would you recommend (app / streamer / DAC)?
Thank you all for the great forum! And please let me know if I should open instead an other thread instead.
