Looking for a £150ish Dac for studio monitors Modi 3 / topping or SMSL SU 8???

[sanjaybb]

Hi,

the more i research the more i get confused. I am based in the Uk and it seems the MODI 3 is rather harder to get. I have some powered studio monitors (+ sub) and would like to purchase a DAC. I started with intending to buy the Audioengine D1 but would like something better. I have no need to headphone amp at the moment, and would like to flexibility of USB input (I see the MODI 3 does not perform as well with USB) and optical. I have audio engine A5s but i suspect these will be upgraded at some point soon. No need for Bluetooth either.

Which one would you recommend or any others i should look into?

 

[Eetu]

Hi, how about the brand new Topping E30?
You can read Amir's review here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-e30-dac-review.12119/
Fits your price range and includes USB, optical and coax inputs. It measures even better than the Modi 3 and should be easily available in the UK.

 

[sanjaybb]

Hi, how about the brand new Topping E30?
You can read Amir's review here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-e30-dac-review.12119/
Fits your price range and includes USB, optical and coax inputs. It measures even better than the Modi 3 and should be easily available in the UK.

This seems perfect. Any ideas where i could buy one in the UK? They seem pretty hard to find apart from ordering from china?

 

[Eetu]

This seems perfect. Any ideas where i could buy one in the UK? They seem pretty hard to find apart from ordering from china?

Yeah the Amazon and AliExpress ones are probably shipping from China. Audiophonics seem to have it in stock, don't know how much the shipping costs are to the UK https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/dac-...3-32bit768khz-dsd512-xmos-silver-p-14492.html