Looking for a dac/preamp that has many inputs.

[Panelhead]

I looked in the attic a couple weeks ago to see if there was a dac for my system. Currently not using a computer anymore for playback.
Found a NIB SMSL Sanscrit 10th. Purchased as a gift to friend. He did not want a 90.00 dac, so sat in attic. Liked it. Maybe not as much as dac built into Micromega Integrated amp, but best 90.00 dac I have heard. Gave me another coax input.
Was digging around to find a cable, coax to coax and found a Lightspeed Pulse X. Thought it had been sold. Has 9018 dac chips. It sounds better than the Sanskrit 10th. And has coax and AES inputs. Have a source with AES.
Reading about all the relatively cheap, newer, SMSL dacs has me thinking I a need a newer dac, 120+ Sinaid. The M300 looks great, the RAW even better, dual coax inputs.
Do not care about headphone amp quality. Just sound quality, lowest noise floor, connectivity, and price.
RAW costs more, has more features.
Is the RAW my best option today? Or is there another that is a better choice. Any brand, not a SMSL fanboi, just they seem to be delivering quality and value.

 

[Panelhead]

Guess a SMSL RAW MDA1 clicks the most boxes. The more reviews of these dacs I read the less I know. The RAW PRO clicks even more, for three times the cost.
Having separate sub forum for dac and dac/headphone is confusing. Almost all listed in dac sub forum have a headphone output.
Sorry I did not list which RAW product. Too many to sort..
Expect it to be noticeably better compared to the Sanskrit 10th and Lightspeed Pulse X currently in system.

 

[JeremyFife]

Hi, just FYI - no DAC is likely to sound any better than the one you already have. I don't know the Lightspeed, but the Sancrit measures very well: https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/smsl-sanskrit-10th-mk-ii-dac-review.12148/

Other DACs may measure better, but the measured differences will be below our audible thresholds - we can't hear the difference.

What features, and connectivity, do you actually need? What would you like to hook up that you can't do at the moment? Cheers

 

[Panelhead]

The SK10 is the original. May not measure well as SK10ii. Do use a wall wart to power. Have too, need to roll back OS on a Mac Mini to use Pure Music and Room Perfect on preferred interface. Then Thunderbolt connectivity. Old school.
I mainly listen to a HD radio. Background music. The Houston has one classical only station, 88.7 HD-2. Have tried multiple HD receivers, favorite is DS M4 HD. It only has AES digital output. Balanced analog. Have a stack of other HD radios. Some sound bad.
Been using a Canare transformer to convert AES to coax. Noticed the AES input on the Pulse X dac. So run AES for HD radio and coax from transport into Lightspeed.
Both the M4HD and PulseX have pulse transformers to convert AES to coax and back.
Wanted a new (Sinaid 120+) dac that accepts either AES and coax or two coax inputs.
Purchased a SMSL MDA1 this morning. Checks the most boxes.
Will see how it fares with Lightspeed, SK10, and the internal dac in Micromega integrated.

 

[AcousticTheory]

I'm satisfied with the RAW-MDA1; I use it to feed a pair of Icepower 300AS1 monoblocks, and I think it sounds great in combination with my amps and speakers - no complaints. I use an external ADC to convert cassette deck output to digital for one of the inputs; all my other sources are digital.

 

[Panelhead]

I am using the RAW MDA1 as a dac. Love it. Lack of analog inputs is a limiting factor as preamp. If not an issue it is a great preamp. Measurements equal or exceed high dollar preamps. Not many even match SINAID, SNR, or Dynamic Range.
Have an integrated amp, accepts analog inputs. It also has BT-3 Apt X. Did simple test and the BT-5 in MDA1 sounded better. More robust connection too. We used a friend’s iPhone and files were from his collection.
Normally never use BT audio playback. Sounded fine at an outdoor event. Used MDA1 as a mixer.