Looking for a modern DAC under €100 / $100 – with autostart & standby for Pi4 project

[ScummBar78]

Hi everyone,


I'm working on a Raspberry Pi 4-based audio project, and I’m looking for a modern DAC (ideally under €100 / $100) that suits the following needs:

• Will be powered by a Meanwell LRS-35-5 (5V/7A)
• Controlled by an ATXRaspi power management board
• Absolutely requires automatic power-on (autostart) when 5V is applied, and preferably a proper standby mode
• USB input is fine – no need for Toslink or Coax
• The DAC will feed a Denon amplifier and passive speakers
• I'm mounting the setup inside a vintage radio cabinet, so form factor is a small consideration
• I don't need headphone output or balanced outputs – just solid RCA line-out

I'm particularly interested in DACs based on AK4493S or ES9038Q2M chips, but I'm open to suggestions if the features and sound are right.


I mostly listen to:

• Electronic,
• Pop/rock from the 70s–90s
• New wave, post-punk

So I'm looking for a DAC that sounds natural and musical, but with clarity and detail.


Any recommendations from the ASR community would be very much appreciated – especially for DACs that are known to work well with Raspberry Pi and support autostart behavior.


Thanks a lot!

 

[Count Arthur]

Hi everyone,


I'm working on a Raspberry Pi 4-based audio project, and I’m looking for a modern DAC (ideally under €100 / $100) that suits the following needs:

• Will be powered by a Meanwell LRS-35-5 (5V/7A)
• Controlled by an ATXRaspi power management board
• Absolutely requires automatic power-on (autostart) when 5V is applied, and preferably a proper standby mode
• USB input is fine – no need for Toslink or Coax
• The DAC will feed a Denon amplifier and passive speakers
• I'm mounting the setup inside a vintage radio cabinet, so form factor is a small consideration
• I don't need headphone output or balanced outputs – just solid RCA line-out

I'm particularly interested in DACs based on AK4493S or ES9038Q2M chips, but I'm open to suggestions if the features and sound are right.


I mostly listen to:

• Electronic,
• Pop/rock from the 70s–90s
• New wave, post-punk

So I'm looking for a DAC that sounds natural and musical, but with clarity and detail.


Any recommendations from the ASR community would be very much appreciated – especially for DACs that are known to work well with Raspberry Pi and support autostart behavior.


Thanks a lot!

How about this one?:

SMSL PS200 Budget DAC Review

This is a review and measurements of the SMSL PS200 stereo budget DAC. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $89.99. The unit comes in a lightweight plastic package which allows my rather stiff RCA test cables to yank on it. A simple toggle switch changes inputs. There is an indicator...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[EERecordist]

Welcome to ASR.

The best way to find a DAC here is to search titles for DAC review. Then read a recent review. There is a bar graph of all the ones tested by signal to noise and distortion. Then go from high to low reading reviews. The review usually has the price. The SMSL D-6s might fit your needs.

 

[ScummBar78]

Thank you very much for your recommendation!
The SMSL PS200 looks interesting and well-built, but I haven't been able to find a clear confirmation about whether it supports true auto-start (powering on automatically when 5V is applied via USB, without needing to press a button).
This feature is essential for my setup, as I want everything to power on together with the Raspberry Pi 4 using an ATXRaspi and a Meanwell 5V PSU.


In the meantime, I’ve been checking out other DACs like the Khadas Tone1 and the Topping E30 II Lite. Still trying to figure out what would be the most reliable and practical choice within my budget.


Thanks again for your help!

 

[MCH]

Thank you very much for your recommendation!
The SMSL PS200 looks interesting and well-built, but I haven't been able to find a clear confirmation about whether it supports true auto-start (powering on automatically when 5V is applied via USB, without needing to press a button).
This feature is essential for my setup, as I want everything to power on together with the Raspberry Pi 4 using an ATXRaspi and a Meanwell 5V PSU.


In the meantime, I’ve been checking out other DACs like the Khadas Tone1 and the Topping E30 II Lite. Still trying to figure out what would be the most reliable and practical choice within my budget.


Thanks again for your help!

If you mean that the DAC switches on when the RPI switches on, any hat DAC will do, will also be the smallest ones you'll have with RCA outputs. If trs instead of RCA works for you, a dongle DAC will also do and will be even smaller and cheaper.
Ps: btw, there are ways to boot and switch off the RPI 4 with a button with no atxraspi, just need to populate J2 header and activate it

 

[mermayer]

The Topping D10s works with all my Pi projects without problem.

 

[ScummBar78]

Thank you both for the input!

I’m specifically looking for an external DAC (not a HAT), because the whole system will be built inside a vintage radio case, and space/layout requires me to have RCA outputs going to the back panel.

About dongles: yes, they’re small and cheap, but I’d prefer something with a bit more headroom and potentially a proper DAC chip like AK4493S or ES9038Q2M, if possible within budget. Also, I already have a proper PSU (Meanwell 5V) and I’d like to use it for both the Pi and the DAC, ideally with auto-start (powering on when USB power is applied, without needing to press any button).

I had previously considered the SMSL SU-1, but I read that it doesn’t support auto-start, which is a deal-breaker for my setup.
The Topping D10s sounds interesting — I’ll definitely take a closer look at it!

Thanks again for the advice, it’s helping me narrow things down!

 

[MCH]

I’m specifically looking for an external DAC (not a HAT), because the whole system will be built inside a vintage radio case, and space/layout requires me to have RCA outputs going to the back panel.

A hat does not need to be sitting on top of the RPI, you can bring it wherever you want with a ribbon cable. (I get this isn't what you are looking for, just in case you had not thought about this possibility)

 

[rcstevensonaz]

Do you need volume control on the DAC?

If not, the D10S or D10B is a fantastic option (as @mermayer notes) since it is always on whenever the 5V power is present. To me, that that is a feature that I value — and is exactly why I no longer use my E30 II DAC.

However, you mentioned Auto On Standby Mode , which is not supported here. However, the host computer may be able to apply "low power mode when not in use" functionality to the USB port. I always disable that on Windows; and not sure whether such functionality is available in the RPi OS that you will be using.

[Corrected my typo: D10S/D10B has Auto On; but Standby Mode is not supported on the device]

 

[ScummBar78]

Thanks everyone for the clarifications! I’ll definitely take a closer look at the Topping D10.

 

[scrubb]

I can confirm that the Topping D10s and Schiit Modi both meet your qualifications, with the exception that they're both slightly above $100.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

I can confirm that the Topping D10s and Schiit Modi both meet your qualifications, with the exception that they're both slightly above $100.

If you don't mind waiting until Amazon Prime day, those units will likely be discounted below the 100 dollar / pound level.

 

[LDvo]

Could be this - Topping DX1 DAC/Amp based on AK4493S + XU208
Planty of info on this site
Powered by input USB-C 5V (not sure it this is acceptable for your project, but i like it)
Good inexpensive product from well-known brand - i like it a lot: no issues and great sound quality
Sometimes can be found on sale for $75-80

 

[boXem]

The Topping E30 has auto start/standby. The issue is that some players send 0s when not playing, which inhibits the auto standby functionality.

 

[ScummBar78]

Thanks everyone for the advice, it has been truly helpful and much appreciated!

 

[rcstevensonaz]

The Topping E30 has auto start/standby. The issue is that some players send 0s when not playing, which inhibits the auto standby functionality.

The E30 does not automatically come on after a power cycle. It will go automatically go into / out of standby mode while on; but if it loses power, you have to manually touch the front panel to get it to resume playing after power was restored.

For me, that was a challenge since the E30 was connected to a power strip I turn off nightly. But the laptop music source itself remained on at all times.

 

[boXem]

Oh, ok, the power is stable enough at my place so that I never noticed this.