Is this the akm or ess one that's measured here, and which should I get? Im looking to get a good desktop dac with rca out that doubles as a headphone dac with 3.5mm out as well for around 200 bucks.
EDIT: Ignore this, figured it out.
Anyone who came here to ask the same question this is for the newer one. The older one is cheaper and reviewed here:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...d30-dac-and-headphone-amplifier-review.16679/
EDIT2: Man this was out of my budget, but I cant find the cheaper akm version anywhere.
I also needed to buy a headphone dac anyways and a clean low noise power supply cause my system and old d10 was picking up a ton of noise for some reason in my new house (old house had no issues with noise).
So that would have been around 40-80 for a linear power supply (though I could probably find something less fancy and good enough for less), 130+ for a good dac that can take power from an auxillary power source (like the smsl sanskrit 10th mk2 or topping e30) cause my usb power is even noisier for some reason (lol if i even move my mouse or get any gpu/cpu usage my speakers go brrrr, and that was with a topping d10 too before I sold it), and another 100 for a good headphone dac (or I guess I could skimp for a cheaper good enough one but then I would just end up wanting to upgrade it later on).
At this point I realized why don't I just get something that has all three.. like the loxjie d30. So I ordered one off hifi-express for $255. While out of my initial budget for a desktop dac, I realized it
does fit my budget for a desktop dac, headphone amp and low noise power supper, all while being better than any combination of those things I could have got for $255 or less.
The akm version one would have been more ideal at its cheaper price but at least I won't have to upgrade for a very long time now that I've splurged a little for something pretty much top end.
Also I know a lot of us like to say nobody needs anything like a good power supply or anything like that but I've learned the hard way that isnt true. I think the closer truth is
most people dont need one. Im sure a clean power source wont make a difference for most people but sadly my system and power outlet beg to differ
. It's not just a matter of having a dac with good noise rejection sometimes, unless the topping D10 I had doesnt count.
There is one con to getting the new D30 I just realized.. by buying this we support the scam known as MQA sadly. Nothing wrong with MQA in itself, but the marketing, especially Tidal's is really predatory and inaccurate. Tidal is shit anyways.