Measurements of a $5 DAC

[Mnyb]

All good DACs sound the same.
So if a DAC sounds different, it's not a good DAC.

Best summary ever

 

[anioq]

DAC sounds WARM! A++++ Highly recommended.

 

[johny_2000]

I found the manufacturer of this DAC
Photos from the tour of the FiiO factory.

 

[antcollinet]

I found the manufacturer of this DAC

Or the manufacture of another copy of that design.
Or the original manufacturer who created the design where the one measured here was not from them.

(If you look on Amazon/ebay/aliexpress you'll find many identical looking devices from different manufacturers)


Put it another way - you cannot (necessarily) pin the weaknesses of this device on Fiio.

 

[MCH]

I found the manufacturer of this DAC
Photos from the tour of the FiiO factory.

View attachment 408773

View attachment 408774

That's the fiio D3. It is different inside:

Inside FiiO D3

More on Fiio D3 Power supply tweaks: [link] Fiio D3 Mods: [link] Update 10/26/12 3.3V or 5V OPERATION? According to the datasheet, the Cirrus 4344 DAC can operate at 3.3V and at 5V. At 5V operation…

hifiduino.wordpress.com

 

[johny_2000]

That's the fiio D3. It is different inside

You are right. This is a more sophisticated device.

 

[mkii]

Good ones will.

Until you put them into a different surroundings/setup and difference suddenly appears..
That bring's us to the basic facts to measure the whole setup and not just a single component in it, isn't it?

 

[antcollinet]

Until you put them into a different surroundings/setup and difference suddenly appears..
That bring's us to the basic facts to measure the whole setup and not just a single component in it, isn't it?

Not really. An audibly transparent (flat FR, & inaudble noise and distortion) device will have inaudible noise and distortion whether it is in an excellent performing system or a poor performing one.

 

[bachatero]

I have a DAC very similar in look to this one but I tested it today and it came out with a SINAD of around 74dB (not bad compared to 62) and I couldn't find anything wrong with its frequency response. That suggests that there are many versions of this thing, anybody else have another variation?

 

[Jimster480]

Very nice little review, it shows that some of these cheap products sold on internet stores are really just total junk.

 

[Jimster480]

It actually doesn't look so bad for $5.... not sure what the use would be but it does produce sound....

 

[Count Dacula]

I plug into my Hisense TVs headphone jack to feed the mains ,and as a back-up in case the DAC won't sync for my wife. I tell you, it drives >2v and sounds great and full, right next to my ARCAM Burr-Brown.