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Devices => Sound Cards, DAC's, Receivers, Speakers, and Headphones => Topic started by: Dennis in FL on May 08, 2021, 06:39:30 am

Title: DAC under $500 recommendation
Post by: Dennis in FL on May 08, 2021, 06:39:30 am

Well.   I bought a Topping E30 and it lasted a couple of weeks and when I switched from Media Center to Amazon Music on my Mac...there was a horrible noise and it went silent.   I returned the unit and switched to an SMSL M300 and the same thing happened.   Now, I'm nervous....somehow I'm frying these DACs.   

But I have an Oppo DAC and for years, I've been doing the same thing and it never blew up like this.   The Oppo still works fine.   

I guess there are some engineering shortcuts in these cheaper DACs.   

Anyway, maybe I should spend a bit more. 

Any suggestions?   

Title: Re: DAC under $500 recommendation
Post by: Wheaten on May 08, 2021, 09:53:35 am

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/pro-ject-pre-box-s2-digital (€364)
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/ifi-zen-dac ($129)
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/cambridge-audio-dacmagic-200m ($499)

Title: Re: DAC under $500 recommendation
Post by: Dennis in FL on May 08, 2021, 11:39:54 am

Quote from: Wheaten on May 08, 2021, 09:53:35 am

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/pro-ject-pre-box-s2-digital (€364)
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/ifi-zen-dac ($129)
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/cambridge-audio-dacmagic-200m ($499)

Thanks….I found a new Chord Mojo for only $310.  Can’t pass that up.

Title: Mojo DAC
Post by: Dennis in FL on May 09, 2021, 02:50:28 am

Well, I said I can't pass that up (Chord Mojo), but what I'm doing is not a portable headphone dac/amp, but rather a standalone DAC.   I can't find any user comments who have plugged a Mojo into a receiver on a permanent basis - other than one comment that it has a design defect and makes screaching noises - fixable but you have to send it back to Chord. 

The DACMagic 200M would be a better fit although $200 more!!!   I'm going to reluctantly cancel the Mojo order today.  Too bad, a darn good price on the Mojo. 

Title: Re: DAC under $500 recommendation
Post by: Dennis in FL on May 10, 2021, 07:12:52 am

Update:

I had settled on the Cambridge 200M DAC you referenced and almost pulled the trigger when I read a flurry of negative comments from users on Audio Science.   I reluctantly ended up ordering the similar priced Gustard X16 (which may also have problems, who knows?)

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/gustard-x16-balanced-mqa-dac-review.17419/

Title: Re: DAC under $500 recommendation
Post by: Wheaten on May 10, 2021, 07:56:04 am

i've seen worse DAC's :-)