Looking for a Cheap DAC?

Why would you get disc player just to use its DAC? If you don't need a transport, for a relatively modest price you can get a Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus. I've been using one with my old CD player and its pretty decent. I just replaced the wall wart that came with the unit with a regulated linear DC power supply and it gave it a nice little boost in dynamics.  

I have a DACmagic Plus now. I hear there are better DACs out now, including the Oppo Sonica, which will also play CDs, SADs, and video.

less clutter; more SQ

Wait for the new iFi Micro iDSD with MQA capabilities -

Hi Randy,

I do not own a Sonica DAC but can assure you that it does not play SACD (I assume that’s what you meant by "SADs"?) and does not do video.

SACD is a proprietary DSD format that is designed to protect against copying raw DSD files (pirating). Same with DVD-A, BluRay audio, etc. Some players (not DACs) like the better Oppo’s and my MW Sony 5400ES do offer HDMI output to allow transfer of raw DSD files from SACD (prior to D to A conversion) to an external processor that has the required HDMI input connection and HDMI copy protection protocol to avoid unauthorized copying of the raw DSD file from SACD. The Sonica is not one of those external processors.

The Sonica DAC does not have an I2S input (often uses the same connector as HDMI) so there is really no reason to be even mildly confused about its input capabilities from a SACD player with an HDMI DSD output.

The Sonica DAC does offer an impressive array of resolutions to utilize during playback via 1) streaming (which you proclaim to abhor) from a suitable streaming device, 2) purchased and downloaded hi-rez files, or 3) from a suitable storage device/server that already contains such content.

Maybe a little more time learning about how all this works would be a good idea before settling on any of the more technically up-to-date DACs out there.

Best to you Randy,
Dave