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Best Bang for your Buck DAC ?

I just realized I’m in the market for a DAC , I don’t want to spend a fortune on a DAC either . I picked up a drangonfly cobalt a while back and am unimpressed  so I moved it to my CPU and sounds really good on my system there which when I bought it figured I would do anyway since it was my first DAC purchase . There are so many DACs I have no clue , how high up on the returns chart can I go at say $1,000 before I run into heavy Diminished returns resistance. I’m open to buying used . I was thinking about a Schitt made in the states ? Anyone’s take on best bang for buck DACs? 
ngiordano
ncdogdoc
33 posts
 
You mentioned computer. Do you need DSD on the DAC? If not, then if you can find a used Massdrop Airist R2R dac. It took an MSB to better it from the musicality aspect. I tried against PS Audio Stellar Gain DAC and Mytek Brooklyn DAC, which was a close second, plus did DSD.
s1nn3r's avatar
s1nn3r
162 posts
 
Surprisingly the S.M.S.L is really good bang for the buck.
alexleatham
8 posts
 
Bought an SMSL M-400 for about $810 and it is amazing!  
It doesn't sound as good as my Chord Hugh TT2 but it comes pretty close in many respects and costs a fraction of the price.
I also own and agree with you on the Audioquest Dragon.

mickeyb
585 posts
 
Chord qutest. About 1500. Very nice. 
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,635 posts
 
The SHD Studio is a digital front end - streamer, DSP headphone amp, input selector - NO DAC.

George  
I don't need to read those reviews. 
Or reread them.
I only reported a NON reviewers experience.
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