jl35
Thanks, I guess they all use the same stuff so I'll have to make a mess with a repeater. I see lots of "best" you-tubes on repeaters but not a single one did any testing of range or even if the frequencies match. I am used to my TV. AVR, DVD, STB, etc that work across wall bounces from across the room. I thought IR problems had been worked out 10 years ago.
Jeff,
I think RME might object to being called a cheap brand as they are a semi-pro company out of Germany. A step above Focusrite and two above Behringer. They have wider distribution through folks like Sweetwater. Their DAC is about $1200 which I do not consider cheap. Not boutique, but not cheap. My JDS is cheap.@ $99. An Apple dongle is cheap @ $9. Both good DACs.
Topping and SMSL are of course the 800 pound CH-FI gorillas, though they make $1000 products now so cheap may not be a good blanket statement anymore. The DX3... is cheap at $200. Fit and finish is now quite good and at least this one did not have the compatibility issues or the glitches the ones I tried a couple years ago had. 4 went back to Amazon. Reason: "crap" That is when I bought my Schiit and JDS. It is at least good enough that after reducing the input by 3 dB, they don't have the old cursed "digital edge". High end headphone users may think their resolution is lacking, but not sure on speakers there is much difference. But what do I know. I only listen to them instead of reading hyperbola on slick sheets and of course they must sound terrible as a 6 inch generic USB cable can't possibly compete with a 1M cable made of mono-crystal-directional 9-9's silver that costs $50,000. They don't even have a tube in them. 🤣
Not suggesting there are not better sounding DACs. There are for sure are though get a bit pricy. Chord, Denafrips, Mola Mola, etc. I am on the fence if I can justify 2K for a DAC no matter how good it is. Maybe. But then I have to buy a preamp with a remote and extra stages don't improve the sound.
