So when I fell down the headphone rabbit hole, I discovered a need for a good headphone DAC/amp. I spent days reading and comparing...learning what different DAC chips are used in what devices. I had a budget of 800.00 so I decided to take the two hour drive to a large stereo place in San Antonio. I took my two headphones, my kilobuck Focals and my Emotiva Airmotive GR1s, along with a thumb drive with some music.

I'm sure they got sick of my questions but they played along. I was set on an 800.00 tube DAC/amp, but it lacked a balanced input. A sales lady steered me over to the IFI display and showed me the iFi ZEN DAC V2. I kind of wrinkled my nose at the cheap price but then she hooked it up for me to listen. It didn't take me long to discover the ZEN DAC delivered every bit of sound quality the 2 tube DAC/amp did. And it had balanced input. That sales person screwed herself out of a lot of commission by pointing me to the ZEN DAC, and I appreciate it.

I still own the iFi ZEN DAC V2. Mo money doesn't always mean Mo better.

DACs have absolutely for me made the largest change to my system (for the better in most cases).  It started out as some cheap pc soundblaster DAC, then to a toppings dac, then to a SMSL,  now finally the XDA3

Extra SPDIF inputs allows flexibility with connecting streamers and Bluray/ CD players that might have the same digital outputs. Clever upgrade and necessary for some users.

Bought the MD1 as a desktop headphone setup and it's an amazing value as it prioritises sound quality over some of the features the all in one units such as the wiim.
For the price this really is a breakthrough product and to get much better sound you will need to spend $500.

I updated my comment from six months ago to... I love your content and thank you for your videos.

Very clarifying! Thank You!

I have a SONY audio/video control center
digital cinema sound cinema studio ex
It works flawlessly 24/7. A friend found it in a recycling place, took it for free, bought a new little piece for $2, and here it is! Forgot to tell you, he add a full set of old TEAC speakers that bought it from a garage sell for $20     how cool is that.

I only wanted a dac so I got an SMSL PS200. With the ESS9039Q2M chip, I’m getting great sound through my streamer and cd player/transport.

My favorite is still the D10s , no preamp, no filters, no color modes, and it has an optional out so you can use it as a D2D ( usb to toslink ). Only if smsl and topping made a top end version without all the extras stuff i'll never use.  I'd be ok with room correction though.

Most of these DAC's have digital volume controls on them. So to provide a volume controllable analog input would require either an A to D converter to be added, or to convert the volume control to analog. Either case would certainly add  cost to the product. Same for the HDMI input. That would require a separate HDMI decoder board. I also don't know if there are any licensing/payment issues involved for the manufacturer to include HDMI.  Bluesound does make streamer/dacs with both analog ins and HDMI, I believe.

I run my speakers through my PCs, old  Creative external sound card 24bit and through a 100w amp i got for 20 quid that has bluetooth and fm radio. In to amazon basics passive desktop  speakers.
Which are surprisingly good. I know you reviewed the powered version  but you should try review the passive ones. Look lovely with the wood sides.

AND a bluetooth remote on top of the HDMI and analog input that Randy wants in his target DAC.  I recently bought an SMSL D-6 and am really happy with it.  I run it with balanced cables to my preamp.  Amazing speed and detail.  This thing is quite different from my old Chord Qute and I think it is amazing - I wonder what this level of performance would have cost back when I bought my Chord DAC.  I was not "let down" at all.  I was not in the market for an analog in nor did i want HDMI.  I was in the market for a DAC and got way more than I expected.

Good video....  I don't find any need for a DAC... but am enjoying the little powerhouse: loxjie a30 recommended by Randy. Recently it's been moved from being a second amp on my stereo system, to my Desktop PC setup. Nice.  //  Thanks Randy.

Absolutely agree: hdmi, analog inputs with possibility to convert one of them to phono with RIAA (xlr and rca), eq, and a ladder volume control and thats it.

Great points... a couple of analog inputs and an HDMI eARC would be great..  I would add I2S using HDMI that can do up to DSD256 would be heaven.  All for $200 more !

Stay tuned to the end and I might say something you want to hear.

Thanks!

I don't need HDMI, but my brother does, since his entertainment is through the TV, not the PC like I do. So, I'm looking for a DAC with ARC for him. I have lots of speakers and big-assed power amps, so I'm ready to hook him up, but his cheap TV only has HDMI ARC output.

I just recently installed the Topping D70pro OCTO DAC to go with the Topping A90 Discrete headphone amp and all my 'phones sound incredible. I want my tin-eared brother to have that kind of sound quality, too.

I actually find the RAW-HA1 more interesting (and bought one recently).  It is pretty much an "all in one" for $40 or so less.  It has your hdmi that you miss on this unit.  It is also a speaker amp with sub out as well as rca inputs if you want to use a different dac.  The main thing I notice on mine, is that if I use my Schiit Modi dac through the rca inputs, I can run the amp at a lower setting for the same audible volume output.  The Modi must just be a little "hotter" with the output signal.

Have you tried or heard of the Arylic BP50 (all in “1” phono pre amp) with DAC, ARC, OPT, COAX, Bluetooth and my favorite, dual rca outputs…I’ve paired this with the Aiyima T2 6K4 upgrade (has dual rca outs unlike the T1 Pro) tube pre amp going into Edifier R1700BTS w/ T5 Subwoofer.

Now all my devices can connect via Bluetooth or direct even with a Roku TV using the wireless headphones connection…

Thanks for teaching me so much this past week
☮️&🤟🏾