I'd like of try making a list of all DACs under $450, and maybe some that are a hair over. This is a pretty ridiculous task, but I am a little OCD. I have to try.
My reason for going with $450 as my magic number, and not something more generic like $500, is because of the Cambridge Audio DAC Magic's is current retail price. Its popularity and good reviews had me sure that I would get one, but I had more research to do.
DIY DACs are included. Anything meant only for portable use has been mostly excluded (i.e. it has only headphone jacks). I am also including USB to Digital Out Converters and Wireless Transports. I expanded the list to include some DACs over $450, but under $1000, just because I ran across them, but I am not actively seeking them out.
Of course, I'm sure this has been done before. There are some lists and some guides out there too. Here goes! Help appreciated. Put in a good word if you own one of these. I'll try to update this with links and prices whenever I have time.
* * *
Under $150
Tianyun Zero (USB, AD1852, headphone, thread)
Jolida Glass FX DAC Mini (USB only, PCM2702)
LiTe DAC-Ah (NOS, 8xTDA1543, review, pg. 8, thread, page)
Firestone Audio Fubar II (USB only, PCM2702, review)
Super Pro 707 (USB, CS4398)
HRT Music Streamer (USB only, PCM1744, review)
NuForce Icon uDAC-2 (USB, headphone)
Twisted Pear Opus or COD (DIY, WM8741/PCM1794A, thread)
Gigawork LM-DAC3 (DIY, USB, CS4398, thread)
Toole Audio BantamDAC (DIY, USB only, PCM2702, thread)
Mute Audio GrubDAC (DIY, USB only, WM8524, thread)
AlienDAC (DIY, USB only, PCM2702, PCB, thread)
AMB y1 or y2 (DIY, 3.5mm, USB, WM8501/WM8759, thread)
Analog Metric "Greendac" kit (DIY, TDA1541A)
Analog Metric "Greendac" (DIY, page, TDA1541A)
Raindrop Hui AD1865N-K black (DIY, NOS, page, AD1865N-K)
Raindrop Hui Tube DAC (DIY, NOS, tube, 8xTDA1543)
DDDAC USB 1543 (DIY, NOS, USB, TDA1543)
Scott Nixon DacKit & USBdk2 (DIY, USB)
ezDAC (DIY, PCM1794/PCM1798)
Monica p2p wired (DIY, TDA1545A)
Under $250
XiangSheng DAC-01A (tube, USB, headphone, see Grant Fidelity)
Maverick Tube Magic D1 (tube, USB, headphone, AK review)
Aune Mini MK2 (USB, headphone, PCM1793, review)
VALAB v2.5 (NOS, 8xTDA1543, USB, review, thread 1, thread 2, see PV Fathom, see TeraDak, a.k.a. Gigalab Moon)
Yulong Crystal DA (USB, headphone, PCM2704)
Zhaolu D2.5 (headphone, CS4398)
Blue Circle USB Thingee (USB, headphone)
Firestone Audio Fubar I-O (ADC, USB only, PCM2902)
Firestone Audio Fubar III (USB only, headphone, PCM2702)
Pro-Ject USB Box (USB only)
E-MU 0404 (ADC, USB, headphone, AK4396, review)
Presonus Inspire 1394 (ADC, FW, headphone)
Edirol UA-25 (ADC, USB, headphone)
Pop Pulse UII (USB)
Pop Pulse 1796 (USB, PCM1796)
Raindrop Hui 2x TDA1541A blue (DIY, NOS, 2xTDA1541A)
Raindrop Hui 2x AD1865 red (DIY, NOS, 2xAD1865)
Twisted Pear Buffalo II (DIY, thread, ES9018)
Audio Sector DAC (USB or SPDIF, thread, TDA1543)
Under $350
VALAB v4.0 (USB, 8xTDA1543)
Beresford TC-7520 (headphone, USB, review, pg. 14)
Beresford TC-7520SE Caiman (headphone, USB, WM8716)
Grant Fidelity Tube DAC-09 (USB, headphone, tube, see XiangSheng)
Matrix mini-i (USB, headphone, 2xAD1955, review, pg. 29)
Mood Lab Concept (NOS, TDA1543)
Audio gd Compass (USB, headphone, AD1852, thread)
Audio gd DAC 200 (USB, AD1852)
Zhaolu D3 (CS4398)
Little Dot DAC (USB, balanced, WM8740, product website down, thread)
Musical Fidelity VDAC (USB, DSD1792, review 1, review 2)
Yulong DAH1 MkII (USB, headphone, review)
LiTe DAC-Ah Modified (NOS, 8xTDA1543)
Firestone Audio Spitfire (PCM1793)
Behringer Ultramatch Pro SRC2496 (AK4393)
Edirol FA-66 (ADC, FW, headphone)
HRT Music Streamer + (USB only, PCM1794, review)
KECES DA-131 (PCM1793)
Raindrop Hui "Bloodac" (DIY, NOS, page, 4xTDA1541A)
DDDAC 1543mk2 (DIY, NOS, USB, 12xTDA1543)
Under $450
Cambridge Audio DAC Magic (USB, balanced, review 1, review 2, thread, 2xTDA1305)
TeraDak Chameleon v4.5 (USB, 16xTDA1543, thread)
Diyeden Musiland MD-10 (USB, headphone, CS4398, review)
Zhaolu D3.5 (USB, 2xPCM1738)
Dugood DAC3W (USB, balanced, AK4394)
Firestone Audio Fubar IV Plus (USB, headphone, CS4344)
Behringer Ultracurve Pro DEQ2496 (AK4393)
KECES DA-151 (USB only, review, thread)
Devilsound (USB only, PCM2706, review)
MHDT Constantine (+)
Scott Nixon Chibi Dac & USBchibi2 (DIY, USB)
Scott Nixon USB.UFO.JF (DIY, USB only)
diyparadise Monica (DIY, NOS, sold out)
DDDAC 1543mk2 (DIY, NOS, USB, 24xTDA1543)
EC Designs TDA1543, resistors, superclock (DIY, I2S only, TDA1543)
Under $1000
Channel Islands VDA-2 (PCM1794)
Music Hall dac25.2 (USB, tube, PCM1796, review)
Promitheus (TDA1545A, review)
dAck! (NOS)
Moodlab Dice (NOS, USB, TDA1543)
MHDT Paradisea 3 (review)
MHDT Havana
Stello DA100 (USB, balanced, AK4395)
Benchmark DAC1 (balanced, AD1853)
Audio Note DAC 2.0 (DIY, NOS, tube, AD1865)
K&K RAKK (DIY, PCM1794)
Scott Nixon USB.UFO.JF2.2 & TD2.2 (DIY, USB, tube)
DDDAC 1543mk2 (DIY, NOS, USB, 60xTDA1543)
ackoDAC (DIY, thread, ES9018)
EC Designs TDA1541A, resistors, superclock (DIY, thread, TDA1541A)
Satch DAC kit (DIY, TDA1541A)
Possible Used Deals Under $450
Musical Fidelity X-24K (PCM1716)
USB to Digital Out Converters Under $450
HA INFO NG COAX
Trends Audio UD-10 (review)
Behringer UCA202
Diyeden Musiland Monitor (thread)
Pop Pulse PC LinkII
M-Audio Transit (review, 3.5mm)
M2Tech HiFace Asynchronous USB
XMOS Asynchronous USB (DIY)
AMB y1 (DIY)
Hagerman Technology HagUSB (DIY)
Wireless Transports Under $450
Apple Airport Express (mini optical)
Logitech Squeezebox Touch
Sonos ZonePlayer 90
DuGood WDDC Wireless USB to SPDIF
Pop Pulse PC Link Wireless
TeraDak TeraLink
Sources
http://stores.ebay.com/TAMS-AUDIO - Tam's Audio eBay Store
http://stores.ebay.com/waiwaivalvecompany - Wai Wai Valve Co. eBay Store
http://stores.ebay.com/shenzhenaudiostore - Shenzhen eBay Store
http://stores.ebay.com/vintageaudiolab - Vintage Audio Lab eBay Store (VALAB)
http://myworld.ebay.com/raindrop_hui/ - Raindrop Hui, eBay listings
http://myworld.ebay.com/zycamaniac/ - zycamaniac, eBay listings (Keces)
http://www.pacificvalve.us/ - Pacific Valve, Diyeden Musiland, Audio gd, Matrix, Moodlab, XiangSheng, Yulong, LiTe
http://mall.hifidiy.net/ - Aune, HifiDIY.net kits
http://www.audioadvisor.com/ - DAC Magic, VDAC, HRT
http://www.audiophilechina.com/ - Little Dot, Diyeden Musiland, Tianyun Zero, Zhaolu, Matrix, Yulong
http://www.audiophileproducts.com/ - Firestone Audio
http://diykits.com.hk/ - Wai Wai Valve Co.
http://www.cryo-parts.com/ - Pop Pulse, HRT, Zhaolu, Music Hall, Super Pro
http://www.ecdesigns.nl/modules - EC Designs assembled DAC modules, SD transport
http://www.dddac.de/ - Doede Duoma, DDDAC kits
http://www.twistedpearaudio.com/ - Twisted Pear Audio kits
http://www.amb.org/ - AMB Audio kits
http://www.audionotekits.com/ - Audio Note kits
http://www.kandkaudio.com/digitalaudio.html - K&K Audio kits
http://www.analogmetric.com/ - Analog Metric kits
DAC Chip Reference
http://www.vasiltech.nm.ru/files/cd-players/CD-Player-DAC-Transport.htm
My reason for going with $450 as my magic number, and not something more generic like $500, is because of the Cambridge Audio DAC Magic's is current retail price. Its popularity and good reviews had me sure that I would get one, but I had more research to do.
DIY DACs are included. Anything meant only for portable use has been mostly excluded (i.e. it has only headphone jacks). I am also including USB to Digital Out Converters and Wireless Transports. I expanded the list to include some DACs over $450, but under $1000, just because I ran across them, but I am not actively seeking them out.
Of course, I'm sure this has been done before. There are some lists and some guides out there too. Here goes! Help appreciated. Put in a good word if you own one of these. I'll try to update this with links and prices whenever I have time.
* * *
Under $150
Tianyun Zero (USB, AD1852, headphone, thread)
Jolida Glass FX DAC Mini (USB only, PCM2702)
LiTe DAC-Ah (NOS, 8xTDA1543, review, pg. 8, thread, page)
Firestone Audio Fubar II (USB only, PCM2702, review)
Super Pro 707 (USB, CS4398)
HRT Music Streamer (USB only, PCM1744, review)
NuForce Icon uDAC-2 (USB, headphone)
Twisted Pear Opus or COD (DIY, WM8741/PCM1794A, thread)
Gigawork LM-DAC3 (DIY, USB, CS4398, thread)
Toole Audio BantamDAC (DIY, USB only, PCM2702, thread)
Mute Audio GrubDAC (DIY, USB only, WM8524, thread)
AlienDAC (DIY, USB only, PCM2702, PCB, thread)
AMB y1 or y2 (DIY, 3.5mm, USB, WM8501/WM8759, thread)
Analog Metric "Greendac" kit (DIY, TDA1541A)
Analog Metric "Greendac" (DIY, page, TDA1541A)
Raindrop Hui AD1865N-K black (DIY, NOS, page, AD1865N-K)
Raindrop Hui Tube DAC (DIY, NOS, tube, 8xTDA1543)
DDDAC USB 1543 (DIY, NOS, USB, TDA1543)
Scott Nixon DacKit & USBdk2 (DIY, USB)
ezDAC (DIY, PCM1794/PCM1798)
Monica p2p wired (DIY, TDA1545A)
Under $250
XiangSheng DAC-01A (tube, USB, headphone, see Grant Fidelity)
Maverick Tube Magic D1 (tube, USB, headphone, AK review)
Aune Mini MK2 (USB, headphone, PCM1793, review)
VALAB v2.5 (NOS, 8xTDA1543, USB, review, thread 1, thread 2, see PV Fathom, see TeraDak, a.k.a. Gigalab Moon)
Yulong Crystal DA (USB, headphone, PCM2704)
Zhaolu D2.5 (headphone, CS4398)
Blue Circle USB Thingee (USB, headphone)
Firestone Audio Fubar I-O (ADC, USB only, PCM2902)
Firestone Audio Fubar III (USB only, headphone, PCM2702)
Pro-Ject USB Box (USB only)
E-MU 0404 (ADC, USB, headphone, AK4396, review)
Presonus Inspire 1394 (ADC, FW, headphone)
Edirol UA-25 (ADC, USB, headphone)
Pop Pulse UII (USB)
Pop Pulse 1796 (USB, PCM1796)
Raindrop Hui 2x TDA1541A blue (DIY, NOS, 2xTDA1541A)
Raindrop Hui 2x AD1865 red (DIY, NOS, 2xAD1865)
Twisted Pear Buffalo II (DIY, thread, ES9018)
Audio Sector DAC (USB or SPDIF, thread, TDA1543)
Under $350
VALAB v4.0 (USB, 8xTDA1543)
Beresford TC-7520 (headphone, USB, review, pg. 14)
Beresford TC-7520SE Caiman (headphone, USB, WM8716)
Grant Fidelity Tube DAC-09 (USB, headphone, tube, see XiangSheng)
Matrix mini-i (USB, headphone, 2xAD1955, review, pg. 29)
Mood Lab Concept (NOS, TDA1543)
Audio gd Compass (USB, headphone, AD1852, thread)
Audio gd DAC 200 (USB, AD1852)
Zhaolu D3 (CS4398)
Little Dot DAC (USB, balanced, WM8740, product website down, thread)
Musical Fidelity VDAC (USB, DSD1792, review 1, review 2)
Yulong DAH1 MkII (USB, headphone, review)
LiTe DAC-Ah Modified (NOS, 8xTDA1543)
Firestone Audio Spitfire (PCM1793)
Behringer Ultramatch Pro SRC2496 (AK4393)
Edirol FA-66 (ADC, FW, headphone)
HRT Music Streamer + (USB only, PCM1794, review)
KECES DA-131 (PCM1793)
Raindrop Hui "Bloodac" (DIY, NOS, page, 4xTDA1541A)
DDDAC 1543mk2 (DIY, NOS, USB, 12xTDA1543)
Under $450
Cambridge Audio DAC Magic (USB, balanced, review 1, review 2, thread, 2xTDA1305)
TeraDak Chameleon v4.5 (USB, 16xTDA1543, thread)
Diyeden Musiland MD-10 (USB, headphone, CS4398, review)
Zhaolu D3.5 (USB, 2xPCM1738)
Dugood DAC3W (USB, balanced, AK4394)
Firestone Audio Fubar IV Plus (USB, headphone, CS4344)
Behringer Ultracurve Pro DEQ2496 (AK4393)
KECES DA-151 (USB only, review, thread)
Devilsound (USB only, PCM2706, review)
MHDT Constantine (+)
Scott Nixon Chibi Dac & USBchibi2 (DIY, USB)
Scott Nixon USB.UFO.JF (DIY, USB only)
diyparadise Monica (DIY, NOS, sold out)
DDDAC 1543mk2 (DIY, NOS, USB, 24xTDA1543)
EC Designs TDA1543, resistors, superclock (DIY, I2S only, TDA1543)
Under $1000
Channel Islands VDA-2 (PCM1794)
Music Hall dac25.2 (USB, tube, PCM1796, review)
Promitheus (TDA1545A, review)
dAck! (NOS)
Moodlab Dice (NOS, USB, TDA1543)
MHDT Paradisea 3 (review)
MHDT Havana
Stello DA100 (USB, balanced, AK4395)
Benchmark DAC1 (balanced, AD1853)
Audio Note DAC 2.0 (DIY, NOS, tube, AD1865)
K&K RAKK (DIY, PCM1794)
Scott Nixon USB.UFO.JF2.2 & TD2.2 (DIY, USB, tube)
DDDAC 1543mk2 (DIY, NOS, USB, 60xTDA1543)
ackoDAC (DIY, thread, ES9018)
EC Designs TDA1541A, resistors, superclock (DIY, thread, TDA1541A)
Satch DAC kit (DIY, TDA1541A)
Possible Used Deals Under $450
Musical Fidelity X-24K (PCM1716)
USB to Digital Out Converters Under $450
HA INFO NG COAX
Trends Audio UD-10 (review)
Behringer UCA202
Diyeden Musiland Monitor (thread)
Pop Pulse PC LinkII
M-Audio Transit (review, 3.5mm)
M2Tech HiFace Asynchronous USB
XMOS Asynchronous USB (DIY)
AMB y1 (DIY)
Hagerman Technology HagUSB (DIY)
Wireless Transports Under $450
Apple Airport Express (mini optical)
Logitech Squeezebox Touch
Sonos ZonePlayer 90
DuGood WDDC Wireless USB to SPDIF
Pop Pulse PC Link Wireless
TeraDak TeraLink
Sources
http://stores.ebay.com/TAMS-AUDIO - Tam's Audio eBay Store
http://stores.ebay.com/waiwaivalvecompany - Wai Wai Valve Co. eBay Store
http://stores.ebay.com/shenzhenaudiostore - Shenzhen eBay Store
http://stores.ebay.com/vintageaudiolab - Vintage Audio Lab eBay Store (VALAB)
http://myworld.ebay.com/raindrop_hui/ - Raindrop Hui, eBay listings
http://myworld.ebay.com/zycamaniac/ - zycamaniac, eBay listings (Keces)
http://www.pacificvalve.us/ - Pacific Valve, Diyeden Musiland, Audio gd, Matrix, Moodlab, XiangSheng, Yulong, LiTe
http://mall.hifidiy.net/ - Aune, HifiDIY.net kits
http://www.audioadvisor.com/ - DAC Magic, VDAC, HRT
http://www.audiophilechina.com/ - Little Dot, Diyeden Musiland, Tianyun Zero, Zhaolu, Matrix, Yulong
http://www.audiophileproducts.com/ - Firestone Audio
http://diykits.com.hk/ - Wai Wai Valve Co.
http://www.cryo-parts.com/ - Pop Pulse, HRT, Zhaolu, Music Hall, Super Pro
http://www.ecdesigns.nl/modules - EC Designs assembled DAC modules, SD transport
http://www.dddac.de/ - Doede Duoma, DDDAC kits
http://www.twistedpearaudio.com/ - Twisted Pear Audio kits
http://www.amb.org/ - AMB Audio kits
http://www.audionotekits.com/ - Audio Note kits
http://www.kandkaudio.com/digitalaudio.html - K&K Audio kits
http://www.analogmetric.com/ - Analog Metric kits
DAC Chip Reference
http://www.vasiltech.nm.ru/files/cd-players/CD-Player-DAC-Transport.htm
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