The Best DACs on a Budget
Table of Contents
Let’s paint a picture: your absolute favourite artist is about to release a new album at midnight. You make sure you’re caffeinated enough to stay up to download it immediately and enjoy it before anyone else. Midnight. Download. You hit play. What is that buzzing? You plug headphones in — it persists. Let’s fast forward and now we know that’s not the ports, cables, or speakers and headphones. Maybe it’s the sound chip? Either way, an easier workaround than sending your computer or sound system off to get fixed is something called a DAC — a digital to analog converter.
A DAC is already incorporated into your devices that have built-in speakers or are meant to put out sound of any kind. Essentially, it takes the music or audio file and makes the file audible. There are many reasons why you’d want to invest in a DAC so we’ve put together a list of the best budget DACs so you can get better audio quality without breaking the bank. After you browse through the selections, we’ll go into some more detail about the benefits of various I/Os, and more.
1. Editor’s Pick: SMSL M100 MKII
- Three digital filters when using DSD Mode
- Very compact design for easy portability
- Audio experts say the performance of this Budget DAC is better than it’s price would suggest
- Some buyers have reported difficulty getting their computers configured properly
Key Specs
Inputs: | USB, Optical, Coaxial |
Outputs: | RCA |
Product Dimensions: | 5.5 x 5.5 x 9.3 cm |
Product Weight: | 258g |
Redesigned for even better listening; this will get most everyone the sound they’re looking for. This sleek and cool designed budget DAC from SMSL offers a great choice for anyone looking to get noise reduction and improved quality in their sound output. SMSL was able to reduce the total harmonic distortion (THD) from 0.0008 per cent to 0.0003 percent, which means the signal coming from the source (your computer, etc.) is much cleaner. With ultra-low phase noise clocks and a bunch of high end materials like gold-plated terminals, the output is basically impeccable.
2. Runner Up: TOPPING E30
- Performs just as well (if not better) than pricier models, say audio experts
- It offers incredible sound stage size so you can really feel the depth of the music
- One of the best midrange performances in the Budget DAC market
- When using the USB connection, the sound may be greatly affected by your computer’s USB port — you may have to see which ports sound best
Key Specs
Inputs: | USB, Optical, Coaxial |
Outputs: | RCA |
Product Dimensions: | 21.21 x 15.01 x 6.71 cm |
Product Weight: | 500g |
Versatility and a compact design make this perfect for any home entertainment system. Audio experts have tested this budget DAC with streaming services, video game consoles, and will work perfectly with your existing speakers and even headphones. Because it works as a pre-amplifier as well, it takes only a few seconds to switch it to DAC mode where the screen will show you the sample rate for easy user experience. The DAC chip, the AK4493, is from a premium line of chips which offers Velvet Sound Technology for the ultimate natural and lifelike sound.
3. Best Portable: TNP AMP_A1437
- Can be used with TVs that have optical out
- Impressive soundstage that fits right in your pocket
- Some devices will require additional drivers before use
Key Specs
Inputs: | USB |
Outputs: | ⅛” headphone jack |
Product Dimensions: | 11.43 x 10.92 x 5.08 cm |
Product Weight: | 159.32g |
Technically not a dedicated DAC, but this combination device will allow you to get the most out of your smartphone. This palm-sized headphone amp/DAC combo is perfect when you’re just looking to use it with your smartphone, computer, tablet, or even an mp3 player (if you still have one of those). To power it, you have your choice between plugging it into a wall outlet, or, simply pop in some batteries for better, clearer music and podcasts while you’re out and about.
4. Sleeper Pick: SUCA-AUDIO Q5
- The headphone output is designed for studio-grade headphones through cheap earbuds
- Fantastic low distortion and low jitter
- Also compatible gaming consoles, DVD and Blu Ray players, etc.
- Some buyers report that when you pause your content, the DAC has to be reconnected to continue using
Key Specs
Inputs: | USB, Optical, Coaxial |
Outputs: | RCA, ¼” headphone jack |
Product Dimensions: | 29.21 x 15.24 x 5.59 cm |
Product Weight: | 454g |
This sophisticated budget DAC is perfect for enjoying your music collection through an impressive speaker system or headphones for private listening.
Using nothing but professional chips, it pairs great with any active speakers to fill your space with improved and clean sound, as well as your favourite studio headphones with a ¼” jack, but don’t worry, if your headphones have an ⅛” jack, SUCA-AUDIO provides an adapter so that you don’t have to worry about buying more to get the most out of it.
5. Smallest DAC: FiiO D3
- Very impressive low jitter
- Comes with an optical cable so you don’t have to worry about buying additional cables
- Sample rates up to 192 kHz at 24-bit resolution
- Some buyers don’t notice improvement in the low frequencies
Key Specs
Inputs: | Optical, Coaxial |
Outputs: | RCA |
Product Dimensions: | 6.2 x 2.1 x 4.9 cm |
Products Weight: | 50g |
If you just want to clean up your sound and don’t want to spend anymore than necessary then this is for you. This is the smallest DAC on our list and it’ll get you just the basics — but don't worry because the basics are pretty good! With RCA output, these are perfect to add to your powered speakers in your home entertainment system or even just your home studio. When using it with your TV setup these will work with your cable and satellite boxes, streaming services, gaming consoles, etc.
6. Best High End: Audioengine D1 24-Bit DAC
- USB powered, so it’s easy to use anywhere with a laptop
- Plug in and play, so setting it up is a breeze
- Is an improvement to many soundcards already installed on your computer
- Warm sound quality that’s full of depth
- Expensive
Key Specs
Inputs: | USB, Optical |
Outputs: | RCA, headphone jack |
Product Dimensions: | 8.89 x 9.53 x 2.54 cm |
Product Weight: | 249.48g |
This one might be a little outside the realm of a budget pick, but it’s still a great option to consider, thanks to its build quality, good performance, and the fact that it comes from a reputable audio manufacturer. This model works with both Mac and PC computers, and you won’t need to install a driver for either so it’s easy to set up just by plugging it in. You can connect either your headphones or speakers to use it with, and the audio quality will be warm and rich no matter which one you choose.
7. Also Consider: Fosi Audio Q4 Mini Stereo DAC
- Works well with most computers and gaming consoles
- Easy to set up and use
- Gives you lots of control over your sound
- Great build quality
- Some buyers had trouble balancing their audio
Key Specs
Inputs: | USB, Optical, Coaxial, |
Outputs: | RCA, 3.5mm headphone jack |
Product Dimensions: | 19.4 x 15.5 x 7.1 cm |
Product Weight: | 410g |
This DAC is affordably priced and comes with a wide variety of input and output connective options, so it should be easy to hook it up in your current system whether you’re using headphones or speakers. On the front of the box you’ll find knobs that can control the bass and treble of your sound, which is ultra-convenient. One thing to note is that if you have speakers with 8 ohms or that use more than 50W of power, you might be better off with a different DAC, because this one might not be able to power them enough.
8. Best USB DAC: FiiO E10K USB DAC
- Feels high quality, and isn’t likely to scratch or break
- Gives you control over your sound, especially the bass
- Lightweight and portable
- Great value for the price you pay
- Not as many connective options as other DACs
Key Specs
Inputs: | Micro-USB |
Outputs: | Coaxial, 1/8” line output, 1/8” headphone jack |
Product Dimensions: | 2.1 x 4.9 x 7.9 cm |
Product Weight: | 77g |
Here’s another affordable option to consider from FiiO, which is as portable and sturdy as it gets. Its circuitry is optimized for a low noise floor, and it has both a selectable bass boost and low-pass filter, which you can use to alter the sound to your preferred state. We’re also loving the shell on this one, which is made from aluminum and feels durable in your hands, and the fact that it’s easy to stash in your bag and bring around with you, thanks to its compact size and lightweight construction.
Tips & Tricks
I/O: USB, Coaxial, Optical? RCA, ¼”, ⅛”?It’s always best to know how you’ll want to use your budget DAC, and while this rule usually applies to many home tech gadgets this is extra important here because of the inputs and outputs.
While many on our list have all three kinds of inputs (or lines in): USB, coaxial, and optical, the rule doesn’t always apply to the outputs (lines out). In smaller pocket-sized DACs like the model from TNP, are only really meant to be used with headphones (and even then, specifically ⅛” jacks only). Of course, you would be able to buy adapters so that you can extend its use usefulness but the more you add, the weaker your sound has the chance to get as it passes from connection to connection.
If you know that this will be used for your home entertainment system, it’s best to go with one that offers as much as possible for inputs and your best bets are RCA lines out — bonus if you get a headphone jack too!
A Note About USBsBecause USBs are — obviously — a universal connection used for many purposes, this means that you should be aware that your audio signals coming through it may not be as great as those through a dedicated audio or audio/visual cable. Because of the various versions of USB that are out there, there is way more chance for the quality to be altered. This might display as additional noise that hasn’t been cleaned up by the DAC itself.
If you buy an external USB port, these are sometimes known to be better than the actual built-in USB ports. Try and get an external USB port that’s a newer version too, sometimes what’s in your computer is a few versions older than some gadgets are optimized for today.
An Audiophile’s Purchase?A lot of audio experts like to make the joke that an external DAC, even if it’s a budget DAC, is the audiophile’s purchase because they’re already built into most of our electronics. This is more or less true, but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth looking into. If you have some old cables or devices in your sound mix that still technically work great but you’ve noticed they’ve maybe developed some background noise, a DAC can be an easy way to eliminate it.
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