Budget DAC advice please

[RaK]

I've updated my hifi after some time and would like advice on a budget level DAC, I have a Marantz pm6004 and some Neat iota speakers, looking to spend about £150.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Paul68]

All jokes aside I’d say a Topping E30 would bring you happiness.

Me personally I'd go for IfI, even though the E30 has more input options. It tries to be more than it is, with a menu that might be useful on a more expensive dac. It really isn't needed on the E30, while the zen dac keeps it simple.

 

[JezR]

@RaK I have an Ifi Hip DAC mark 1, purchased as new, it's no use to me as it only has USB input, PM me if you're interested.

 

[wHIZZY]

If you can can stretch your budget slightly then a used Chord Mogo would be difficult to beat when judged purely on sound quality. In my experience it punches well above its price point even when new, only down side being it's ergonomics when used in a domestic situation. I believe there was one recently advertised on this forum priced at £190.

 

[Lawrence001]

Doesn't the Mojo have an issue with the battery getting hot when left plugged in permanently on a desktop system?

I think Topping are ok although some don't like them.

 

[Ceko]

What digital inputs do you need anyway @RaK ?

 

[StingRay]

If you can can stretch your budget slightly then a used Chord Mogo would be difficult to beat when judged purely on sound quality. In my experience it punches well above its price point even when new, only down side being it's ergonomics when used in a domestic situation. I believe there was one recently advertised on this forum priced at £190.

There is a Mojo still for sale: https://www.hifiwigwam.com/forum/index.php?threads/chord-mojo-with-leather-case-and-cables.112269/

 

[RaK]

What digital inputs do you need anyway @RaK ?

I just want it for the RCA output from the PC and improving the
Of course, so just the usb from the PC to the DAC itself is needed

 

[Chumpchops]

All jokes aside I’d say a Topping E30 would bring you happiness.

Agreed. This is a splendid little DAC that IME punches well above its weight. The 5 filters are very subtle in operation and teamed with an ifi power supply, I have found it to be very enjoyable in second system. The pre function is unremarkabl, but in DAC mode, listening mainly to acoustic, rock and folk, its great.

many compare the E30 to the Modi 3, and they rate similarl. Not having heard the Schit, I can’t comment, but having run the E30 for 2 years - streamed Qobuz, spotty and ripped FLACs>Squeezbox Touch>E30>various small active speakers - I’d have no hesitation in recommend this as a budget DAC. Having a remote and some filters with which to tweak, sets the E30 apart from the Modi 3 in terms of features

…within the law of diminishing returns, I do not really subscribe to the view above that ‘you don’t get much DAC for £150.‘ I’d say that you don’t get get exponentially much more DAC for £1000.

 

[robbyrtp]

If you would ever be going down the streaming route the DAC in the Cambridge CXN is very good.

 

[RaK]

Well I have a kind brother who has surprised me and brought me a chord mojo! So my quest has finished! Thanks for all of the help guys , its really appreciated

 

[Ceko]

Well I have a kind brother who has surprised me and brought me a chord mojo! So my quest has finished! Thanks for all of the help guys , its really appreciated

Hope you enjoy it!

 

[wHIZZY]

Doesn't the Mojo have an issue with the battery getting hot when left plugged in permanently on a desktop system?

I think Topping are ok although some don't like them.

I never had a problem but then I never left it plug in permanently. I simply charged it for a few hours a day or as and when.

 

[Chumpchops]

Well I have a kind brother who has surprised me and brought me a chord mojo! So my quest has finished! Thanks for all of the help guys , its really appreciated

That‘s a great result. Enjoy!

 

[JamieMcC]

The Mojo is a nice DAC congrats

 

[Southeastern]

Well I have a kind brother who has surprised me and brought me a chord mojo! So my quest has finished! Thanks for all of the help guys , its really appreciated

Thank god for that, I had a fear you'd end up with a Topping, truly terrible DAC's!

 

[Ceko]

Thank god for that, I had a fear you'd end up with a Topping, truly terrible DAC's!

That’s simply not true, they’re great. Great feature-wise, sound-wise, price-wise. But let that be a conversation for another thread.

 

[uzzy]

No-one has mentioned the Cambridge Dac Magic - have had one for some years (the version 2 or 3 not sure which) and what i can tell you is it sounded as good if not better than the inbuilt DAC on the Meridian 206 and 506 20 bit and was used in preference to the onboard DAC on the Marantz 6004.
Check eBay here is one up for sale the same as my beastie https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12553045...jmpeU4POqAt/DGb0EjlHDchBA=|tkp:Bk9SR7S6oMvwYA

 

[griffo104]

Thank god for that, I had a fear you'd end up with a Topping, truly terrible DAC's!

What a silly statement, I have a Topping D50S and a Chord Mojo and there is really not much between them, so I'm guessing you are also saying the Mojo is terrible?

 

[Gray]

they’re great. Great feature-wise, sound-wise

That's all very well.
But if not reassuringly expensive, then no good for snobs.

 

[Strider]

Thank god for that, I had a fear you'd end up with a Topping, truly terrible DAC's!

Don't get this wide sweeping dislike of Topping DAC's - You'll have to let us know what has formed your opinion on this particular manufacturer.
Bust as @Ceko said, that is a topic for another conversation.