Poll: Best Portable Affordable USB DACs for 2017/18

tonyjzx on 12/09/2017 - 12:42

I wanted to do a scrimshaw and start a poll about this.

I borrowed a Audioquest Dragonfly from a friend and its clearly night and day just about compared to any laptop or phone barring some particular phones that have a decent high resolution dac.

I purchased a Fiio Q1 which is a combo headphone amp dac and its pretty much about the same as the Dragonfly to me.

I'm now of advanced age (!) so my hearing isnt super having been expose to loud cars and firearms and construction work.

I would also like to distinguish against fixed home dacs (ie. w/ wall wart or 24v power) as obviously our audience here wants to use a dac on a laptop or phone on your budget gearbest earphones.

I am also wondering if people have any experience with no name China dacs in the sub $50 class. I personally would stay away and stick with the well reviewed types like the above.

Poll Options

  • 2
    Fiio Q1
Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • tonyjzx on 12/09/2017 - 12:44

    oh yes, I also have a Thermaltake Bahamut which is a surprising decent 'gaming' soundcard. Long superceded but worthwhile if you can get one 2nd hand.

    • scrimshaw on 12/09/2017 - 12:48

      I have that too, but since it's a $40 dollar device, it just sounds like that. No magic under the hood and no true surround sound either, just virtual 5.1 surround.

      It is an improvement over sound from the motherboard though and you will get less EM interference from the electronics inside your computer case.

  • myusername on 13/09/2017 - 13:29

    great selection of poll options

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