Best DSD DAC under $400

CH46E

I had really good luck with "Best Tube Pre Amp under $500" I ended up with @JayCee Sonic Frontiers Anthem Pre 2L with Mundorf Supreme caps. I absolutely love the Anthem.

So, my next endeavor is a new DSD DAC (For SACDs) . Right now I run CD, HDCDs, SACD and DVD-Audio discs through my Marantz UD7007 I picked up from @geppy1 .

Now, I'm looking for a DAC that will Direct Stream DSD through Optic. I have a really nice, older, AQ optilink 5 I would like to put to use.

Nothing wrong with the Marantz, but I just can't help but think, a stand alone DSD DAC will sound better. Not sure where I got that Idea (Thanks Polk Audio Forum ).

I've been reading about different chip sets. But it appears that the implementation of any chip is more important than the chip itself???????

Any Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I did reach out to Schiit. They said none of their DACs will decode DSD.

Thanks guy! And I believe one Gal here.

BlueFox

Wouldn’t a CD player that plays SACDs be a better choice than a DAC that accepts SACD input? What will you use to provide input to the DAC? Does anyone even make a DSD DAC, let alone for $400?

I would suggest a used Sony XA5400ES SACD player. I have one and love it, even though I rarely play it anymore.

marvda1

here's one.
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=174494.msg1841709;topicseen#new

CH46E

The DAC in my Marantz is from 2014. Its a Texas Instrument PXM-1795 DAC, IIRC. I thought maybe something newer with a possibly better clock would yield a favorable sonic result.

That Sony is still a $1,000 plus player. Well out side my $400 budget.

CH46E

And having a stand alone dac with USB will give me some great options for dsd streaming. I have many songs on a thumb drive in DSD format. MQA would be nice but not one of my requirements.

CH46E

marvda1 wrote: »

here's one.
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=174494.msg1841709;topicseen#new

Ooh, I did see that one on a list. Even new its affordable. Thanks!

Would you all suspect it would out perform the Marantz UD7007 internal dac?

audioluvr

Not sure about what you are trying to achieve but when comparing a Denon DVD 2900 I bought here playing SACD's to streaming via my Cambridge Audio 851n I am hard pressed to say the Denon built in 2004 is better, but it is. Not sure age is a bad thing as many recordings were made and digitized on vintage (digital) equipment. Just a thought...

CH46E

I have a Denon DVD-2910 that I was using for SACD and DVD-Audio. The Marantz is clearly better. But it is 10+ years newer also.

Streaming is my least issue. I download from various sites for DSD and FLAC. I then transfer them to a thumb drive. Other than that, I use the actual discs. I thought maybe a stand alone DAC might be better than the dac in my 7 year old Marantz.

Or am I mistaken?

Clipdat

"Better" is subjective. There's no hard and fast rule that a newer standalone DAC will sound "better" than the DAC inside the Marantz.

Clipdat

https://www.amazon.com/TOPPING-E30-Hi-Res-AK4493-Decoder/dp/B0868J7NRV

Minimal investment?

CH46E

****. I just looked and realized my Marantz has no optical out..... aaarraag

Clipdat

Yeah typically anything that plays SACDs will not output the DSD stream digitally.

CH46E

Clipdat wrote: »

Yeah typically anything that plays SACDs will not output the DSD stream digitally.

Ok. Starting to make sense. Maybe I'll just stick with the Marantz then.


Maybe I'll spend the $400 on some quality speaker cables. I would need 30 ft cables.

Clipdat

30ft?! Yikes.

mhardy6647

Clipdat wrote: »

"Better" is subjective. There's no hard and fast rule that a newer standalone DAC will sound "better" than the DAC inside the Marantz.

or, conversely "better" is objective. Now you're in ASR territory.
Note that I am not making a judgement, either way. Just stating the (obvious) dichotomy -- 'cause the Elephant in the room (I'd opine) is "does measuring better make for better sound, or the converse [measuring worse makes better sound], or are the qualitative & quantitative uncorrelated?"

Oh - plus - I have long believed (and I still do) that the analog [EDIT] interface on the output side of the DAC is at least as important to the end result (i.e., what one hears) as the number crunching of the DAC (chip/chipset) itself.

That's as close to profundity as I am gonna get on only a single cup of coffee.

mhardy6647

Rick88 wrote: »

... Also, some universal players convert SACD/DSD to PCM before outputting from the analog outs...

Most of 'em (at least the popularly priced ones) do this -- don't they?
DSD to PCM before D to A conversion. Pretty brute force (IMO, and my O isn't particularly informed, in full disclosure).




Pretty sure that the two cheapies here do that.

This freebie pile Samsung, e.g.

DSC_7312 (2) by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

CH46E

Thanks to everyone for the input. I had the wrong idea of what I could and couldn't do with a dac.

pitdogg2

The one thing about older Denon uni-players was the Denon-link. Pre HDMI release to carry a digital SACD/DVD-A the Denon link was an asset. The only problem for most was this was only available from one Denon player to Denon receiver.

Denon link was the only approved digital connection for SACD/DVD-A for a long time.

CH46E

Looks like ill just stick with the analog outs from the ud7007 to the Anthem for sacd.

CH46E

So other than regular CDs what is the benefit of using a stand alone dac?

audioluvr

If you rip your own music off LP' s to a hard drive.

CH46E

audioluvr wrote: »

If you rip your own music off LP' s to a hard drive.

That is definitely not my cup of vodka. (Tea)

sgmsmg

It is a different price point but my Bryston BDA-3 will accept the DSD signal from my Oppo (via HDMI) and it plays it as a DSD signal. Works great for my limited collection of SACDs.

BlueFox

CH46E wrote: »

So other than regular CDs what is the benefit of using a stand alone dac?

The benefit is you can upgrade it as a better DAC becomes available. The drawback is you need an interconnect cable between the CD player and the DAC, and a power cable for the DAC. Plan for around $4K for those two cables.

CH46E

Ok thanks guys.


I run my Marantz ud7007 to my Anthem pre2l. The Anthem has only analog inputs. But my Yamaha Aventage HTR has all the inputs including digital DSD.

I feel so torn right now! 🤔😏😑

tonyb

Your putting too much importance on DSD.

Quality gear will trump formats any day....in my book anyway.

WLDock

I just got this DROP email offer. I don't know anything about the product but it looks nice on paper.
https://drop.com/buy/smsl-su-9-dac#overview

SMSL SU-9 DAC - $460
Staying on the cutting edge of digital-to-audio conversion, SMSL has unveiled the new SU-9: an instrument-grade DAC optimized for convenience and crystal-clear decoding. Powered by the flagship ES9038PRO SABRE DAC, the SU-9 can decode 32-bit, 768-kilohertz PCM and native DSD512 with an impressive 132-decibel dynamic range. It’s also capable of next-gen MQA decoding to unpack the precise details of original studio recordings as the artists intended. Plus, its noise floor is remarkably low, yielding a total harmonic distortion plus noise (THD + N) rating of just 0.00009 percent. For optimal convenience, the SU-9 can connect via Bluetooth 5.0 with support for 24-bit transmission of lossless codecs like aptX LL, aptX HD, LDAC, and more. It’s also remote-controllable and stackable with SMSL’s SH-9 amp. Finally, to help you dial in your sound, the SU-9 features 11 digital filters and four sound-color settings.

SPECS
SMSL
DAC chip: ES9038PRO
MQA decoding
Sampling: 32-bit / 768 kHz and DSD512
Inputs: USB, optical, coaxial, Bluetooth
Outputs: RCA, XLR
Bluetooth version: 5.0
Bluetooth codecs supported: LDAC, APTX/ HD, SBC, AAC, 24-bit / 192kHz
Display: 1.9 in (4.8 cm) LCD display
THD+N: 0.00009%
DNR: 130 dB (XLR), 123 dB (RCA)
SNR: 130 dB
Output impedance: 207 ohms (XLR), 142 ohms (RCA)
Sound color settings: Rich1, Rich2, Rich3, Tube1, Tube2, Tube3, Crystal1, Crystal2, Crystal3
Brightness control: 6 levels
DSD filters: 47 kHz cutoff, 50 kHz cutoff, 60 kHz cutoff, 70 kHz cutoff
PCM filters: Fast linear, slow linear, fast minimum, slow minimum, fast hybrid, apodizing, brickwall
Power consumption: 5 W
Power consumption (standby mode): < 0.5 W
Dimensions: 7.5 x 6 x 1.5 in (18.8 x 15.4 x 4 cm)
Weight: Weight: 1.7 lbs (790 g)
INCLUDED
Remote
USB cable

Estimated ship date is Mar 3, 2021 PT.

CH46E

tonyb wrote: »

Your putting too much importance on DSD.

Quality gear will trump formats any day....in my book anyway.

I think you might be right Tony.


My Marantz has XLR outputs. Would I gain anything at all going with XLR to rca cables? No XLR input on my pre.

audioluvr

No You don't have the advantage of balanced and shielding.

pearsall001

tonyb wrote: »

Your putting too much importance on DSD.

Quality gear will trump formats any day....in my book anyway.

Bingo! The quality of the original recording speaks volumes, all the DSD, Hi-Res won't make a lick of difference to a lousy recording.

mhardy6647

CH46E wrote: »

audioluvr wrote: »

If you rip your own music off LP' s to a hard drive.

That is definitely not my cup of vodka. (Tea)

You can "rip" them (as the cool, hep kids say) from your tape deck, too!



8trackin2 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr