Hunt for budget DAC in today's competitive world

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GeekySimar

Member
Joined 2019
#1
Hi Everyone,
So I fried my Allo Boss, I don't know, how. It just stopped working while playing music and never came back to life. I was pretty happy with the DAC.

Now it gives me a chance to hunt a new budget DAC or get the same Allo Boss.

Seeing the market of budget DAC's, there are Pelothra of options. I would definitely like to use Raspberry Pi as a network streamer. So will use its USB or I2S output. Considering I already have experienced Allo Boss, what are my options.

Budget DAC for Desktop options.

1. The same Allo Boss and I2S combo.

2. Modi 3+ and Raspberry Pi 3B USB or Raspberry Pi 4 USB
What they updated from Modi 3 to Modi 3+, anyone has any idea?

3. Khadas Tone Board and Raspberry Pi 3 or 4 USB.

4. Topping D10 and Raspberry Pi 3 or 4 USB.

5. Topping E30 and Raspberry Pi3 or 4 USB.

6. Going DIY and modifying the ESS 9038Q2M board as suggested by Mark in the ESS DAC thread. I am fine with DIY.

7. Any other better combination at around $100. This is my budget. +- $10.

Which is better for USB output Raspberry 3 or 4? Some say it's better in Raspberry Pi 4 as USB and LAN bus are different, some say otherwise. So it's kinda debatable. Any help here would be appreciated.

So guys please help me with this.

Thanks,
Simar
 
#2
3 has great reviews. Whatever the choice I will split the budget to get an Allo Kali (so keep the Rpi3 ) reclocker /isolator in between.

You can also consider a NOS hat Philips chip based.
all good sounds, some difference of tastes.
 
#5
Have you heard a ess dac? I have an audiolab Q dac that has an ESS DAC chip and it sounds totally different from others, it's very detailed and smooth - but I find it sucks all life out of the music, there's no punch or drive. Almost a muffled sound. It could just be a bad example and others are much better. I much prefer a really cheap dac with output direct from the chip ( with suitable caps ). I also like the Sanskrit 10th.
 
#9
GeekySimar said:
Hi Everyone,
So I fried my Allo Boss, I don't know, how. It just stopped working while playing music and never came back to life. I was pretty happy with the DAC.

Now it gives me a chance to hunt a new budget DAC or get the same Allo Boss.

Seeing the market of budget DAC's, there are Pelothra of options. I would definitely like to use Raspberry Pi as a network streamer. So will use its USB or I2S output. Considering I already have experienced Allo Boss, what are my options.

Budget DAC for Desktop options.

1. The same Allo Boss and I2S combo.

2. Modi 3+ and Raspberry Pi 3B USB or Raspberry Pi 4 USB
What they updated from Modi 3 to Modi 3+, anyone has any idea?

3. Khadas Tone Board and Raspberry Pi 3 or 4 USB.

4. Topping D10 and Raspberry Pi 3 or 4 USB.

5. Topping E30 and Raspberry Pi3 or 4 USB.

6. Going DIY and modifying the ESS 9038Q2M board as suggested by Mark in the ESS DAC thread. I am fine with DIY.

7. Any other better combination at around $100. This is my budget. +- $10.

Which is better for USB output Raspberry 3 or 4? Some say it's better in Raspberry Pi 4 as USB and LAN bus are different, some say otherwise. So it's kinda debatable. Any help here would be appreciated.

So guys please help me with this.

Thanks,
Simar
Click to expand...

Could you please share me the link where mark give some advices in order to modify the ess dac generic board. The thread is huge!
 
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