Need help with choosing budget DAC

[Mustlane]

Hi all.
As you can see from my previous post on "Introduction" I am a complete beginner in diyaudio.

I had a question about what DAC to buy for my Classix III by Paul Carmody. Since currently I have a really limited budget, I would like to save as much as possible (<50€). Also, do I also need amp for them?

I tried searching for an answer on both Reddit and DIYaudio, but everyone was suggesting DAC's outside of my price range. Also, I saw DIY DAC boards, but again, I don't know whether they will be enough to power my future speakers.

Thanks in advance for your help!

EDIT: Forgot to say that I could increase my budget, if necessary.

 

[shadowplay62]

Just connect it to Aux input of your amp.
I have this one and it is unbeatable for the price (circa 30€)
https://www.smsl-audio.com/portal/product/detail/id/842.html
If you want to increase your budget there is the su-1 with mqa decoding but no bluetooth connection.
https://www.smsl-audio.com/portal/product/detail/id/889.html

 

[Mustlane]

Damn, looks like a great deal. Is there any downsides to that DAC? Because the price is insanely low, considering the features that it has.

Also, thank you!

 

[Mustlane]

"Just connect it to Aux input of your amp."

Oh, so I will also need an amplifier?

 

[Markw4]

...so I will also need an amplifier?

Yes.

Your speakers don't have a built-in amplifier, and dacs only output low-power, line-level signals which can then go into power amp inputs.
(Some dacs also have headphone amplifiers built-in, but those amplifiers are pretty small for most speakers.)

Is there any downsides to that DAC?

Sure. There are better dacs, but you need a very low cost dac at the moment. This one may do okay for the time being.

 

[shadowplay62]

Damn, looks like a great deal. Is there any downsides to that DAC? Because the price is insanely low, considering the features that it has.

Also, thank you!

I have been using it with a Denon/Rotel amp and Focal/Audax kit speakers for a couple years and the quality is similar to the internal dac of my Denon CD player of the early 2000s, i.e. very good. I also stream Flac files from my phone via BT without any issues. The only downside is that power supply is via the usb connection so when the DAC is not connected to the PC you have to use an old 5V phone charger.

 

[Mustlane]

(Some dacs also have headphone amplifiers built-in, but those amplifiers are pretty small for most speakers.)

Oh, now I see.

BTW, since I'll have to buy an AMP, could you help me with choosing one on local marketplace?
(Link already includes all of the filters)

Or should I just buy a new one?

Thanks, again. You are helping me immensely.

 

[Mustlane]

.

Hi, pinging you to ask whether you can help me with finding a budget amplifier.
I linked the marketplace with all of the needed filters enabled in the previous comment in this thread.

 

[shadowplay62]

Conditions are important when buying used stuff: anyway I would choose the Kenwood or the Sony.
If the expense and conditions are ok I would buy this
https://www.okidoki.ee/item/denon-pma-500ae-stereo-integrated-amplifier/12591673/
but consider that a brand new Yamaha-A-S201 on the Italian Amazon costs 179 € and you find a lot of TPA 3255 (SMSL, Topping, Fosi, Ayima, etc.) at about 100€.
And something like this should have an internal DAC
https://www.amazon.com/S-M-S-L-AD18...&qid=1737539650&sprefix=smsl+a,aps,180&sr=8-5