WTD: small, cheap DAC

[MarginWalker]

Hi, I'm looking for a small DAC with toslink input to run a Chromecast into a second system. Ideally it would be cheap and have automatic power on when a signal is fed through it (if such a function exists).

[Macca]

Not sure how cheap you want but a Topping E30 is £140 new and ticks all your boxes, also has outstanding sound quality.

[walpurgis]

I'm chuffed with the five quid USB powered DAC I had sent from China.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-DAC-Optical-Toslink-SPDIF-Coax-to-Analog-L-R-RCA-Audio-Converter-Adapter/383865838315?hash=item59602fdaeb:g:XdwAAOSwz7Jf3XS n

[majex45]

I'm chuffed with the five quid USB powered DAC I had sent from China.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-DAC-Optical-Toslink-SPDIF-Coax-to-Analog-L-R-RCA-Audio-Converter-Adapter/383865838315?hash=item59602fdaeb:g:XdwAAOSwz7Jf3XS n

Thumbs up from me too.

[Nigel]

Hi Macca,

What do you use to power the Topping? Also, which input are you using coaxial or optical? Cheers. Apologies for the thread interruption.

[CageyH]

There is also the Just Boom DAC for £25.
Jimbo runs one and is quite happy.

[Dawg]

Just for some info, I opened up the £5 dac from ebay, it is a bargain but the chip used is only 12bit, that's not to cast dispersion as theres been many a 12bit dac used for "hi end" I just couldn't sleep knowing it was below CD resolution. If your over 50 you wont have ears good enough to tell, I couldn't but I used a Linear power supply with it. The Topping is a great choice if you want something that measures incredibly well and can also be considered a bargain for that.

[walpurgis]

Well for the money, it sounds good enough for me not to care what's inside it. I thought my little V-DAC sounded decent, but the £5 Chinese unit is as good or better. Although neither, despite sounding decent, come close to Monarchy Audio DACs.

[Macca]

Hi Macca,

What do you use to power the Topping? Also, which input are you using coaxial or optical? Cheers. Apologies for the thread interruption.

Hi Nigel

I use a mobile phone charger. for power. I'm using the Coaxial input.

[Macca]

Just for some info, I opened up the £5 dac from ebay, it is a bargain but the chip used is only 12bit, that's not to cast dispersion as theres been many a 12bit dac used for "hi end" I just couldn't sleep knowing it was below CD resolution. If your over 50 you wont have ears good enough to tell, I couldn't but I used a Linear power supply with it. The Topping is a great choice if you want something that measures incredibly well and can also be considered a bargain for that.

12 bits is about the maximum dynamic range of vinyl and no-one complains about that. 16 bit for CD was always overkill. But I see where you're coming from,

[MarginWalker]

I've ordered one of the £5 DACs just out of curiosity, but I don't imagine it being much better than the one in the CCA. I have decided a better option is to upgrade to a better streamer instead. Does anyone know.of anything that does Spotify connect and Chromecast built in?

[Dawg]

12 bits is about the maximum dynamic range of vinyl and no-one complains about that. 16 bit for CD was always overkill. But I see where you're coming from,

Except for the people who find vinyl to be inferior. :D

[Dawg]

Yep i did say it was a bargain, I had a Schiit Gungnir at the time of buying the ebay DAC, cost me £1200, turned out that performed no where near its acclaimed 16bit after it was measured, its what stopped me buying expensive DACs.

[MarginWalker]

Looks like I am sorted with a cheap Arcam DAC. Thanks for all the advice everyone.

[Dawg]

Looks like I am sorted with a cheap Arcam DAC. Thanks for all the advice everyone.

Excellent!