The DAC and server/streamer categories are presently enjoying the benefits of swift technological progress.
To rate a DAC, server, streamer or re-clocker is to hit a moving target, such is the re-contextualisation brought by newcomers, upgraded models, firmware updates and RRP movement.
Therefore, what follows is not intended as a definitive assessment of every DAC (or streamer or server or re-clocker) currently available – that’d be impossible. Here lies tabulated value for money judgments based on sound quality and feature set.
In other words, the following are listed according to a subjective value quotient and not just their absolute sonic performance.
D/A converters:
Premier League
- Aqua Hifi La Scala MKII Optologic
- Chord Electronics DAVE
- Chord Hugo 2
- Denafrips Terminator
- PS Audio DirectStream
- Vinnie Rossi LIO DAC 2.0
Division 1
- Aqua Hifi La Scala MKII
- Chord Hugo TT
- Chord Qutest
- Mytek Brooklyn Bridge
- PS Audio DirectStream Junior
- Resonessence Labs INVICTA Mirus
- Schiit Yggdrasil Analog 2
Division 2
- AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt
- Aqua La Voce S2
- Audio-gd Reference 7.1 – [discontinued]
- AURALiC Vega
- Chord Hugo
- Chord Mojo
- Metrum Acoustics “Hex”
- Mytek Brooklyn DAC
- Mytek Brooklyn DAC+
- PS Audio PerfectWave DAC MKII
- Schiit Gungnir Multibit
- WLM Gamma
Division 3
- AudioQuest DragonFly Red
- AudioQuest Beetle
- ALLO Digital Boss DAC
- Anedio D1 [discontinued]
- Audio-gd Reference 10.2
- db Audio Labs Tranquility SE
- Eastern Electric MiniMax [discontinued]
- iFi Audio micro iDSD Black Label
- Lenehan Audio (Base Level) PDX
- Lite DAC-83
- Metrum Acoustics “Octave”
- Mytek Stereo192-DSD
- Peachtree iNova [discontinued]
- PS Audio PerfectWave DAC MKI [discontinued]
- Red Wine Audio Isabellina LFP-V Edition
- Schiit Bifrost Multibit
- Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2
Division 4
- AudioQuest DragonFly Black
- CEntrance BlueDAC
- iFi Audio Nano iONE
- John Kenny JKDAC32
- Meridian Explorer2
- MHDT Labs Balanced Havana
- Resonessence Labs Concero
- Resonessence Labs Concero HD
- Resonessence Labs Concero HP
- Schiit Bifrost Uber w/ Gen 2 USB
- Schiit Modi 3
Division 5
- Astell&Kern AK120 as USB DAC
- AudioQuest Dragonfly v1.2
- Audio-gd NFB-2 [discontinued]
- Audio-gd NFB-2.1 [discontinued]
- Bel Canto DAC-3 [discontinued]
- Bladelius USB DAC
- CEntrance DACMiniPX
- John Kenny JKDAC Sabre [discontinued]
- Lavry DA-10
- LH Labs Geek Out 1W
- Micromega MyDAC
- Peachtree iDecco [discontinued]
- Peachtree DAC*iT
- Rega DAC
- Resonessence Labs Herus
- Schiit Bifrost v1
- Stello DA100
Division 6
- Audio-gd NFB-3 [discontinued]
- Beresford Caiman Gatorized
- Beresford Bushmaster
- Bel Canto DAC-1.5
- CEntrance DACPort
- Essence HDACC HDMI
- Emotiva XDA-1 [discontinued]
- Heed Dactilus w/ Q-PSU
- HRT microStreamer
- MHDT Labs Havana
- Schiit Modi
- TeraDak Chameleon
And the rest…
- Arcam rDAC
- Audio-gd NFB-12 [discontinued]
- Beresford 7510
- Beresford 7520
- Beresford Caiman
- Calyx Coffee
- Cambridge Audio DacMagic (2009 edition)
- Citypulse DA7.2x
- Emotiva XDA-2
- Firestone Audio Spitfire MK1 [discontinued]
- HRT Music Streamer II+
- KingRex UD384 + UPower
- Devilsound USB DAC
- Lite DAC-AH
- Lite DAC-68
- Maverick Tube Magic D1
- MHDT Labs Paradisea [discontinued]
- NAD Wireless USB DAC 1
- Pro-ject DAC Box USB
- Pro-ject DAC Box FL
- Valab NOS DAC
- Violectric V800
- Xindak DAC5
What about streamers and servers? Again, the following are listed according to a subjective value quotient to factor in price against sonic performance, feature set, usability and outward aesthetics.
Premier League
Division 1
Division 2
Division 3
Division 4
Division 5
- AURALiC Aries Mini
- Bluesound Node 2
- JustBoom DigiHAT
Division 6
- Apple MacMini (unmodified)
Division 7
- Apple Macbook Air 11″ 2014 (unmodified)
- Raspberry Pi 3 (USB output)
- Sonos Connect
Division 8
- Amazon Echo Link
USB-S/PDIF converters, S/PDIF re-clockers, USB filters and USB re-clockers:
Premier League
- Sonicweld Diverter 24/96
- Devialet Expert 200
- Empirical Audio Off-Ramp
- Audiophilleo w/ Pure Power
Division 1
Division 2
- Audiophilleo 1
- Audiophilleo 2
- iFi S/PDIF iPurifier
- John Kenny JKSPDIF MK2 and MK3
- Resonessence Labs Concero
- Schiit Wyrd
- UpTone Regen
Division 3
And the rest…
- Firestone Audio Bravo 24/96 Digital Processor
- KingRex UD384 + UPower
- M2Tech Hiface
- M2Tech Hiface Two
- Musical Fidelity V-Link
- Musical Fidelity V-Link192
- Teradak Teralink X-2
Last updated: 8th July 2019.
