I always wonder the same thing. Digital is all 1's and 0's. So it is a math conversion to make a sine wave. ALL DACs should sound exactly the same. If one sounds different from another it is only because they have some kind of EQ built into them. And most "Audiophiles" always freak out at the mention of an EQ in their $1,000,000 sound systems. But apparently they are too stupid to realize that is EXACTLY what makes their $50,000 DAC sound better than a $30 DAC. The manufacturer simply added a $60 EQ circuit to their $30 DAC and charged them $50,000 for it. SUCKERS!
Yep ... the base chip is usually about $6.00 in thousand quantities. The less crap you throw in to impress people the lower the prices and the better it works.
The sad thing is: even if this thing was great, you would have trouble finding somebody who would say so. People expect audio to be expensive, impressive and decorative. Anything less won't be taken seriously.
So true! But part of our hobby, at least for me, is that pride of ownership. Don't see the pride here! I also thought it would be interesting to put the guts of this in a big, beautiful box and watch people fall all over themselves!
I’ve spent thousands on audio and I’ve been impressed by $100 headphones or DACs, I freely admit I’m paying for that extra 10-20% in performance most people could care less about.
@@mikeg2491100$ is game changer for many people (audio-enjoyers, not audiophiles, okay). I will buy a 20$, straight away, no problem. I will not buy a 100$ or more DAC. That's just the way it is, I don't think a device of this sort is worth it. Some people will buy expensive DACs, and that is okay, I respect them.
One of the big points in the comments so far is the ongoing doubt that a $30 Monster DAC can sound as good as a $1,000+ audiophile DAC. As a technician with 40 years in the trade and one of the first to get computers playing music (back in 1980) I can assure you it can and likely does. Like most of the stuff Audiophiles buy, DACs are wildly overpriced. Compare a simple USB "external sound card" with mid to high end USB DACs and you know what you find inside... Yep, quite often they're using the same decoder chips. Chips that cost $5.00 each in service quantities, considerably less in production quantities. Another good example of this is the TPA3255 chips that are the current fad in China-Amps. Where else are those chips used? Well you will find them in mid to high level AVR systems, pro-audio amplifiers, powered monitors and even in the much loved ICEPower modules. It's all about the same circuit with only variations in part quality, not design. You can buy an A07 for $90 (cdn) and find the same amplifier chips as used in $3,000 home theatre amps... and yes the mini-amplifiers using these chips can deliver a rock solid 100w/ch on 8 ohms and 200 on 4 with vanishingly low distortion... just like the high end stuff using the same chips can. Maybe we should be looking a little more at our own prejudices... in today dollars it is entirely possible to put together a killer-good system for less than $500.00. The only thing preventing it is that people see a small, lightweight device and decide it's not as good, without even trying it. Things have changed. With miniaturization, advances in chip technologies and mass production prices are coming down as quality is going up. In many cases the only difference between the cheap stuff and the "audiophile" stuff is the price.
Man... I really appreciate you laying this out for people here. It is a lot of food for thought. Expensive gear is always nice and it gives some pride of ownership. But when something is next to free and delivers on some level, THAT'S a thrill.
@@UnitedStatesofAnalog You're welcome. I've been messing with these mini-amps for some time now and for the most part I've not found them to be lacking in any way. To give you an example ... my current system is an A07 feeding a pair of modified Pioneer towers. It is fed by a NUC (tiny Intel computer) and a USB Soundard. Data storage is through an external NAS drive in a sleeve. When stacked together the whole thing is about 5 1/2" wide and 6" tall... Currently it houses about 1,000 movies and 8,000 songs, can stream from any source and easily delivers sound pressure levels that I can't stay in the room with. Total cost ... just under $1,000.
@@Douglas_Blake_579What would you say about comparing two cheap DACs, well let's say that one is 15$ and the other one is 20$, is it even possible that there would be difference between the two? And I mean it could come from the same brand, or different brand, doesn't really matter. I mean a slight price difference and maybe a different finish/plastic, different visual.
Bob, normally I would not bother watching an entire video on a $30 DAC. Not that I am a snob, but it is something that I am not interested in. BUT! I love your presentation, you can take something as mundane as a utilitarian DAC and make it sound like it is something I probably need. I just enjoy your videos, you are a bit of calm in this storm called life. Thank you for the work sir, and your family for the support they bring. ;-)
More praise than I deserve. I am committed to learning and being better. This may prove to be the most difficult thing I've ever attempted. You message came at just the right moment. I won't let you down! Thanks!
If it were me, for a review, for $24-30 each, I would have bought two of them so I could break open one of them to see what components are used in the DAC. I would also have compared it not only to the Wiim mini's built-in DAC, but also to at least one higher priced DAC, perhaps something in the $100 to $200 range. BTW, I usually prefer near-field listening.
Yeah... there is a disconnect. My original Marantz receiver would be the price of a McIntosh today if you consider inflation. "It's one of life's great mysteries, Sir!" - Maverick
Great review!!!! Interesting how this $30 DAC improves on the WiiM Mini. I really enjoyed this one! DAC s are awesome! And they don’t have to be expensive!!!!! God bless!!!
I have something similar hooked up exactly like you said, optical out of the TV to my analog in on my 30 year old Sony receiver. Simple and easy and the receiver does the rest.
UGreen model 30521 usb DAC, $19.00 (cdn) ... same chip ( CM6533) as some $500 DACs use without all the "ooooh shiny"... works a treat. Truth of our time... Cheap audio is getting better and better audio is getting cheaper.
@@UnitedStatesofAnalog A little anecdote for you... I don't have a lot of extra floor space, so one of the goals with my own system was to go compact as well as good sounding. I use an A07 amplifier and a pair of modified Pioneer towers fed by a NUC set up as an HTPC and one of the $20.00 DACs. Works a treat for me, total cost under $1,000 But, one of the local audiophiles with a $10,000+ system got hold of this and went off all weird about it, bad mouthing me all over town and even to a few of my clients. (I'm a retired service tech) Eventually I ended up face to face with the idiot and gave him a simple challenge... "Come over and listen. If you're going to trash me, do it on fact not gossip." So, on the appointed day and time he shows up at my door. I made him a cup of the worlds worst coffee (a specialty of mine) and we sat down to play some music ... he listened, he went silent, he left. Haven't heard a word from him or about him since. If I had the space I would have a pretty typical audiophile room setup. But I don't so I learned about "stealth acoustics", alternative placements, etc. to get a decent system in my living room. Truth is, a good system is more a matter of careful choices than a big bank account.
My only holdback on this would be that it's limit is 24/96khz, I would prefer to get 24/192..... I have 2 Schiit Modi's and they are the most that I need.
I found one of these in the clearance aisle at Walmart for half price ($15.00) 5 years ago, bought it and sent it to my friend to use with his Pioneer Plasma TV. He said it was fine for TV (I believe he used the Toslink connection) myself, I use a ifi Go Link, an old OPPO HA-2, and a Chord MOJO to use with my laptop, phone, and iPod Touch. By the way, this Monster Cable DAC cannot be used with a laptop because the digital inputs are only Toslink or SPDIF. The micro USB port is only for the 5v power input.
This is the first and only external DAC I have ever owned and used. I bought it to connect my record player (rca only) and my television (optical out) to my Scarlett Solo audio interface. I use 2 Yamaha HS5’s monitors and 1 HS8 sub for listening. It also has a really bright red led that actually provides enough light behind my desk so I can see when reaching for the power strip switch. I have nothing to compare the sound to but it sounds good to me. I didn’t even know what a DAC was before I needed one and Walmart was the closest store that had one. It does the job. I think I paid 30 and have not been disappointed. Nice vid 👍
Interesting. I'd love to see you do a blind AB test between this dac, the Wiim straight and a Schiit Modi or SMSL SU1, and hear if there's a significant sonic difference. Maybe we are being had.
I get everyone's point that I should have done more comparisons. I only currently have J2's on hand. Clearly that is no contest. I was just trying to have some fun with a very cheap product that probably costs under $2 to manufacture. It did best the internal DAC in the WiiM mini. It was clear. Maybe just the fact that it's a se helps. I wouldn't build a system around it, but it wasn't a thin, scratchy POS like I thought it would.
@UnitedStatesofAnalog I don't know. I have a $900 Denafrips Ares 2 and my $80 SU1 dac sounds pretty close. Perhaps less soundstage, but not to the point of uncontested. Just an idea.
@@ramondelgado6778 I second that. SU-1 is fantastic. They made a lot of praise about Denafrips sonic qualities, only to be pushed aside by a humble $80 box. I have to try this Monster looks promising.
This was a fun one to watch. I wanted to see your thoughts. Particularly because about a year ago, I bought a Emotiva CD player in the analog outs were not working. I did not have a DAC on hand that had an optical port so I went to Walmart and picked this up for the hell of it. God, was it horrendous. Particularly the bass reproduction. I did not have the same experience as you. Once I did get another, DAC, I did an AB comparison, and it was like night and day. That monster DAC is cheap for a reason
Post 2. One of the handy use cases for this is the ADC functionality. For digitising your vinyl or tapes, cassettes or 8 tracks this is all you need. And while Dacs are common, Dacs with ADCs are not. Also, by noting the monster dac is better than the wiim dac you have answered your own question as to whether better dacs make a difference. Wiim missed a trick when they kept the same poor quality dac in the otherwise fantastic wiim pro.
Another thing is you can have a bit of fun doing some wacky things like say, take an old vintage tda1541 dac, output analog back to digital, and feed it into a monster dac like a Chord Dave. I’ve found feeding my Dave into my Sony Tazzy takes off some of the intense highs since it redigitizes the signal and outputs a warmer sound for instance.
I actually have that same DAC. Bought it when I started getting back into vinyl... ?!?!?!?. I had an A/V receiver that had no phono inputs and it was 20 ft. away from my TT. Wanting to do only one cable run and not have to worry about signal loss I went the digital route. This unit, being able to go both ways... I was able to hook up an ifi Zen phono pre to this DAC and it converted the analog input to 24bit/48k digital out. My A/V receiver took the digital in and... it sounded really great. So here is a use case for ya. Cheers!
Twice in half an hour! What a great treat to start a sonic weekend. Nice starter DAC for a nearfield listening area. I'm a price snob, and have wasted many dollars chasing price over practical experience. Thanks for sharing and introducing us all to what might be a reasonable starter. Take care, Sir and all the best.
Thanks, Simon! Like I said, I would NOT build a system around it. But the sound wasn't offensive like I thought it would be. It's a cheap something that might solve certain problems for certain people. Thanks for your continued support and thoughtful comments!
That's my DAC. But I'm no audiophile. Powered with classic japanese tech pioneer sx850. Think of audio hardware and software as flavors. Everyone has their own palette and preference. And it's good to change up the flavors to keep it sounding fresh.
50 years ago i had a cheap 8track stereo. i found a device at radio shak that split the stereo into front and rear. i added two more speakers and my cheap stereo sounded a little better. i think the box cost $15. i don't know what was in it, but it had inputs/outputs and switches. not mind blowing, but a little better.
Thing is, it's probably significantly better than most dacs in budget cd and dvd players, and possibly some streamers. There's an allure to the maybe giant killer, the piece of kit that punches above it's weight. I just received a Fosi V3 yesterday. Do I need one? Nope. I already have 5 amps. But whenever I saw a new offer it got cheaper and cheaper and the Experimenter in me could not resist. So not a question of need, but Want.
@@bsnf-5Most dacs in Bluray players are relatively basic, except for flagship models and certain brands like Oppo, who used quality dacs and made that a feature. So called universal players which played sacd and dvd audio, Bluray audio etc tended to have better dacs as they were marketed to audiophiles for multichannel music playback, especially if they had multichannel analogue outputs.
This will be perfect for the low-budget system in my pool shanty (old, open garage building that blows music out to the pool and back yard). I added a WiiM Mini out there so I can play the same music inside and outside during parties. I have a Geshelli J2 inside but decided to forgo a DAC outside but, for $30, I think I will add a DAC outside. Can't hurt...right?
Me, I highly recommend the Fraqenheim FQH-3030-II, which is on sale now at Farquer's Import/Export Emporium and Bathsalts Shop for only $19.99, which is LESS than $20, unless you include tax, which can vary quite a bit from state to state, or even country to country. It's a high quality Analog to Digital Converter, which is a ADC, rather than a more expensive DAC, which converts 0's to 1's , divides that by half, multiplies THAT by 27, and only then removes the Co from the Sine, resulting in a much cleaner and higher pitched whistle. Of course, you have to have a balanced RDT Spanglish input in order to translate non-English 0's, 1's, and 3's into the Dewey decimal system so that Librarians in Red states can explain the owner's manuals which can only be downloaded in Spanish or Lithuanian over fiber optic. Which is a real bargain only so long as brain taxes and liberal fees aren't applied in the checkout lane.
I have a couple of $40 Aiyima DAC A2s for desktop use and they sound decent. I think if I ever try a more serious external DAC, will probably try Geahelli.
Don't expect too much, but don't be surprised if it's not the sonic S#17show you thought it might be! Thanks for watching and supporting my new channel!
Great Job on trying something new and giving us your thoughts. The SMSL U-1 I picked up for $63 and it's highly recommended by Randy. Who knew good Hi-Fi could be affordable.
Harmonics are above my pay grade. I'm a simple man and I drive a simple van! But it was a shock that it didn't sound like a hot mess... I expected it would be! Not something I would show off on my BDI cabinet!
Hardware requires software ..that software is the music . Regardless of format vinyl, cd, streaming, tape , broadcast….and that you can get at least get vinyl and cd 💿 at Wallymart. Great video 👍☕️🍕🥓🔥
" Are we being bamboozled by manufacturers?" Kinda, yeah, at the really high end for consumer-facing products, I think we are. It would be fascinating to see blind tests orchestrated between like a $2,000 DAC and a $200 DAC and a $20 DAC. There have been some people that have done it or claimed to have done it and it has radically changed the amount they're willing to spend on stuff.
Wow, I have not seen the Monster name in a long time. Monster is Monoprice. Yes, the consumer did not know about Monoprice at first until they branched out beyond cables. Is there anything wrong with Monoprice stuff? Nope, not really except for some details on certain items such as terminators on their premium interconnects. For little stuff though, don't shy away from Monoprice. Yeah, I don't see why a good DAC has to be over $200, but that is a whole other conversation. I'm wondering how this $30 DAC would do in a large two-channel system?
@@UnitedStatesofAnalog I didn't either until I looked into it. They keep themselves separate on paper of course for various business reasons. I think we would be surprised to learn about some of the companies we purchase product from.
Good point, that would be a good primer for a future video. Also the here already many great videos out there on that subject if you're interested. Thanks!
Digital inputs are for TV (optical out) to dac (optical in). A CD player, or other source using coax, same. The RCA jacks here are output which goes to your amplifier (Integrated/Receiver/Pre-Amp). Simple for a simple system. If hooking up a streamer, its Streamer (optical or coax out) to Dac (same inputs) to Amp. Can't tell if this dac has a usb input. Cheap dac, probably on par with those that come with an inexpensive receiver. As you move up the chain, there are typically sonic improvements more/less noticeable depending on your own equipment, room, and material/recording. Most stuff comes with a rudimentary dac nowadays. I prefer to add my own but some all in 1 devices can sound very good and work well together.
Good video i think you did this product justice....i have this monster dac this is what I've found...i have it coming from my bedroom tv to a smsl sa300 amp it has good sound but every time i turn the tv off my speakers have a high pitch squeeling noise i have to turn the amp off when tv is off....this got aggregating after a while so i bought a shitt modi when i hooked that up i found that the separation got better and the bass went deeper and the high pitch squeeling stopped....then about 2 months later the right channel in the modi died.. .sent it back to shitt they sent it back saying nothing was wrong with it....hooked it up and it was working....for about 30 mins then took a shit agian....so monster is back in charge untill i get a svs soundbase pro to take over the whole system with hdmi arc....1 controller operation
This reminds of Stereophile magazine having the Sony Playstation 1 (PS1), around $25 used, on their Recommended Components list for SACD, DVD-A, CD Players & Media Servers for several years. The summary in the list said in part "the PS1 offered an "extended, open, and agile" sound, said AD who declared the PS1 an "insanely high value." ... noting that the PS1 combined "slightly diminished" frequency extremes with a "superior level of rhythmic acuity" for a smooth and involving sound." It's not a miracle. It is more evidence that judgment of sound quality is subjective. It is also an indication that, in many cases, the price of high end audiophile equipment is way more than the cost of manufacturing the equipment. It is further evidence for the well-known law of diminishing returns with increasing prices for audiophile equipment.
@@jonathanberg5834 I don't recall any audiophile reviews of the PS2 claiming particularly good sound. However, since you have one at hand, why not hook it up as a source in your audio system and listen to it yourself? Trust your own ears over what any others say about the sound quality of any audio component or system since no one else can directly experience what you hear and your reaction to it. Reviews are useful as guides and suggestions to help you decide what to audition, but in the end only you can decide what you like and don't like.
@@UnitedStatesofAnalog According to the Users Manual, the PS2 has an AV MULTI OUT jack on the rear and comes with a cable that has the appropriate connector for that AV MULTI OUT jack on one end, and three RCA connectors on the other end: one for the analog composite video signal, one for the left stereo analog audio signal and one for the right stereo analog audio signal. It also has an optical digital (SPDIF TOSLINK) jack on the rear, so the PS2 can be used just as a CD transport connected to an external DAC. The manual states that the PS2 does play audio CDs and provides instructions on how to do this.
Thanks for the information, I was just blessed with a Yamaha MC 32/12 Analog Mixer that I am looking to convert to Digital. I was told I needed a SPDIF to Analog and a Snake. Any replies would be greatly appreciated.
no DAC is worth $25 . A bit on the high end of price regardless of where stocked. People just think more expense means better quality in 2023. Doesn't work that way with 1's and 0's.
Still messing' around with the Fosi V3. So far so good. Paired with my Fotes however, it's starts to reveal a little more of it shortcomings. But those two items are way mismatched in price. I'm just talking comparitively to my other higher priced gear! But still pretty good!
I'd love to see some objective measurements. I suspect it is excellent for the money but going up to $100 or $200 for a topping or SMSL will get you near cutting edge performance.
It's still a big transition, from 20$ to suddenly 100$ or even 200$. For me I'd go for a DAC that is 30$ for example, to see if I can get something "better" but within that tiny budget range. 100$ is a price for which I can buy a decent Blu-ray player
I have best of both worlds. I neither Need a DAC and nor do I Want a DAC. I despise digital streams and digital music. I am not a robot with digital-ready ears, and am just fine with full analog sources. Reel to Reel, Cassettes in any of my 14 high-end tape decks, or vinyl (Not from Digital Mastering) records.
I'll bet you 3 manhole covers (already placed on your street for easy collection) that when properly level matched and switched without interruption you would not be able to tell a Class D amp from an AB amp. While I am happy to hear you are happy with your system, audiophile prejudices tend to be long held and run deep. Things have changed, rather a lot.
@@Douglas_Blake_579 I would have to try a lousy class D amp to see how it sounds. I only buy/make Class A and AB Vintage gear and re-bias and tune the amp circuits back to factory spec. Amps are very easy to build and work on. Why anyone would pay more than $1,000 for an Amp of any class is beyond me unless it was like a Class A amp with 1,000 watts per channel which would make a room so hot you would melt the paint off your walls.
@@AudioGuyBrian No you don't ... the V3 as seen in this video is under $100 ... With the stock 32 volt supply that little guy will deliver 50 watts RMS per channel on 8 ohms and 100 on 4. The distortion will be less than 0.01% right up to clipping where, like all amps, it starts rising vertically. Frequency response, intermodulation, etc. all check the HiFi boxes very neatly. Get a 48 volt supply for it, and now you're going to have 100 RMS on 8 ohms and 190 on 4. There's no reason to try a lousy one, when you can have a perfectly good one for about the price of an evening at the movies with your family.
@@Douglas_Blake_579 50 watts in Class D? Why. You could do it with Class A or AB and the circuit would be more durable. Class D has its place. 10,000+ watt car subwoofer amps. That is it.
Thanks for your input! Any suggestion to make me a better host is appreciated. It is no contest for my J2s. Those are the only external DACs in the house. I'm sure any of the quality DACs would best it. My point was, that someone, in some special situation, might be able to solve a need or problem with. That being said, it didn't completely embarrass itself when I put it in the chain. I absolutely thought it would be a thin, scratchy disaster... it kinda wasn't! Thanks again... maybe I'll make it a series!
@@UnitedStatesofAnalog Yeah, still enjoyed it but it would have been really interesting to see how it stacks up to a budget champ like the Modi. Feature wise this thing kinda reminds me of a Behringer u202 which I used for a bit before the Modi. It sounded decent enough but not as detailed as Modi and was prone to USB bus noise.
Perhaps check out your audio is seems like you are calling out to a whole classroom but actually you could consider your mic is right under your chin… if that were your significant other with their head on your shoulder would you raise your voice so much? No 😊
A piece of advice for your reputation and that is there is video evidence that your buying this at W#$^&@%. You might now want to get into the Witness protection program.
@harrykain285 please explain, why you need to decode a digital signal when it's already been decoded at least twice, once from the source, once from your device, you can't undo what you already have , a dac. Doesn't start the whole thing over from scratch, & CANT fix anything your putting into it, your better off and with an equalizer or active crossover, that is if you can figure out how to use them , if you like your dac. You basically like someone else's corrections, dac's are nothing more than a filter set to someone else's ears
I sold my Chord Qute dac and use a £10 Dac, no significant difference. That's according to young ears, not mine. When there is money to be made people with do and say anything. That's the human condition. In my opinion it is IS a con. Want to improve your sound? Look at your amp and speakers.
As an electronics engineer I see no reason why a good DAC can’t be made for $30.
Why do we pay $1000s?
@@UnitedStatesofAnalog for that extra 1%.
@@johnm3544 only if you can hear the diminishing return of 1% between the $30 DAC and a$6K DAC. The A to D in the studio is closer to $30 than $6K.
I always wonder the same thing. Digital is all 1's and 0's. So it is a math conversion to make a sine wave. ALL DACs should sound exactly the same. If one sounds different from another it is only because they have some kind of EQ built into them. And most "Audiophiles" always freak out at the mention of an EQ in their $1,000,000 sound systems. But apparently they are too stupid to realize that is EXACTLY what makes their $50,000 DAC sound better than a $30 DAC. The manufacturer simply added a $60 EQ circuit to their $30 DAC and charged them $50,000 for it. SUCKERS!
Yep ... the base chip is usually about $6.00 in thousand quantities.
The less crap you throw in to impress people the lower the prices and the better it works.
The sad thing is: even if this thing was great, you would have trouble finding somebody who would say so. People expect audio to be expensive, impressive and decorative. Anything less won't be taken seriously.
So true! But part of our hobby, at least for me, is that pride of ownership. Don't see the pride here! I also thought it would be interesting to put the guts of this in a big, beautiful box and watch people fall all over themselves!
@@UnitedStatesofAnalog I get that. But part of me takes pride in finding cheap stuff that sounds great.
@@UnitedStatesofAnalog Dont forget to add some lead inside it.
I’ve spent thousands on audio and I’ve been impressed by $100 headphones or DACs, I freely admit I’m paying for that extra 10-20% in performance most people could care less about.
@@mikeg2491100$ is game changer for many people (audio-enjoyers, not audiophiles, okay). I will buy a 20$, straight away, no problem. I will not buy a 100$ or more DAC. That's just the way it is, I don't think a device of this sort is worth it. Some people will buy expensive DACs, and that is okay, I respect them.
One of the big points in the comments so far is the ongoing doubt that a $30 Monster DAC can sound as good as a $1,000+ audiophile DAC. As a technician with 40 years in the trade and one of the first to get computers playing music (back in 1980) I can assure you it can and likely does.
Like most of the stuff Audiophiles buy, DACs are wildly overpriced. Compare a simple USB "external sound card" with mid to high end USB DACs and you know what you find inside... Yep, quite often they're using the same decoder chips. Chips that cost $5.00 each in service quantities, considerably less in production quantities.
Another good example of this is the TPA3255 chips that are the current fad in China-Amps. Where else are those chips used? Well you will find them in mid to high level AVR systems, pro-audio amplifiers, powered monitors and even in the much loved ICEPower modules. It's all about the same circuit with only variations in part quality, not design. You can buy an A07 for $90 (cdn) and find the same amplifier chips as used in $3,000 home theatre amps... and yes the mini-amplifiers using these chips can deliver a rock solid 100w/ch on 8 ohms and 200 on 4 with vanishingly low distortion... just like the high end stuff using the same chips can.
Maybe we should be looking a little more at our own prejudices... in today dollars it is entirely possible to put together a killer-good system for less than $500.00. The only thing preventing it is that people see a small, lightweight device and decide it's not as good, without even trying it.
Things have changed. With miniaturization, advances in chip technologies and mass production prices are coming down as quality is going up. In many cases the only difference between the cheap stuff and the "audiophile" stuff is the price.
Man... I really appreciate you laying this out for people here. It is a lot of food for thought. Expensive gear is always nice and it gives some pride of ownership. But when something is next to free and delivers on some level, THAT'S a thrill.
@@UnitedStatesofAnalog
You're welcome. I've been messing with these mini-amps for some time now and for the most part I've not found them to be lacking in any way.
To give you an example ... my current system is an A07 feeding a pair of modified Pioneer towers. It is fed by a NUC (tiny Intel computer) and a USB Soundard. Data storage is through an external NAS drive in a sleeve. When stacked together the whole thing is about 5 1/2" wide and 6" tall... Currently it houses about 1,000 movies and 8,000 songs, can stream from any source and easily delivers sound pressure levels that I can't stay in the room with.
Total cost ... just under $1,000.
@@Douglas_Blake_579What would you say about comparing two cheap DACs, well let's say that one is 15$ and the other one is 20$, is it even possible that there would be difference between the two? And I mean it could come from the same brand, or different brand, doesn't really matter. I mean a slight price difference and maybe a different finish/plastic, different visual.
Bob, normally I would not bother watching an entire video on a $30 DAC. Not that I am a snob, but it is something that I am not interested in. BUT! I love your presentation, you can take something as mundane as a utilitarian DAC and make it sound like it is something I probably need. I just enjoy your videos, you are a bit of calm in this storm called life. Thank you for the work sir, and your family for the support they bring. ;-)
More praise than I deserve. I am committed to learning and being better. This may prove to be the most difficult thing I've ever attempted. You message came at just the right moment. I won't let you down! Thanks!
@@UnitedStatesofAnalog Bob, you got this.
If it were me, for a review, for $24-30 each, I would have bought two of them so I could break open one of them to see what components are used in the DAC.
I would also have compared it not only to the Wiim mini's built-in DAC, but also to at least one higher priced DAC, perhaps something in the $100 to $200 range.
BTW, I usually prefer near-field listening.
NFL is definitely fun!
I went to college with a simple cassette AM/FM boom box that in today's money would be $450. Imagine what could be put together for that now.
Yeah... there is a disconnect. My original Marantz receiver would be the price of a McIntosh today if you consider inflation. "It's one of life's great mysteries, Sir!" - Maverick
Great review!!!! Interesting how this $30 DAC improves on the WiiM Mini. I really enjoyed this one! DAC s are awesome! And they don’t have to be expensive!!!!! God bless!!!
Thanks! Just trying to have a little fun here!
I have something similar hooked up exactly like you said, optical out of the TV to my analog in on my 30 year old Sony receiver. Simple and easy and the receiver does the rest.
Good feeling when a plan comes together!
UGreen model 30521 usb DAC, $19.00 (cdn) ... same chip ( CM6533) as some $500 DACs use without all the "ooooh shiny"... works a treat.
Truth of our time... Cheap audio is getting better and better audio is getting cheaper.
For sure! I still like the form factor, aesthetics , and quality of some of the pricier gear! But yes... you can get a lot done these days for a few$
@@UnitedStatesofAnalog
A little anecdote for you... I don't have a lot of extra floor space, so one of the goals with my own system was to go compact as well as good sounding. I use an A07 amplifier and a pair of modified Pioneer towers fed by a NUC set up as an HTPC and one of the $20.00 DACs. Works a treat for me, total cost under $1,000
But, one of the local audiophiles with a $10,000+ system got hold of this and went off all weird about it, bad mouthing me all over town and even to a few of my clients. (I'm a retired service tech)
Eventually I ended up face to face with the idiot and gave him a simple challenge... "Come over and listen. If you're going to trash me, do it on fact not gossip."
So, on the appointed day and time he shows up at my door. I made him a cup of the worlds worst coffee (a specialty of mine) and we sat down to play some music ... he listened, he went silent, he left. Haven't heard a word from him or about him since.
If I had the space I would have a pretty typical audiophile room setup. But I don't so I learned about "stealth acoustics", alternative placements, etc. to get a decent system in my living room. Truth is, a good system is more a matter of careful choices than a big bank account.
My only holdback on this would be that it's limit is 24/96khz, I would prefer to get 24/192..... I have 2 Schiit Modi's and they are the most that I need.
No problem with Schiit! I have lots of their stuff!
I found one of these in the clearance aisle at Walmart for half price ($15.00) 5 years ago, bought it and sent it to my friend to use with his Pioneer Plasma TV. He said it was fine for TV (I believe he used the Toslink connection) myself, I use a ifi Go Link, an old OPPO HA-2, and a Chord MOJO to use with my laptop, phone, and iPod Touch. By the way, this Monster Cable DAC cannot be used with a laptop because the digital inputs are only Toslink or SPDIF. The micro USB port is only for the 5v power input.
Great observation! Thanks!
This is the first and only external DAC I have ever owned and used. I bought it to connect my record player (rca only) and my television (optical out) to my Scarlett Solo audio interface. I use 2 Yamaha HS5’s monitors and 1 HS8 sub for listening. It also has a really bright red led that actually provides enough light behind my desk so I can see when reaching for the power strip switch. I have nothing to compare the sound to but it sounds good to me. I didn’t even know what a DAC was before I needed one and Walmart was the closest store that had one. It does the job. I think I paid 30 and have not been disappointed. Nice vid 👍
That's awesome! When you can, graduate to a Geshelli J2 AKM... you'll be glad you did!
I have this DAC. It works just fine for my bedroom system.
My bedroom is my next experiment. I have some vintage 601s in there!
Interesting. I'd love to see you do a blind AB test between this dac, the Wiim straight and a Schiit Modi or SMSL SU1, and hear if there's a significant sonic difference. Maybe we are being had.
I get everyone's point that I should have done more comparisons. I only currently have J2's on hand. Clearly that is no contest. I was just trying to have some fun with a very cheap product that probably costs under $2 to manufacture. It did best the internal DAC in the WiiM mini. It was clear. Maybe just the fact that it's a se helps. I wouldn't build a system around it, but it wasn't a thin, scratchy POS like I thought it would.
@UnitedStatesofAnalog I don't know. I have a $900 Denafrips Ares 2 and my $80 SU1 dac sounds pretty close. Perhaps less soundstage, but not to the point of uncontested. Just an idea.
@@lazzzzze1that SMSL-SU1 is making a lot of people upset with how great it is. I love mine!
@@ramondelgado6778 I have two, use them with my Nodes
@@ramondelgado6778 I second that. SU-1 is fantastic. They made a lot of praise about Denafrips sonic qualities, only to be pushed aside by a humble $80 box. I have to try this Monster looks promising.
This was a fun one to watch. I wanted to see your thoughts. Particularly because about a year ago, I bought a Emotiva CD player in the analog outs were not working. I did not have a DAC on hand that had an optical port so I went to Walmart and picked this up for the hell of it. God, was it horrendous. Particularly the bass reproduction. I did not have the same experience as you. Once I did get another, DAC, I did an AB comparison, and it was like night and day. That monster DAC is cheap for a reason
Agreed! I love Emotiva! I have 3 OG XPA-1L monoblocks in my HT set-up!
Post 2. One of the handy use cases for this is the ADC functionality. For digitising your vinyl or tapes, cassettes or 8 tracks this is all you need. And while Dacs are common, Dacs with ADCs are not.
Also, by noting the monster dac is better than the wiim dac you have answered your own question as to whether better dacs make a difference. Wiim missed a trick when they kept the same poor quality dac in the otherwise fantastic wiim pro.
Jim, thanks for all the info. If YOU have a channel, I'll sub it!
Another thing is you can have a bit of fun doing some wacky things like say, take an old vintage tda1541 dac, output analog back to digital, and feed it into a monster dac like a Chord Dave. I’ve found feeding my Dave into my Sony Tazzy takes off some of the intense highs since it redigitizes the signal and outputs a warmer sound for instance.
I actually have that same DAC. Bought it when I started getting back into vinyl... ?!?!?!?. I had an A/V receiver that had no phono inputs and it was 20 ft. away from my TT. Wanting to do only one cable run and not have to worry about signal loss I went the digital route. This unit, being able to go both ways... I was able to hook up an ifi Zen phono pre to this DAC and it converted the analog input to 24bit/48k digital out. My A/V receiver took the digital in and... it sounded really great. So here is a use case for ya. Cheers!
Appreciate the support! Thanks!
Twice in half an hour! What a great treat to start a sonic weekend. Nice starter DAC for a nearfield listening area. I'm a price snob, and have wasted many dollars chasing price over practical experience. Thanks for sharing and introducing us all to what might be a reasonable starter. Take care, Sir and all the best.
Thanks, Simon! Like I said, I would NOT build a system around it. But the sound wasn't offensive like I thought it would be. It's a cheap something that might solve certain problems for certain people. Thanks for your continued support and thoughtful comments!
Showing it listed on the Walmart site now for $22.48, if ordered Online, I'm grabbing one tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up.
Word... someday, try to graduate to a Geshelli J2AKM
That's my DAC. But I'm no audiophile. Powered with classic japanese tech pioneer sx850.
Think of audio hardware and software as flavors. Everyone has their own palette and preference. And it's good to change up the flavors to keep it sounding fresh.
Walmart, HSN lowest price is best to try this equipment out. Thank you 😊
Getting the best performance for the least amount of money has been a big part of the fun to me in this crazy hobby for the last 30+ years.
Me too! Thanks for watching!
Gosh, in my case this hobby started this year. Or maybe last year, I'm not sure. I hope this will be as exciting in the incoming years too, lol.
Fum ep! The MONSTER DAC find at Walmart was GOLD! Great info!
Thanks, Fred! Please keep on coming back!
Hey Bob! Great video. I am loving your content!
Muchas gracias, Amigo. Please return for more!!!
50 years ago i had a cheap 8track stereo. i found a device at radio shak that split the stereo into front and rear. i added two more speakers and my cheap stereo
sounded a little better. i think the box cost $15. i don't know what was in it, but it had inputs/outputs and switches. not mind blowing, but a little better.
Always cool when you can Frankenstein a system and make it better! Carry on and thanks for watching!
Heard your plea this morning and subscribed! Best of luck!
Gracias, Amigo
Thing is, it's probably significantly better than most dacs in budget cd and dvd players, and possibly some streamers. There's an allure to the maybe giant killer, the piece of kit that punches above it's weight. I just received a Fosi V3 yesterday. Do I need one? Nope. I already have 5 amps. But whenever I saw a new offer it got cheaper and cheaper and the Experimenter in me could not resist. So not a question of need, but Want.
I hear you! Still looking for a spot in my home for the V3. I have some vintage Bose 601s I rebuilt. Maybe I'll bring those out.
Very Very True.
How about DACs built-in in Blu-ray players? Should they be of a better quality than in a budget DVD player, or is it just random?
@@bsnf-5Most dacs in Bluray players are relatively basic, except for flagship models and certain brands like Oppo, who used quality dacs and made that a feature. So called universal players which played sacd and dvd audio, Bluray audio etc tended to have better dacs as they were marketed to audiophiles for multichannel music playback, especially if they had multichannel analogue outputs.
@@jimfarrell4635 That is great, thanks for the info. I might get my hands on one, when or if my cheapo DVD ever goes to the grave
This will be perfect for the low-budget system in my pool shanty (old, open garage building that blows music out to the pool and back yard). I added a WiiM Mini out there so I can play the same music inside and outside during parties. I have a Geshelli J2 inside but decided to forgo a DAC outside but, for $30, I think I will add a DAC outside. Can't hurt...right?
Yes... keep the Geshelli safe, indoors! I endorse your master plan! Thanks for watching!
Amazon has a DAC for $13. Amazon Basics 192KHz Digital Optical Coax to Analog.
It makes you wonder!
Me, I highly recommend the Fraqenheim FQH-3030-II, which is on sale now at Farquer's Import/Export Emporium and Bathsalts Shop for only $19.99, which is LESS than $20, unless you include tax, which can vary quite a bit from state to state, or even country to country. It's a high quality Analog to Digital Converter, which is a ADC, rather than a more expensive DAC, which converts 0's to 1's , divides that by half, multiplies THAT by 27, and only then removes the Co from the Sine, resulting in a much cleaner and higher pitched whistle. Of course, you have to have a balanced RDT Spanglish input in order to translate non-English 0's, 1's, and 3's into the Dewey decimal system so that Librarians in Red states can explain the owner's manuals which can only be downloaded in Spanish or Lithuanian over fiber optic. Which is a real bargain only so long as brain taxes and liberal fees aren't applied in the checkout lane.
Thank you for taking the time to do this
My pleasure!
I have a couple of $40 Aiyima DAC A2s for desktop use and they sound decent. I think if I ever try a more serious external DAC, will probably try Geahelli.
Geshelli 💯%
I saw that same DAC on a Walmart rack recently and kind of snickered at it. I guess I was being unfair. Maybe I’ll give it a go, just for giggles.
Don't expect too much, but don't be surprised if it's not the sonic S#17show you thought it might be! Thanks for watching and supporting my new channel!
Great Job on trying something new and giving us your thoughts. The SMSL U-1 I picked up for $63 and it's highly recommended by Randy. Who knew good Hi-Fi could be affordable.
Great take on this affordable component.
Seriously only $30?
Maybe the 2nd harmonics in the Monster? Old tube amps usually have more distortion than newer gears and many audiophiles prefer the tubes!
Harmonics are above my pay grade. I'm a simple man and I drive a simple van! But it was a shock that it didn't sound like a hot mess... I expected it would be! Not something I would show off on my BDI cabinet!
Wow Bob! Multiple videos in a day. Sometimes you have to buy those hook hangers!
Right?! I know!
I got the Fork V3 when Randy first reviewed it. Mine has no white markings. Seems curious. I'll add this DAC to my desk top..Thanks!
Save your money for a Geshelli J2 that will last you for awhile! And you can be proud of!
Hardware requires software ..that software is the music .
Regardless of format vinyl, cd, streaming, tape , broadcast….and that you can get at least get vinyl and cd 💿 at Wallymart.
Great video 👍☕️🍕🥓🔥
Don't put headpones into that small output jack. It's probably at full line level output volume and will BLOW your headphones .
Exactly!
" Are we being bamboozled by manufacturers?" Kinda, yeah, at the really high end for consumer-facing products, I think we are. It would be fascinating to see blind tests orchestrated between like a $2,000 DAC and a $200 DAC and a $20 DAC. There have been some people that have done it or claimed to have done it and it has radically changed the amount they're willing to spend on stuff.
2,000$ DAC is just crazy amount of money. This is much more than my speakers cost
Wow, I have not seen the Monster name in a long time. Monster is Monoprice. Yes, the consumer did not know about Monoprice at first until they branched out beyond cables. Is there anything wrong with Monoprice stuff? Nope, not really except for some details on certain items such as terminators on their premium interconnects. For little stuff though, don't shy away from Monoprice.
Yeah, I don't see why a good DAC has to be over $200, but that is a whole other conversation.
I'm wondering how this $30 DAC would do in a large two-channel system?
Didn't know Monster and Monoprice were affiliated! Thanks!
@@UnitedStatesofAnalog I didn't either until I looked into it. They keep themselves separate on paper of course for various business reasons. I think we would be surprised to learn about some of the companies we purchase product from.
Dude the audiophile police are gonna be knocking:)
I'll put up a fight!
For those of us who barely know what a DAC is or how to use it. Can you go a little more in depth on how to set this up?
Good point, that would be a good primer for a future video. Also the here already many great videos out there on that subject if you're interested. Thanks!
Digital inputs are for TV (optical out) to dac (optical in). A CD player, or other source using coax, same. The RCA jacks here are output which goes to your amplifier (Integrated/Receiver/Pre-Amp). Simple for a simple system.
If hooking up a streamer, its Streamer (optical or coax out) to Dac (same inputs) to Amp. Can't tell if this dac has a usb input.
Cheap dac, probably on par with those that come with an inexpensive receiver. As you move up the chain, there are typically sonic improvements more/less noticeable depending on your own equipment, room, and material/recording.
Most stuff comes with a rudimentary dac nowadays. I prefer to add my own but some all in 1 devices can sound very good and work well together.
@@nc3419 thanks for helping me out!
Come on, tear it apart and look inside😂
Okay... Part ll video on the way! Thanks for watching! Appreciate the support!
Okay... wait for part ll!
@@UnitedStatesofAnalog cool
You could have said:”For the price of Paul, George and Ringo…..” 😆
Your are master in work.
Good video i think you did this product justice....i have this monster dac this is what I've found...i have it coming from my bedroom tv to a smsl sa300 amp it has good sound but every time i turn the tv off my speakers have a high pitch squeeling noise i have to turn the amp off when tv is off....this got aggregating after a while so i bought a shitt modi when i hooked that up i found that the separation got better and the bass went deeper and the high pitch squeeling stopped....then about 2 months later the right channel in the modi died..
.sent it back to shitt they sent it back saying nothing was wrong with it....hooked it up and it was working....for about 30 mins then took a shit agian....so monster is back in charge untill i get a svs soundbase pro to take over the whole system with hdmi arc....1 controller operation
This reminds of Stereophile magazine having the Sony Playstation 1 (PS1), around $25 used, on their Recommended Components list for SACD, DVD-A, CD Players & Media Servers for several years. The summary in the list said in part "the PS1 offered an "extended, open, and agile" sound, said AD who declared the PS1 an "insanely high value." ... noting that the PS1 combined "slightly diminished" frequency extremes with a "superior level of rhythmic acuity" for a smooth and involving sound."
It's not a miracle.
It is more evidence that judgment of sound quality is subjective.
It is also an indication that, in many cases, the price of high end audiophile equipment is way more than the cost of manufacturing the equipment. It is further evidence for the well-known law of diminishing returns with increasing prices for audiophile equipment.
I have and use that very PS1 for that very purpose!
Does the PS2 work as well? I have my sons old one just sitting…
@@jonathanberg5834 To my knowledge only the very first PS1 model has RCA outs.
@@jonathanberg5834 I don't recall any audiophile reviews of the PS2 claiming particularly good sound. However, since you have one at hand, why not hook it up as a source in your audio system and listen to it yourself?
Trust your own ears over what any others say about the sound quality of any audio component or system since no one else can directly experience what you hear and your reaction to it. Reviews are useful as guides and suggestions to help you decide what to audition, but in the end only you can decide what you like and don't like.
@@UnitedStatesofAnalog According to the Users Manual, the PS2 has an AV MULTI OUT jack on the rear and comes with a cable that has the appropriate connector for that AV MULTI OUT jack on one end, and three RCA connectors on the other end: one for the analog composite video signal, one for the left stereo analog audio signal and one for the right stereo analog audio signal.
It also has an optical digital (SPDIF TOSLINK) jack on the rear, so the PS2 can be used just as a CD transport connected to an external DAC.
The manual states that the PS2 does play audio CDs and provides instructions on how to do this.
Bought mine for $8 on clearance. On mine the mini-jack is for the power cord.
Put it in your main system and then you can see how good it is.
Yep... I might do a follow up because there has been so much interest!
I think your ADC in you mic setup needs some tweaking. There's bit high frequency noise on RUclips channel.
It entirely possible. We just got a new high end lav system. We will see if that solves the problem
Thanks for the information, I was just blessed with a Yamaha MC 32/12 Analog Mixer that I am looking to convert to Digital. I was told I needed a SPDIF to Analog and a Snake. Any replies would be greatly appreciated.
no DAC is worth $25 . A bit on the high end of price regardless of where stocked. People just think more expense means better quality in 2023. Doesn't work that way with 1's and 0's.
There oughta be a law! Thanks!
I learned more about you than the DAC.
That's by design!
Great video
Thank you 🙏🏾
Any idea what DAC chip it uses?
I couldn't find any intel anywhere on that. It's a sealed unit! I'll get my hammer!
Made in China. Great value for the money, for sure.
Just like the Fosi v3.
Still messing' around with the Fosi V3. So far so good. Paired with my Fotes however, it's starts to reveal a little more of it shortcomings. But those two items are way mismatched in price. I'm just talking comparitively to my other higher priced gear! But still pretty good!
I'd love to see some objective measurements. I suspect it is excellent for the money but going up to $100 or $200 for a topping or SMSL will get you near cutting edge performance.
Yeah... no doubt! Thanks!
It's still a big transition, from 20$ to suddenly 100$ or even 200$. For me I'd go for a DAC that is 30$ for example, to see if I can get something "better" but within that tiny budget range. 100$ is a price for which I can buy a decent Blu-ray player
Everybody goes to walmart whether they admit it or not
So true. So true!
I have best of both worlds. I neither Need a DAC and nor do I Want a DAC. I despise digital streams and digital music. I am not a robot with digital-ready ears, and am just fine with full analog sources. Reel to Reel, Cassettes in any of my 14 high-end tape decks, or vinyl (Not from Digital Mastering) records.
You have reached Nirvana and are an example to us all! Congrats!
I'll bet you 3 manhole covers (already placed on your street for easy collection) that when properly level matched and switched without interruption you would not be able to tell a Class D amp from an AB amp.
While I am happy to hear you are happy with your system, audiophile prejudices tend to be long held and run deep. Things have changed, rather a lot.
@@Douglas_Blake_579 I would have to try a lousy class D amp to see how it sounds. I only buy/make Class A and AB Vintage gear and re-bias and tune the amp circuits back to factory spec. Amps are very easy to build and work on. Why anyone would pay more than $1,000 for an Amp of any class is beyond me unless it was like a Class A amp with 1,000 watts per channel which would make a room so hot you would melt the paint off your walls.
@@AudioGuyBrian
No you don't ... the V3 as seen in this video is under $100 ...
With the stock 32 volt supply that little guy will deliver 50 watts RMS per channel on 8 ohms and 100 on 4. The distortion will be less than 0.01% right up to clipping where, like all amps, it starts rising vertically. Frequency response, intermodulation, etc. all check the HiFi boxes very neatly.
Get a 48 volt supply for it, and now you're going to have 100 RMS on 8 ohms and 190 on 4.
There's no reason to try a lousy one, when you can have a perfectly good one for about the price of an evening at the movies with your family.
@@Douglas_Blake_579 50 watts in Class D? Why. You could do it with Class A or AB and the circuit would be more durable. Class D has its place. 10,000+ watt car subwoofer amps. That is it.
I use an A/D between my CD-S700 and my Tradutto. For thirty bucks it's worth the comparison. Cheap, Y.S.I.G.
Max sample rate? Thanks.
Max sample rate 96kHz. Output sampling at 48kHz
GET TP THE POINT! JFC
Heard!
Could have been interesting but you stopped short and didn't compare it to a known good DAC like a Modi, Topping D30, or really anything.
Thanks for your input! Any suggestion to make me a better host is appreciated. It is no contest for my J2s. Those are the only external DACs in the house. I'm sure any of the quality DACs would best it. My point was, that someone, in some special situation, might be able to solve a need or problem with. That being said, it didn't completely embarrass itself when I put it in the chain. I absolutely thought it would be a thin, scratchy disaster... it kinda wasn't! Thanks again... maybe I'll make it a series!
@@UnitedStatesofAnalog Yeah, still enjoyed it but it would have been really interesting to see how it stacks up to a budget champ like the Modi. Feature wise this thing kinda reminds me of a Behringer u202 which I used for a bit before the Modi. It sounded decent enough but not as detailed as Modi and was prone to USB bus noise.
Perhaps check out your audio is seems like you are calling out to a whole classroom but actually you could consider your mic is right under your chin… if that were your significant other with their head on your shoulder would you raise your voice so much? No 😊
Got it! Still working out the kinks!
A piece of advice for your reputation and that is there is video evidence that your buying this at W#$^&@%. You might now want to get into the Witness protection program.
I should have worn a disguise!
Your audio is clipping when you shout.
So true. Still dialing things in!
to be an audiophile reviewer why your voice is OVER Modulating in your video?
@@alexron2023 It's one of life's great mysteries!
No need for a dac, it's all psychological,
Thank you, Dr.!😃
Wrong
@harrykain285 please explain, why you need to decode a digital signal when it's already been decoded at least twice, once from the source, once from your device, you can't undo what you already have , a dac. Doesn't start the whole thing over from scratch, & CANT fix anything your putting into it, your better off and with an equalizer or active crossover, that is if you can figure out how to use them , if you like your dac. You basically like someone else's corrections, dac's are nothing more than a filter set to someone else's ears
Hey bob you asked me to subscribe, so I d
I sold my Chord Qute dac and use a £10 Dac, no significant difference. That's according to young ears, not mine. When there is money to be made people with do and say anything. That's the human condition. In my opinion it is IS a con. Want to improve your sound? Look at your amp and speakers.
You should maybe read a little bit and learn about dacs before you try to make a video about one. All I got out of this is, you don't get dacs.
Heard, Chef!
I wish you would stop rambling and just get to the point. I finally got impatient and just turned your radio off.
Thanks for your input. Is this a shot at my radio show, my channel, or both. I'm not for everyone I guess! Just ask my wife!
I started comparing DACs in 2020, have yet to hear a difference...and that's the same Prozor DAC at $13.99 in Amazon
Great! I paid double!😮
Yes @missamdan, educate us super novices, on what and why we need to have a DAC.
Steady, Mr.S!😮
@@UnitedStatesofAnalog I’m not being snippy. I was agreeing. What is it used for and how does it improve a system?
if you like those sony speakers you must be deaf😂