Poll: Worst DACs in Terms of Value - October 6, 2015

Discussion in 'Leaderboard, Overboard, and Deals' started by purr1n, Sep 30, 2015.

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What are the Worst DACs in Terms of Value? (unlimited selectable responses) October 6, 2015

Poll closed Nov 6, 2015.
  1. Teac UD-501 $850

    12.3%
  2. Mytek Stereo192 DSD $1500

    21.1%
  3. Chord Hugo (as a DAC) $2500

    40.4%
  4. Chord Hugo TT (as a DAC) $4800

    47.4%
  5. Audioengine D1 $170

    5.3%
  6. Yulong DA8 $1400

    31.6%
  7. Jeff Rowland Aeris $10000

    17.5%
  8. Resonessence Labs Invicta $4995 - increased from $3995

    26.3%
  9. Sony PHA3 $1000 (as a DAC)

    12.3%
  10. Oppo HA-1 (DAC section) $1200

    15.8%
  11. iFi iDSD non-BL Nano $200 (as a DAC)

    17.5%
  12. iFi iDSD non-BL Micro $500 (as a DAC)

    15.8%
  13. Any TDA1541 based DAC

    1.8%
  14. AK240/340 (as a DAC) $2500+

    26.3%
  15. Benchmark DAC1 $1000

    17.5%
  16. MSB Select or anything above the Analog $10000+++

    31.6%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    We'll vote later. Taking nominations now.
     
  2. drfindley

    drfindley Secretly lives in the Analog Room - Friend

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    Obviously the Chord Hugo or Hugo TT. Sadly no one has heard the Dave yet to nominate it.
     
  3. shipsupt

    shipsupt Admin

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    I've got think the Mytek 192-DSD thingy is a contender...
     
  4. AustinValentine

    AustinValentine Friend

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    The Mytek would be my pick, yep. Next to no redeeming value. Harsh and artificial sounding.

    The Audioengine D1 sucks too. Only Wolfson implementation I've ever heard that sounded *worse* than the headphone out on a Macbook. Only reason I wouldn't nominate it over the Mytek is that it costs less than 10% of what the Mytek does. But, really, it's worth zero dollars and has probably caused quite a few entry-level hobbyists waste their money. (Thinking about it more, its entirely possible that shit like the D1 has done more damage to the hobby in absolute terms than shit like the Mytek.)
     
  5. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Just nominate it for being so damned ugly, and for the obvious waste of a huge proportion of its sale price on that absurd case/chassis/stand or whatever they call it. Surely it is a manufacturing impossibility that it can be anything else but bad value for money?
     
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Yulong DA8. I don't know how this thing is $1400.
     
  7. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    Jeff Rowland Aeris dac $9800
     
  8. Griffon

    Griffon 2nd biggest asshole on SBAF

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    Resonessence Labs Invicta - good company, but unfortunately the sound alone doesn't justify its $5k price tag.

    Edit: Sony PHA123, probably 3 should also be on the list.
     
    Last edited: Oct 5, 2015
  9. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    I second the Yulong DA8.
     
  10. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Oppo HA-1, the only dac where I immediately went wtf because someone stuck an ice pick in my ear.
     
  11. kapanak

    kapanak Canucklehead - Friend

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    I agree with both Audioengjne D1 and D3. For the price, they sound worse than a lot of sound cards, though for its size, D3 has a powerful amp.

    While I am at it, throw in iFi iDSD Nano and the iDSD Micro in the mix too.
     
  12. dark_energy

    dark_energy Friend

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    I prefer a 35$ DAP to Yulong DA8 due to the artificial sound and extreme shrillness.

    A basic 30$ vintage Marantz/Sansui has better headamp section than anything i have heard from Yulong. This sets the par for me anyway. / Slightly OT, but it is supposed to be a DAC/AMP
     
  13. Ferrum

    Ferrum Acquaintance

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    Any 1541 based DAC in my view. Low resolution and poor at the frequency ends.

    Ferrum
     
  14. Madaboutaudio

    Madaboutaudio Friend

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    Astell and Kern AK240/AK380 DAP*

    *which can function as DAC.
     
  15. Priidik

    Priidik MOT: Estelon

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    Yup, DA8 is up there ^^^
     
  16. dreamwhisper

    dreamwhisper Friend

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    Benchmark DAC1
     
  17. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    We'll be voting soon.
     
  18. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

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    MSB Select. Actually, make that everything MSB makes above the analog DAC and even that might qualify despite the sonics and build quality.
     
  19. Griffon

    Griffon 2nd biggest asshole on SBAF

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    Marv, in case you didn't see my edit, I'm double posting: additional nomination of Sony PHA 123. If I have to pick one, it's the 3.
     
  20. Judeus

    Judeus Facebook Friend

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    teac anything. The grain, my god the grain.
     

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