Under $1,000, really anything in blue will do:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/master-sinad-distortion-comparison-graph-...
I went with the SMSL SU-8 v2 and love it. My software front end is generally Foobar2000 playing FLAC files and using the SRC resampler to perform a straight 4x upsample on the computer side prior to D/A conversion.
So what hits the DAC is usually either 16/176 or 24/384, unless I’m being lazy and listening to 320kb MP3’s on Spotify and then it’s just straight 16/48.
The SMSL M500 measures better than my SU-8, decodes MQA and DSD and also has a headphone amp stage that nearly measures as well as the new THX AAA products, which makes it a crazy value.
I know value is a dirty word around here though so /shrug
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/master-sinad-distortion-comparison-graph-...
I went with the SMSL SU-8 v2 and love it. My software front end is generally Foobar2000 playing FLAC files and using the SRC resampler to perform a straight 4x upsample on the computer side prior to D/A conversion.
So what hits the DAC is usually either 16/176 or 24/384, unless I’m being lazy and listening to 320kb MP3’s on Spotify and then it’s just straight 16/48.
The SMSL M500 measures better than my SU-8, decodes MQA and DSD and also has a headphone amp stage that nearly measures as well as the new THX AAA products, which makes it a crazy value.
I know value is a dirty word around here though so /shrug