HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

Fun thing on AliExpress is that you can 'win' discount coupons (valid for a short time). I managed to get an extra 5 dollars off my DAC and that plus the free shipping has kept the price down to 94 Euros.

Now to hope that the thing works on arrival.

AliExpress is excellent. I get a lot of my fishing lures from there

Let's hope they don't keep you waiting.

Talking of AliExpress, I'm giving serious consideration to one of these

Seen that too, Slinger. Was comparing it to the Topping D50, although that needs an external PSU.

Breeze / Weiliang have something similar as well.

Which DAC is that with the twin toroidal supplies?

*edit* I missed the link, sorry. So dual AK chips? Looks nice for the money.

Fretless wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2019 4:28 pm Seen that too, Slinger. Was comparing it to the Topping D50, although that needs an external PSU.

Breeze / Weiliang have something similar as well.

If you look closely at that pic the case is actually marked "Weiliang".

Going blind.

Looks good, guess you've got to decide between that, the Topping and SMSL.

antonio66 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2019 5:59 pm Looks good, guess you've got to decide between that, the Topping and SMSL.

The Topping or the SMSL was pretty much it until I looked at AliExpress. The SMSL M-8 and the Topping D50 both use dual ES9038Q2M chips, which is the "cut-down" version of the ES9038 PRO. Stepping up to the Pro version makes for more expensive options, plus I rather fancy trying out the AK4497. It's supposed to be easier to implement than the ES9038, which means that the manufacturer should be able to get a decent sound with less hassle. Were it a straight shoot-out between the two "names" though I'd have plumped for the SMSL as I've had a lot of their stuff and it's never let me down, whereas the one Topping amp I tried out I didn't like at all.

But... it's much more exciting buying blind, isn't it?