dac for ath m50?

So you want go from Sansa LOD -> DAC -> Amp -> Headphones?

Doesn't the LOD already output into analogue signal?

If so, the DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) isn't needed and you can just buy a portable headphone amp like a FiiO E6 to amplify. 

Sansa LOD -> Amp -> Headphones

I may be completely wrong so wait until some other members can confirm or not.

This is what you need - Fiio E7 portable DAC and Amp.

^ Gwarmi might of confused you because he posted a DAC/Amp. If you're outputting to a 3.5mm connector, you're just using the amp portion of the E7.

I think OP was confused as to his Sansa LOD having a male 3.5mm connector for output and not being able to connect his M50 directly.

Simple fix would be any amp that accepts 3.5mm for input.

I don't think a LOD needs a DAC

I understand.

So why do you need a DAC inbetween the signal and the amp if the LOD terminates in a 3.5mm plug?

Isn't the whole point of a DAC to convert the digital files? It is already done within the mediaplayer before it reaches line out. Unless you replace the onboard DAC, the best you can do is line out with a LOD into an external amp. 

Media storage (hard drive/flash drive) => DAC => 3.5 (using media player's internal amp as well)  or LOD (pure line signal) => amp

You can get external sound cards such as the CLAS and the HP-P1, but there are very few options for external sound cards for portable media players. Maybe just get a USB DAC for your computer and do all your serious listening at home.

He doesn't need a DAC at all for that setup.  Line output from PMPs is analogue.  Just get a portable amp if you feel like you need one.

^ Thank you for clarifying.

I appear to have failed to get my meaning across...

Yep, my mistake too ~ completely forgot this was a Sansa and not an Apple product which could take a line out from the bottom of the device.

You can take a line-out from the Fuze as well - but the signal is analogue.  It's a line-level analogue out - not a digital.

OP - I think you've been getting a little confused.  The DAC is a digital to analogue converter.  Every PMP has an internal one already.  On some PMPs (eg iPods) you can get an add-on LOD and DAC to extract the digital signal through the bottom dock.  But at the moment - there are very few devices that can do this (the Sansa's can't) - and they are quite expensive.  Most people who use a LOD on the iPod, and all who use it on the Sansas, are only extracting a line out analogue signal with the purpose of amplifying it through an add-on amp.  The main purpose of this is if you want to power cans that require more juice.  If you connect an amp to the headphone-out of your player - you are in effect going:

pmp dac -> pmp amp -> add-on amp -> headphones

By using a dock (if a lineout signal is available), you are going:

pmp dac -> LOD -> add-on amp -> headphones

You're not double amping.  If the amp in your pmp is not overly clean, avoiding double amping can get a cleaner sound.

Your Sansa should drive your M50's without using an amp.  Why exactly do you want to get one?

To give you an idea of why I use one with my Touch G4 / Iphone4 - it's simply because I like to be able to listen to my HD600s - and to do that I need an amp (PortaTube or E11).

I was up for E7, but after read more I now prefer E9 or E10 :) will see how it goes