[helloh3adfi]

Hello, I'm looking for a full decoding MQA DAC with balanced connectors. It doesn't matter if there's an amp included. It should be not more than 500 $US! Chifi or whatever doesn't matter as long as there are no bugs or poor quality. I am not afraid to update the firmware. Any help appreciated.

 

[gimmeheadroom]

Hello, I'm looking for a full decoding MQA DAC with balanced connectors. It doesn't matter if there's an amp included. It should be not more than 500 $US! Chifi or whatever doesn't matter as long as there are no bugs or poor quality. I am not afraid to update the firmware. Any help appreciated.

I don't think there is such a thing in that price range.

Alternative could be a bluesound box as a transport.

 

[dunring]

I use a Topping e50 and like it a lot, no issues and comes with a remote. It has the indicator for MQA to tell if it's an authenticated song, or just a processed FLAC file.

 

[NehPets]

Hello, I'm looking for a full decoding MQA DAC with balanced connectors. It doesn't matter if there's an amp included. It should be not more than 500 $US! Chifi or whatever doesn't matter as long as there are no bugs or poor quality. I am not afraid to update the firmware. Any help appreciated.

SMSL SU-9 PRO

 

[starence]

ZEN DAC Signature V2

 

[helloh3adfi]

Most of the MQA DACs have ESS chips. Unfortunately there are almost no affordable DACs with AKM. Maybe we will see them soon, since they started to produce again. Some say AKM sounds better.

I use a Topping e50 and like it a lot, no issues and comes with a remote. It has the indicator for MQA to tell if it's an authenticated song, or just a processed FLAC file.

Doesn't it have a lot of bugs and a wide variety of QC issues? I saw many comments on headfi. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/topping-e50-stuttering-with-mqa.962096/