[HowardRoark]

I just ordered M50's and i want to buy a DAC for about $100 or less but it seems they all have headphone amps built in.  My m50's dont need an amp so i am wondering if i would be paying extra for something i dont need.  Or is a headphone amp 100% necassary in a DAC?
 
So are there DAC's without amps in my price range?
If not what one with an amp in it should i get for my m50's?
 
Thanks,
New guy

 

[ROBSCIX]

Head amps are needed for high impedance phones.
Not all DAC's will include a headphones amplifier.

 

[HowardRoark]

So what would you recommend I get for $100 or less for my m50's?
 
And thank you for the quick response

 

[ROBSCIX]

That is not a large budget but perhaps looks at the uDAC...which is in your budget.

 

[HowardRoark]

Yes i was either going to get the uDac or set up to the Musiland but i dont know if it will be worth it

 

[ROBSCIX]

Quote:

Yes i was either going to get the uDac or set up to the Musiland but i dont know if it will be worth it

Talk with people that own them.  $100 is not much of a budget for a quality DAC.
You may be able to find a better unit used in the buy and sell forums here.

 

[KingStyles]

If you dont have a separate amp, you have to have some kind of amp circuit in the dac to make the analog signal big enough for you to hear it through your cans. Even  if you are listening to an ipod with your iems plugged straight into the headphone jack, it has a dac and amp combined. Just not a very good one of either.

 

[Armaegis]

There are refurbished udacs for about $80 now, and the udac2 is $130. The FiiO e7 is about $80 I think. You can probably find an iBasso D2+ used for about $100. HotAudio makes a bunch of really nice dacs for under $100, but they aren't the prettiest things to look at.

 

[HowardRoark]

I have made up my mind on the udac and thanks for the replies.

 

[allister]

I know you've decided already, but you could also consider this ESI UGM 24 XL here