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Good entry-level DACs and Amps?

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Hello, everyone. I am planning to get a decent pair of headphones and thought I should also get an DAC or an amp (or both) while I'm at it. What would be the best DAC or amp in the ~$100 price range? I am currently using a MacBook Air (the old one). Do I need a DAC? Just to clarify, it is $100 for each DAC and amp, not both of them. Sorry for the confusion.
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praxis22
26
Oct 31, 2019
On amazon.com you can get the SMSL M100 DAC & the SP100 Tube amp for $135 together. Failing that, there is the Hidizs Sonata HD DAC which is a USBC dongle with a DAC in it to 3.5" connector. I use it on my Android phone. Not sure it it will work on a MacBook tho'
AdrianL
123
Oct 30, 2019
Am using topping d10 and drop O2 for hd600. It's good enough for me.
zep483
656
Oct 27, 2019
Reviews of the DACport HD below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44ZC2bZbgbU&t=1s Definitely take this over a dragonfly or something similar that has been listed. https://bit.ly/2Wdynq2 Measurements would agree as well (link above). And its on drop right now.
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zep483
656
Oct 27, 2019
AMP wise: JDS Labs ATOM, Gehselli Labs Archel pro, Loxjie P20, or Bravo Ocean are also good considerations if it doesn't have to be as small and portable as centrance... There's also the ZEN DAC by iFi which is amazing at 129 and an amp/dac. I'd take those before anything that Schiit Audio makes in those price ranges right now.
jaxtrauma
2103
Oct 27, 2019
zep483Yep, some good choices there too, I have an ifi nano iDSD BL and I like it, too. To each his own.
FriendlyHelper
0
Oct 27, 2019
FiiO K3
RDoug
27
Oct 26, 2019
Schiit Fulla 2
rastus
1391
Oct 26, 2019
$100 is a tough budget... for dac & amp, this will get you going, and very portable: https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/6D750FFE-7CD3-45DC-B43E-8637F8066AA7? This explains where you are headed, quite well: http://m.us.marantz.com/DocumentMaster/US/Marantz_DAC_White_Paper_4_5_2016.pdf Best deal on low price & performance headphones are the HD58X, those or a nice set of iem’s can be driven well from the ES100.
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rastus
1391
Oct 29, 2019
No direct experience with the X2, you do see talk that it is a good price/performer, https://drop.com/talk/3200/philips-fidelio-x-2 . as is the 5XX, which I have heard, as well as I own HD580's, which I can also attest to. If you find a deal on either you are golden, bias towards the 5XX/580 here, only due to experience.
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Rian_Fagundes
2
Oct 29, 2019
rastusok thanks
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