Without a DAC, your digital music collection is nothing short of 0s and 1s. Smartphones, computers, and other playback devices come with built-in DACs. These built-in DACs are ok, but if you want to improve the quality of your playback audio drastically, you need an external DAC. In this article, we’ve reviewed the best DACs under $100. And to complete your system, check out our list of the best headphone amps under $100.
DACs Under $100 Comparison Table
| DAC | AMP | CHIP | MAX SAMPLING | DIMENSIONS | WEIGHT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iFi Zen Air DAC | Yes | DSD1793 | 32Bit/384kHz | 6 x 4 x 1.4″ | 315g |
| FiiO JadeAudio KA3 | Yes | ES9038Q2M | 32Bit/768kHz | 5.96 x 0.98 x 3.62″ | 45g |
| S.M.S.L SU-1 | No | AK4493S XU316 | 32Bit/768kHz | 7.24 x 4.84 x 2.13″ | 195g |
| EarStudio ES100 | Yes | AK4375a | 32Bit/192kHz | 1 x 2 x 0.5″ | 20g |
| FiiO D3 (D03K) | No | MS4344 | 24Bit/192kHz | 2.44 x 0.83 x 1.93″ | 50g |
| FX-Audio DAC-X6 | Yes | LM4562NA | 24Bit/96kHz | 5.91 x 3.86 x 1.26″ | 730g |
| SMSL PO100 AK | No | AK4493S | 32Bit/768kHz | 3.15 x 2.36 x 0.51″ | 100g |
| HIDIZS S8 USB DAC | Yes | CS43131 | 32Bit/384kHz | 4.88 x 1.77 x 1.26″ | 9g |
| Sound Blaster X1 | Yes | AKM 4377 | 24Bit/96kHz | 4.72 x 2.95 x 0.75″ | 13g |
| Topping DX1 | Yes | AK4493S XU208 | 32Bit/384kHz | 6.65 x 5.24 x 1.54″ | 440g |
NB: At the time of writing all DACs in this list were under $100.
Best Overall DAC Under $100
1. iFi Zen Air DAC
- Headphone Amp: Yes
- DAC Chip: DSD1793
- Max Sampling Rate: 32Bit/384kHz
- What We Like: Affordable, Supports a wide range of audio formats, Clean and detailed sound, Good build quality, Xbass+
- What We Don't: Cables are too short
iFi Audio, a part of AMR Audio, is a UK company synonymous with DACs, Amps, DAC/amp combos, Bluetooth transmitters, and many other audio accessories. With so many DAC offerings from iFi, the iFi Zen Air DAC caught our eyes as one of the cheapest around that works, which is why it makes it to the top of this list.
First, the build quality is great, and although it’s not all metallic, the plastic used is hard and of good quality. This helps cut down on the budget and the unit’s overall weight. The front panel has a kHz LED that indicates the music format, a power match button, a large volume potentiometer, a 6.3mm headphone output, and an Xbass button. On the back, RCA input jacks, digital optical input, and a DC 5V power input.
The DAC is also an MQA renderer and supports PCM up to 32Bit/384kHz, along with DXD, DSD 64, 128, and 256. The Xen AIr DAC is easy to set up and use. Connect the provided USB cable to your digital source, connect your headphones, and you’re good to go.
As a DAC, the iFi Zen Air is quite good and delivers high-quality, detailed, clear, and clean sound, free of any distortion and noise. As an amp, the iFi Zen Air is not that powerful and will have trouble powering high-impedance cans, which is why we’d recommend using the DAC with your amp.
Overall, the iFi Zen Air DAC is an excellent value for money. Despite its lower price point, it delivers good quality sound without making too many sacrifices. We highly recommend the iFi Zen Air DAC as a cheap or budget-friendly DAC.
Best USB-C DAC Under $100
2. FiiO JadeAudio KA3
- Headphone Amp: Yes
- DAC Chip: ES9038Q2M
- Max Sampling Rate: 32Bit/768kHz
- What We Like: Good build quality, Clear and silent, Powerful DAC/amp combo, Higher sample rate, Balanced and single ended outputs
- What We Don't: No MQA, no buttons
FiiO needs no introduction in the audio world with the many products they have on the market. From budget flagship DAC/amps and high-end units, FiiO is unbeatable when it comes to producing audio gear. The FiiO JadeAudio KA3 is an ultra-portable DAC/amp combo you can check out. Let’s get down to the review.
The construction features a black aluminum body, and it’s quite light despite the metal materials. The overall build quality feels very sturdy and durable. On one side of the unit, you get the 3.5mm and 4.4mm jacks for connecting your headphones or IEMs. On the other end, you have a USB-C jack for connecting your smartphone, audio player, or other playback devices.
The LED ring on the top flashes green, yellow, and blue depending on the input sample rate. Green is for DSD, yellow is for above 48kHz, and blue is for below 48kHz.
The KA3 is a plug-and-play device compatible with different operating systems. The device is compatible with the FiiO control app, which allows easier and more configuration settings for the unit.
The FiiO KA3 does an amazing job for the DAC chip quality thanks to its crystal clear, linear frequency response and silent background. It is transparent and offers good processing precision. As an amp, it is also very powerful and can easily power-hungry headphones such as the Sennheiser HD660s.
Overall, FiiO did their homework when working on the KA3, and it paid off. Don’t let the small size of this thing fool you; it is among one of the best DAC dongles in the market at this price point.
Best Stereo/Desktop DAC Under $100
3. SMSL SU-1
- Headphone Amp: No
- DAC Chip: AK4493S XU316
- Max Sampling Rate: 32Bit/768kHz
- What We Like: High price performance ratio, Transparent sound, Great build quality, High sampling rate
- What We Don't: None at this price point
SMSL has a wide range of products, ranging from budget to high-end. We’ve tested some SMSL products here, and they all come up being good. The SMSL SU-1 DAC is a desktop or stereo DAC we’ve tested, and it’s nothing short of awesome!
For a budget DAC, the SMSL SU-1 has a robust design that is compact and lightweight. The DAC is made from Aluminum alloy and features an anodized black finish color. On the front panel of the DAC, you’ll get the LED indicators that show the source and a small power button. You’ll get all the connectors at the back, including coaxial, optical digital, RCA (L&R), and USB type-C (Power & Data).
You’ll use the USB-C input jack to hook up the DAC, which can carry both power and data. However, if you choose to use Coax Digital or Toslink Optical, you’ll still have to use USB-C to power the device.
For sound impressions, the SU-1 is an overall neutral DAC that adds very little color to the sound. It is transparent and natural along the frequency response, which is very decent for an entry-level DAC.
The overall performance of the SMSL SU-1 DAC is superb compared to its cost. It’s transparent and goes to prove great engineering requires the right skills and not a ton of money. We’re happy to recommend the SMSL SU-1 to anyone. There is no excuse for having a bad DAC when this is available at such a low price!
DACs Buying Guide
What is a DAC?
Not long ago, when instruments and other sounds were recorded, the captured audio was stored in analog form. This involved imprinting the analog audio waves into reels, cassettes, and phonograph discs or records. For master tapes (reels and cassettes), analog audio was imprinted via magnetization, while phonographic discs used physical grooves.
The analog audio storage presented problems because it would degrade over time due to physical wear, dust, and other elements. This necessitated the growth of digital audio formats in order to store audio files.
Without going into further details, analog audio is converted to digital audio via ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter). This captures the analog audio wave and changes it to a multilevel digital signal (1s and 0s) without altering its content. The most common technique of changing analog signals to digital signals is PCM, which stands for pulse code modulation.
The Connections of The SMSL SU-1 Desktop/Stereo DAC
Once analog data is converted and stored into digital data, it needs to be converted back to analog data to be played and heard from your speakers or headphones. This is where a DAC comes into use.
The DAC, short for Digital-to-Analog converter, is responsible for converting digital audio (1s and 0s) into analog audio so it can be played via speakers or headphones. A good audiophile DAC will convert digital audio into analog audio better compared to a poor cheaper DAC. The quality of digital-to-analog audio conversion will depend on the DAC chipset used.
Apart from the DAC chipset, the file format of your digital audio also determines the quality of the audio when it’s converted. Higher-resolution files will sound better than lower-resolution and compressed audio files.
Bit Depth vs. Sample Rate
The process of converting analog to digital audio is called quantization. This process captures a rapid series of “snapshots” or samples of a specific size at a fixed rate. Each audio sample captured contains the information needed to reproduce the analog audio waveform accurately. The audio capturing and playback rate is called the sample rate.
The higher the sample rate of a digital audio signal, the more snapshots are captured. The sample rate is measured in kilohertz (kHz).
The Back Plate of iFi Zen Air DAC
In simple words, the bit depth is the resolution of digital sound. The higher the bit depth of digital audio data, the more detailed and accurate it will be compared to the original analog audio. A 32-Bit digital audio file will be much better than a 24-Bit one. A lower bit depth means most audio data is lost during conversion.
Both bit depth and sample rate form a total bandwidth, which is how analog audio is stored digitally. Every audio you play through your DAC will have a bit of depth and sample rate. The higher the bit depth and sample rate your DAC can handle, the better it is. For reference, the FiiO JadeAudio KA3, SMSL SU-1, and SMSL PO100 AK are the highest on our list and can handle 32Bit/768kHz. If you need to go into more details, we have a full explainer of how that works.
Types of DACs
External DACs come in different form factors, which can determine their features, available input and outputs, and portability.
Portable DACs are the smallest and are usually used with smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Most include USB-C ports or other ports that are available for most portable playback devices. Most portable DACs come in a USB thumb drive size, such as the Audioquest Dragonfly series, which is not on our list. Some good portable DACs on this list include FiiO KA3, Earstudio ES100, and Hidizs S8.
Testing The FiiO JadeAudio KA3 Portable DAC
Desktop DACs are larger and usually used with our computers or audiophile setups. While most portable DACs draw power from the playback device, desktop DACs require AC power. The good thing about desktop DACs is they come with more audio jacks to work with.
Component Audiophile DACs or Hi-Fi DACs are a type of desktop DAC. Still, they serve home audio systems as central hubs of music. Most come with larger power supplies, balanced connections, and advanced DAC circuitry. Some also include more than one DAC chip that handles each channel independently from another.
Wired vs. Wireless DACs
Wired DACs are the most common in the market and use cables to connect to playback devices and speakers or headphones. Wireless transmission between the source and the DAC is an alternative to direct connection. Wireless DACs can connect to your playback device via Bluetooth or RF via a transmitter and receiver.
However, like any wireless connection, audio degradation is always possible. In wireless DACs, the wired connection only happens between the DAC and the playback device, not the output device. So, your speakers or headphones will still have to connect to your DAC to receive audio physically.
When choosing a wireless DAC, check the audio codecs supported. Higher Bluetooth codecs, like aptX HD and LDAC, provide better sound quality than AAC and AptX.
Holding The Earstudio S100 Bluetooth DAC
Signal to Noise Ratio Explained
For most audiophiles, the noise floor of a DAC is very important to the overall quality of the audio being reproduced. This is why most audiophiles prefer separating as much as possible to avoid interference and reduce the noise floor as low as possible. However, how critical is the noise floor when listening to music?
When digital audio is converted to analog audio, electrical interruptions or jitter noise is added. A higher signal-to-noise ratio means signal power and noise is bigger; thus, there’s more useful audio information than unwanted noise.
If you can get a DAC that provides a lower noise floor, it will definitely sound superior. However, sometimes signal to noise ratio is just a measurement to some users whose ears cannot hear more dynamic range due to old age or damage. If you listen to 24-Bit of higher bit depth recordings, then the signal-to-noise ratio of DAC starts to matter.
