If you’re someone who is looking for a new desktop DAC, but have limited funds to spend, then this article will be of great help. With so many options out there and not knowing where to start can make things confusing. This list should help narrow down your search. You’ll find the best brands in order from least expensive to most expensive with some of their key features listed as well.
When it comes to desktop DACs, you really get what you pay for. Higher priced DACs will offer better sound quality, more features, and sometimes even a built in amplifier. If you’re looking to spend a little less, there are still some great options out there. The 13 brands listed below offer a variety of features, sound quality, and price points so you can find the perfect DAC for your needs.
Chord Electronics
Chord Electronics is a company that takes pride in their engineering and design. Chord Electronics, a company founded by John Franks in 1989, is known for its outstanding line of products.
Chord Electronics was started because the founder learned his craft in the demanding aviation industry and decided to follow his passion for audio design. The company offers reliable, durable, great-sounding DACs that are ready to make history.
Bryston
Bryston is a company that has been designing and manufacturing specialty electronics for over 35 years. Their products are based on the commitment to creating the most accurate and reliable equipment available, which is evident in their 20 year analog and 5 year digital warranties.
This dedication to quality allows customers to enjoy a generation of sound like never before. Bryston is headquartered in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada and is sold through over 150 dealers in North America and 60 countries worldwide. The company was founded by Chris Russell in 1962.
AudioQuest
AudioQuest was founded by Bill Low in 1980 to manufacture custom hi-fi cables for his new one-man store. The company sells a variety of goods, including speaker cables, HDMI cables, and portable digital audio products. For many years, AudioQuest has been the most important cable supplier to the high-end specialist market, and its broad range of goods delivers value and performance.
The company’s DragonFly Black and Red models have won numerous awards, including “Product of the Year” from Darko.Audio. DragonFly Black outputs 1.2 volts and is compatible with a wide range of headphones, while DragonFly Red outputs 2.1 volts and is compatible with a wider range of headphones. Both models include a high-quality headphone amp and analog volume control.
AudioQuest is featured in the following post:
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Parasound
Parasound is a company that designs and manufactures audio equipment. Their products are known for their quality, reliability, and value.
Richard Schram founded the company in 1981, and it has been headquartered in San Francisco ever since. The company works with some of the biggest names in the business, such as Lucas Films, Pixar, and Sony.
Their products are affordable without sacrificing quality. Parasound is a company that is dedicated to providing great sound at an affordable price. Their products are known for their quality and reliability, which is why they have been around for over 35 years.
The company is headquartered in San Francisco, and they continue to produce audio equipment that is both cutting-edge and affordable.
J-Tech Digital
J-Tech Digital, a leading provider of audio and video solutions, was founded in 2012. J-Tech Digital is headquartered in Sugar Land, TX, and they continue to grow their business year after year.
J-Tech Digital is a premier industry leader in audio and video solutions, with products that are reliable, innovative, and affordable. They have been named one of the fastest growing companies in Houston for four years in a row, and they continue to serve millions of customers with excellent customer service.
With ten years of experience, J-Tech Digital is a key provider of audio-video devices for multiple industries. Their products are sure to satisfy any customer. Anyone looking for an excellent audio or video solution should consider J-Tech Digital.
This brand is also featured in the following post:
RME
RME Audio is a company that designs and manufactures audio devices, with a focus on making products that are both affordable and of superior quality.
RME was founded in 1996 by two audio engineers who were looking for a new challenge. The company is still headquartered in Haimhausen, Germany, where each developer on the team is either a musician or sound engineer.
RME regularly networks with other industry specialists to exchange knowledge and information in order to create products that are truly superior in quality. The company has had a consistent string of successful product releases, which has resulted in them being one of the top audio device companies in the industry.
RME is also featured in the following post:
Schiit
Schiit is known for their high-quality, affordable audio equipment. They offer a wide range of products that are perfect for audiophiles on a budget.
Schitt Audio is a company that designs and builds audio products. They are known for their innovative design and unique approach to audio products. Schitt Audio is also one of the few companies still making multibit DACs, which offer better sound quality than most other DACs on the market.
Since their inception in 2010, Schitt Audio has been shaking up the audio industry with their innovative designs and unique approach to audio products. Their products are some of the best on the market when it comes to sound quality, and they continue to push the boundaries of what is known in the audio industry.
From headphone amplifiers to digital-to-analog converters, Schiit has something for everyone. So if you’re looking for the best desktop DAC brands on a budget, look no further than Schiit.
Benchmark
Benchmark has been a leader in the audio industry for more than 30 years. Their commitment to excellence and quality is unmatched, and their products are built by musicians, audiophiles, and audio professionals who know what it takes to make great sound. They’re so confident of their product that they offer an unconditional lifetime warranty on all Benchmark gear.
Allen H. Burdick founded Benchmark in 1983 as the “Benchmark Sound Company” in Garland, Texas. His commitment to quality and excellence quickly made Benchmark a leader in the audio industry. The company grew rapidly, and by 1985 it had been incorporated as Benchmark Media Systems.
Today, Benchmark is headquartered in Syracuse, New York, where they continue to design and manufacture top-notch audio equipment for professional use. Despite health problems, Allen was deeply involved in the design of all Benchmark products until his retirement in 2007. The company remains true to his vision for making transparent audio equipment that sounds great and is built to last.
Benchmark products are designed by audio enthusiasts who are passionate about audio quality and durability. Most products are designed, assembled, tested, and shipped worldwide from their headquarters in Syracuse, NY. Benchmark truly lives up to its name, and if you haven’t tested their equipment, you should give them a chance. You won’t be disappointed.
iFi
The iFi brand was founded in 2012 as a subsidiary of Abbingdon Music Research. The goal was to create quality audio products at an affordable price that would be accessible to a wider range of consumers.
iFi is a British company that prides itself on quality audio products at an affordable price. All of their products are made in China, with circuit boards, chassis, software design, and manufacturing/production handled in-house. This allows iFi to oversee the quality of their products while also being environmentally responsible.
iFi products are made from recyclable materials and meet environmental standards. The company is committed to creating audio devices that make a difference in how people live their lives. Headquartered in Southport, UK, iFi sells products globally through industry-leading retailers such as B&H and etailz. And they’re just getting started.
This brand is featured in the following post:
NAD
NAD is a brand that prides itself on its high-quality, innovative technology when it comes to sound. The company was founded in 1972 by Dr. Martin L. Borish and has since been acquired by AudioNord and the Lenbrook Group. Its team of developers are based in Canada and are continuing the legacy of passion for sound quality that Borish and his associate started.
DirectDigital™ and HybridDigital™ are two technologies that NAD has implemented in its new Masters Series of amplifiers. NAD’s commitment to quality and innovation in sound makes it a brand worth investing in for audiophiles and music lovers alike. Its team’s passion for delivering the best possible sound is evident in every product the company releases, making NAD a name you can trust when it comes to your audio needs.
This brand is also featured in the following post:
Nagra
For decades, Nagra has been a leading brand in audio recorders and devices. Their products have been used in TV and film studios all over the world and their high-end Hi-Fi equipment is some of the best on the market. Nagra is a Polish word that means “will record”. The company was founded in 1951 by Stefan Kudelski in Switzerland with the goal of creating high-quality audio recorders.
Nagra has been honored with a number of awards over the years. Most notably, the company has won two Oscars in 1978 and 1991. Nagra also enjoys a global reputation for excellence in the design and manufacture of professional audio recording equipment.
Since branching out into Hi-Fi products in 1997, Nagra has become a revered name in the audio industry. Their products are known for their exceptional quality and craftsmanship. If you’re looking to buy an audio recorder or enhance your sound system, Nagra is a brand you can trust.
Musical Fidelity
Musical Fidelity’s founder, Antony Michaelson, started the company in 1992 in London, England. Since its inception, Musical Fidelity has been driven by a passion for music and the challenge of world-class engineering. The company’s products are designed with the utmost care and attention to detail, in order to provide audiophiles with the best possible listening experience.
For thirty years, Musical Fidelity has been designing and manufacturing Hi-Fi electronics, with a focus on affordability without compromising quality. Their products have won awards for their sound quality, and they continue to be one of the best-known brands in the Hi-Fi industry.
Whether you’re looking for an entry-level product or something more high-end, Musical Fidelity has something to offer everyone. Their products are designed with a focus on performance and sound quality, and they’re known for their innovation in the world of audio equipment.
Mytek
Mytek is a company that was founded in 1992 by Michal Jurewicz and is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, USA. They are famous for their high-quality audio equipment like A/D converters and D/A converters.
In the past few years, they have also started making DACs which convert digital files to analog signals for audiophiles. Mytek is known for their neutrality in their designs, which means that they pass the signal on the recording through as accurately as possible. This has made them one of the best audio brands in the world today. If you’re looking to buy a DAC, then you should definitely check out Mytek’s products before making a decision.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a great desktop digital/analogue converter, consider one from any of these brands above. When choosing a desktop digital-analog converter, it really pays to do your research. The market is flooded with many different models, all of which claim to be the best.
However, the 13 brands we’ve listed here are some of the best available, and each offers something different. So, whichever brand you choose, you can be sure that you’re getting a quality product. And that’s it!
We hope this article has helped you to choose the best desktop digital-analog converter for your needs. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them below. And once again, thanks for reading!
Solomen is the founder of MrHow.io, and he is happiest when working with technology and able to help others. In his free time, he often listens to Baroque music, swims or runs. Feel free to contact him on social media!
