Best DAC with headphone amp under US$250?

Equipment / Electronics / Gear / Accessories DACs
1

Fell a bit out of love with my xDuoo XD05 Basic lately, so i sold it.
I’m looking for a better replacement, preferably around the US$200 mark, but i can go up to US$250 if necessary.
I’m looking for a stationary model this time, i don’t need portability, seeing as i never moved the XD05 out of my table.

Must have:

  • Line output (RCA or 3.5mm)
  • USB and Toslink (or Coax) inputs
  • Red or black casing
  • Available on Aliexpress (i have a US$100 credit to spend there)

Would be nice to have:

  • 2 or more line outputs
  • Coax input
  • Balanced headphone output
  • Same or more power than the XD05 Basic (500mW @32Ω)

I was taking a look at the Yulong Canary II, since it has most of the features i’m looking for, but i have no idea if its a good buy, thanks in advance for the help!

2

Other than not needing the portability, what about the XD05 basic did you “fall out of love” with?

3

It may sound futile, but mainly it was the volume potentiometer.
From the start it had a “scratchy” noise when changing the volume (around half a turn of the knob), at first it was only noticeable when using more sensitive headphones, but with time i could hear it in all of them.
Other than that it also has a slight channel imbalance which drives me mad, i went to the doctor to check my ears and they were alright, the XD05 was to blame.
A friend of mine says he can fix all that for himself and paid me handsomely for it.

4

I hear ya. I have an XD05 plus. At low volume the imbalance is really bad, but does correct itself by 11o’clock. Luckily no scratchiness though.
Curious if it was a sound signature issue.
I really like the stuff from Schiit, but don’t think that’s available on Ali.
Probably your best bet would be a stack from Topping.

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