Budget DACs

HRT dacs are good value, but I would suggest you also check Arcam rPac. It is a newer model and within your budget I believe. I have no idea about other DACs you noted, but judging by their price I don't believe they will suit you - it seems that these are mainly for 'low-fi' systems, like TVs and such. As many will suggest you should attempt to demo anything you'd like to buy before making commitment.

Yeah I figured that may be the case with the lower priced models.

I didn't really consider the Arcam rPac as I thought it was more designed for headphones... does it work well through an amplifier/ speaker set-up too?

I don't see a reason why rPac shouldn't work in a speakers setup. It has 2xRCA line outs and it should work fine. If you have doubts you better check it with Arcam or with a reseller. Clearly my suggestion to you would be to demo both HRT and rPac, if you have such possibility, and decide for yourself which one works better, I presume the sound quality would be more or less equal and both devices are well regarded, so you probably won't go wrong with either of them.

Thanks very much for the help! I'll try to give both a test!

Epiphany E-DAC Approx £90.

Lol I've got the same dilemma with as500 amp and a DAC for airport express with AirPlay. I'm keen to learn ( started another thread) if we would be better spending the amp and DAC money on a more expensive amp that has a good DAC built in? Such as a £400 plus amp

Richer Sounds used to have TEAC UD-H01 for sale at £150 , if you can snatch on up at that price its a steal. It has gotten very good reviews at both What Hi-Fi and Hi-Fi Choice.

Nothing in Richer Sounds for that price. Superfi for £199.99.

You could also consider the Kingrex UD-01 Pro. 250 from itemaudio.com in the UK. It's highly praised in reviews and I've been very satisfied with mine.

Beresford Bushmaster DAC... It is really in a league of it's own. Better than MDAC, some say... No usB, but you can connect the Mac Mini through the optical out, depending on it's age.

Rotel RA-11. Asking £499, so you'll have to barter. It has 2 optical and 2 co-axial inputs. Job done.

Reconsider the rPac as it is excellent.

Yamaha make a good sounding amp compared to the competition, i'd be extremely surprised, especially if its got 5 whf stars

So get a hifimediy dac, they are great and only cost £27-£37.

And hunt down a used class a ja-88d / ja-88d value edition or a vincent/shengya a17cs from one of the great online guys in china.

If you must get a fridge brand then waste your cash on a rotel/cambridge.

I haven't noticed any mention of the Fiio D3.

Only £30.

And if you really don't like it you can gift it to a less fussy friend, or keep it as a spare.

It's as cheap as chips, and (IMHO) sounds wonderful.

Probably nobody mentioned the Fiio D3 because apart from lack of USB (the guy is after building a computer based setup) even with the new chipset its not very audiophile sounding at all. It's cheap for a reason, unlike the hifimediy which is just cheap for no reason.

Would love to hear hifimediy back to back with the audioquest thing which costs a whole lot more to see which is best.

Not heard myself but the guys at rockgrotto seem to enthuse about the Aune T1 DAC and if you get one from them it comes with a spare £30 valve so you can roll it and see if its any better. Quite expensive so better be bloody good.