Lindy DAC review

Despite its close resemblance to the earlier CYP AU-D3 DAC, Lindy's simple DAC is a hard-hitting performer Tested at £40

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

This feisty Lindy is a hard hitter that offers much for a comparatively low budget

Pros

  • +

    Hard hitting and solid sound, cheap, spacy soundstage

Cons

  • -

    Some treble hardness

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It will take more than a fetching finish to convince us that this new Lindy isn’t a re-badged CYP AU-D3. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, mind you.

Like others at this price point, you get a simple little box that plugs into the wall, and that accepts signals through optical or coaxial sockets before outputting them through stereo RCAs on the opposite side.

We’ve done the comparison and the Lindy does sound just like the CYP AU-D150 – and both sound better than the Neet DAC.

Play the new album from Aussie indie-discoers The Naked and Famous, and the beats hit harder and with greater weight and solidity behind them.

Switch to The Unthanks and there’s more space and three-dimensionality to the folky soundstage, and more drama to dynamic shifts. There’s a bit of treble hardness, though.

The gains offered by pricier kit makes it worth stretching if you can, but if £40 is your limit, the Lindy or the CYP AU-D150 are for you.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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