Updated October 2026 · prices checked Oct 10, 2026.
Short answer: the Schiit Modi 5 ($149) is the best standalone DAC under $200 for most amp stacks. The Topping E30 II and SMSL SU-1 cost less and do the same job. If you don’t have a headphone amp yet, skip standalone DACs and buy a DAC/amp combo.
USB, optical and coax in, RCA out, 2 V output with the optional wall wart (1.5 V on USB power alone). Sized and voiced to sit under a Magni.
Dual AKM AK4493S chips, USB/optical/coax inputs, a front display and a preamp mode. The best-known non-Schiit pick.
The cheapest of the three: AK4493S with an XMOS XU316 USB receiver, USB/optical/coax in, RCA out. No frills, nothing missing.
When you need a standalone DAC
You need one if you’re building an amp stack around an amp-only unit such as the Schiit Magni (Unity) or JDS Labs Atom Amp 2, or if your computer’s output is noisy and your amp only takes analog input.
You don’t need one if you’re buying a DAC/amp combo, or if your headphones run from a phone or laptop already (see the voltage table ).
Comparison
| DAC | Price | Chip | Inputs | Outputs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schiit Modi 5 | $149 | ESS ES9018 in Schiit’s Mesh design | USB, optical, coax | RCA (75Ω) | 1.5 V on USB power, 2.0 V with wall wart |
| Topping E30 II | check price | 2× AKM AK4493S | USB, optical, coax | RCA | Display; doubles as a preamp |
| SMSL SU-1 | check price | AKM AK4493S | USB, optical, coax | RCA | Smallest and cheapest |
| FiiO K11 R2R (combo) | ~$170 | R2R ladder | USB-C, optical, coax | RCA + headphone | Includes a 4.4mm balanced amp |
Specs from Schiit’s product page and the manufacturers’ retailer listings, checked Oct 10, 2026.
The picks
Schiit Modi 5: best for a Schiit stack
Schiit’s current Modi (the Modi Multibit and Modius are no longer in the line-up). It takes USB, optical and coaxial input, so a TV or console can share it with your PC. One detail worth knowing: on USB power alone it outputs 1.5 V; with the optional wall wart it’s the standard 2.0 V. With a Magni that difference rarely matters, but buy the wall wart if your amp needs a full 2 V for its rated output. Modi 5 + Magni (Unity) is $268 at Schiit’s prices.
Topping E30 II: best-known budget DAC
Two AK4493S chips, all three common digital inputs, and a front display. It’s been a community default for years, often sold as a pair with Topping’s L30 II amp. Its RCA outputs are single-ended only.
SMSL SU-1: cheapest that’s still good
Same AKM chip family, a smaller box and fewer features. For a straight PC-to-amp link it does everything the others do.
If you’d rather have one box: FiiO K11 R2R
For about $20 more than a Modi 5 you get a DAC and a headphone amp with a 4.4mm balanced output. Unless you already own an amp, this is better value than any standalone DAC. More in DAC/amp combos under $200 . See today's price for the FiiO K11 R2R on Amazon ↗
What about balanced (XLR) output?
None of the three picks has XLR outputs, and I couldn’t confirm a current balanced-output DAC under $200 that I’d recommend. If you need XLR into a balanced amp, read the best balanced headphone amps guide first: in most cases a one-box unit with a balanced headphone jack is the cheaper route.
Does the DAC chip matter?
Less than the implementation, and less than marketing suggests. At this price, AKM, ESS and well-made R2R designs all measure below audibility in noise and distortion. Choose on inputs, outputs, size and whether you want a DAC/amp combo instead.
What changed since our last update
- Schiit Modi Multibit: no longer in Schiit’s line-up. Buy the Modi 5. Old review: Modi Multibit .
- Schiit Modius: not listed on schiit.com any more.
- Topping DX3 Pro+: retailers list it as discontinued. The Bluetooth one-box role is now the Topping DX5 II (~$299).
- Corrected: earlier versions listed the wrong DAC chip for the SU-1 and claimed it had XLR outputs. It uses an AKM AK4493S and has RCA outputs only.