[aakshey]

Hi there.

I currently have:

Nobsound TDA1387 - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32881225029.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dwVvgWe

Ideally I’m looking for an upgrade with a similar type of sound, but better all around. So looking for something with coaxial and something that’s not USB powered. I’m assuming that will give better sound.

I have shortlisted 4 DACs.

Option 1 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Listing-16X-Parallel-TDA1543-HiFi-Audio-DAC-Decoder-PCM2706-USB-DAC/272904022431?hash=item3f8a58e99f:g:9GYAAOSwvApZ8z6m#rpdCntId

Option 2 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Finished-L1387DAC-8Xse-Eight-Parallel-TDA1387-HiFi-DAC-Decoder-PCM2706-USB-Audio/273179599235?hash=item3f9ac5e183:g:PPkAAOSwRyda4Z0O

Option 3 - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/L1387Solo-8x-TDA1387-Optical-Coaxial-USB-DAC-Decoder-HIFI-Headphone-Amplifier/273183020388?hash=item3f9afa1564:g:gkgAAOSwQiJfCHYm         

Option 4 - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Non-Oversampling-NOS-DAC-TDA1543-DIR9001-SPDIF-Coax-Optical-dual-9V-NiMH-w-charg/201003880227?epid=1953246028&hash=item2eccc3cf23:g:3kIAAMXQVT9Sq1xa

What do you recommend and why?

Happy with what I have now. But looking for something even sweeter, more musical, more lively, more 3D. And so on.

Setup:

HD 650
Project Ember Headphone Amp designed by solderdude

[rotarius]

Just forget about the NOS dacs with ancient  chips.  Any number of the current generation dacs under 500 sound much better than even the old spendy stuff.  Btw, I used to own these TDA 1543 dacs a long time ago.  Better ones than the dubious Chinese stuff off Ebay.  A Musical Fidelity V90 or the Pro-ject dac box S2 would be infinitely better in the budget category. 

[navi]

Just forget about the NOS dacs with ancient  chips.  Any number of the current generation dacs under 500 sound much better than even the old spendy stuff.  Btw, I used to own these TDA 1543 dacs a long time ago.  Better ones than the dubious Chinese stuff off Ebay.  A Musical Fidelity V90 or the Pro-ject dac box S2 would be infinitely better in the budget category. 

I have to agree with this as i have always found the 1543 DACs rolled off at the highs and lows. Maybe that is what appeals to you then if so, there is a guy in France who makes a 1543 DACs that runs on batteries. I think this is one of the better budget NOS DAcs https://www.ebay.com.au/usr/leopardo42?_trksid=p2047675.l2559


I would suggest the Topping D50 or E30 as a better option.

[Letitroll98]

Option 4 from the OP is a battery operated DAC.