Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Let's do a survey of the ~$500-1000 DAC & Headphone Amp all-in-one units! Included are the pros and cons of each contender, and which ones I think belong at the top both ergonomically and sonically and why.
Want to support the channel? Consider becoming a member! Or you can join my Patreon here:
patreon.com/wavetheory1
Or make a 1-time donation through PayPal here:
paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=7N7Z8WRLWQ36E
The contenders in ascending price...
SMSL DO400
- Buy (affiliate link): amzn.to/44CACqx
- My review: youtu.be/4ED02gL417Y
Schiit Asgard X w/ MESH DAC card
- Buy: schiit.com/products/asgard-x
- My review: youtu.be/n8H8SN3Rdf4
HiFiMan EF600
- Buy (affiliate link): https://apos.audio/products/hifiman-ef600-desktop-dac-amp?&sca_ref=1448954.julYPU81dF
- My review: youtu.be/1wON4Wi7Llc
Aune S9c Pro
- Buy (affiliate link): amzn.to/48hp7Z8
- My review: youtu.be/9kZ1NmxBpgs
D&A Alpha Pro
- Buy (affiliate link): https://apos.audio/products/d-a-alpha-pro-hi-res-dac-headphone-amp?sca_ref=1448954.julYPU81dF
- My review: youtu.be/KTmZ1-EHmAY
Matrix Mini-i Pro 4
- Buy (affiliate link): https://apos.audio/products/matrix-mini-ipro4-streamer?variant=7950824571116&gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw6p-oBhAYEiwAgg2PgmEvgyo9PV-mqb0n68HjM4C92eCod2tmtOtTHCzfIoNHbkEdFLxshBoCJwcQAvD_BwE&sca_ref=1448954.julYPU81dF
- My review: youtu.be/s0mQXdtElAg
FiiO K17
- Buy: https://apos.audio/products/fiio-k17-desktop-dac-amp?sca_ref=1448954.julYPU81dF
- My review: youtu.be/GSWEhwOjCsw
HiFiMan Goldenwave Serenade:
- Buy: store.hifiman.com/serenade.html
- My review: youtu.be/DWvcZm3n6wY
Luxsin X9
- Buy: luxsinaudio.com/products/luxsin-x9
- My review: youtu.be/NcK7lWqPipM
My reviews of other mentioned gear...
FiiO SR11: youtu.be/YuagbK8p0FA
Schiit Mimir: youtu.be/JnT_3HpAHt0
WiiM Mini: youtu.be/9KuI0vpNBbc
Timestamps...
00:00 Intro, Setup, Disclaimers
02:42 Shameless Self Promotion
03:09 An Important Philosophy
07:40 A Quick Rundown of Each Competitor
21:25 Regrettably Disqualified
24:58 The REAL Contenders
25:39 CHAMPION OF FLEXIBILITY & USE CASES
27:41 The SOUND Contenders
28:15 THE SOUND CHAMPIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL BUYERS
30:00 THE SOUND CHAMPION IN THE UNITED STATES
32:07 Is An AIO Even the Best Option At All?
35:20 Wrap-Up
Let's do a survey of the ~$500-1000 DAC & Headphone Amp all-in-one units! Included are the pros and cons of each contender, and which ones I think belong at the top both ergonomically and sonically and why.
Want to support the channel? Consider becoming a member! Or you can join my Patreon here:
patreon.com/wavetheory1
Or make a 1-time donation through PayPal here:
paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=7N7Z8WRLWQ36E
The contenders in ascending price...
SMSL DO400
- Buy (affiliate link): amzn.to/44CACqx
- My review: youtu.be/4ED02gL417Y
Schiit Asgard X w/ MESH DAC card
- Buy: schiit.com/products/asgard-x
- My review: youtu.be/n8H8SN3Rdf4
HiFiMan EF600
- Buy (affiliate link): https://apos.audio/products/hifiman-ef600-desktop-dac-amp?&sca_ref=1448954.julYPU81dF
- My review: youtu.be/1wON4Wi7Llc
Aune S9c Pro
- Buy (affiliate link): amzn.to/48hp7Z8
- My review: youtu.be/9kZ1NmxBpgs
D&A Alpha Pro
- Buy (affiliate link): https://apos.audio/products/d-a-alpha-pro-hi-res-dac-headphone-amp?sca_ref=1448954.julYPU81dF
- My review: youtu.be/KTmZ1-EHmAY
Matrix Mini-i Pro 4
- Buy (affiliate link): https://apos.audio/products/matrix-mini-ipro4-streamer?variant=7950824571116&gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw6p-oBhAYEiwAgg2PgmEvgyo9PV-mqb0n68HjM4C92eCod2tmtOtTHCzfIoNHbkEdFLxshBoCJwcQAvD_BwE&sca_ref=1448954.julYPU81dF
- My review: youtu.be/s0mQXdtElAg
FiiO K17
- Buy: https://apos.audio/products/fiio-k17-desktop-dac-amp?sca_ref=1448954.julYPU81dF
- My review: youtu.be/GSWEhwOjCsw
HiFiMan Goldenwave Serenade:
- Buy: store.hifiman.com/serenade.html
- My review: youtu.be/DWvcZm3n6wY
Luxsin X9
- Buy: luxsinaudio.com/products/luxsin-x9
- My review: youtu.be/NcK7lWqPipM
My reviews of other mentioned gear...
FiiO SR11: youtu.be/YuagbK8p0FA
Schiit Mimir: youtu.be/JnT_3HpAHt0
WiiM Mini: youtu.be/9KuI0vpNBbc
Timestamps...
00:00 Intro, Setup, Disclaimers
02:42 Shameless Self Promotion
03:09 An Important Philosophy
07:40 A Quick Rundown of Each Competitor
21:25 Regrettably Disqualified
24:58 The REAL Contenders
25:39 CHAMPION OF FLEXIBILITY & USE CASES
27:41 The SOUND Contenders
28:15 THE SOUND CHAMPIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL BUYERS
30:00 THE SOUND CHAMPION IN THE UNITED STATES
32:07 Is An AIO Even the Best Option At All?
35:20 Wrap-Up
