# Something even more cost-effective than Denafrips? **URL:** \ **Category:** Audio Components\ **Created:** [February 25, 2022, 1:27pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/something-even-more-cost-effective-than-denafrips/27749 "2022-02-25T13:27:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Arenith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/arenith/32/62875_2.png) [@Arenith](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Arenith)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 1:27pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/something-even-more-cost-effective-than-denafrips/27749/1 "2022-02-25T13:27:41Z")
Know to recommend some DACs that offer even more value than Denafrips? Surely some esoteric brand somewhere that manages to do this? ---
**Author:** ![terzinator](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/terzinator/32/45292_2.png) [@terzinator](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/terzinator)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 1:52pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/something-even-more-cost-effective-than-denafrips/27749/2 "2022-02-25T13:52:45Z")
if you visit Audio Science Review they look at a lot of these. (No affiliation, no endorsement, YMMV) Here’s an inexpensive one that gets good marks (first I’ve heard of this brand was five minutes ago, so again, YMMV)… > **[Loxjie D40 Review (DAC & HP Amp)](https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads%2Floxjie-d40-review-dac-hp-amp.31040%2F)** > > This is a review and detailed measurements of the Loxjie D40 stereo DAC with Bluetooth and headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $430. > > > I like the design -- it reminds me of some European brands. Bright white LED... ---
**Author:** ![Arenith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/arenith/32/62875_2.png) [@Arenith](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Arenith)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 2:25pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/something-even-more-cost-effective-than-denafrips/27749/3 "2022-02-25T14:25:20Z")
[![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/3X/d/7/d7a16e63c4f496470f02f03bfa5cd89e9f5e1f95.jpeg "Herb Reichert Zooms the San Francisco Audiophile Society") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMHuxL8eI9k) In this Herb Reichert talk, a participant recommends Herb to review apparently very high value (that’s Herb’s thing right) DACs by a small Ukrainian company called Abbas. There’s some (a little) talk on these products if you search. Mostly raving. From their site: “Most of SE models have a current-voltage germanium converter, which uses audionote tantalum non magnetic resistors.” That’s nice. Here’s the Abbas 4.1 SE [https://www.ebay.com/itm/363733979049?hash=item54b03c0fa9:g:9V8AAOSwGOtgQOti](https://www.ebay.com/itm/363733979049?hash=item54b03c0fa9:g:9V8AAOSwGOtgQOti) The build quality does look very impressive. ---
**Author:** ![bootzilla](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/bootzilla/32/1598_2.png) [@bootzilla](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/bootzilla)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 4:04pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/something-even-more-cost-effective-than-denafrips/27749/4 "2022-02-25T16:04:40Z")
I have been impressed with the portable DACs I have heard from iFi Audio (the Micro iDSD and the Nano iDSD). I own the original Micro iDSD DAC (the one in the silver case) and I continue to be very impressed with its performance for the price. The iFi line has expanded dramatically since the Micro iDSD came out, and I have not heard their newer DACs, but I would expect them to likewise punch well above their weight. ---
**Author:** ![Serhan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/serhan/32/192329_2.png) [@Serhan](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Serhan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 6:37pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/something-even-more-cost-effective-than-denafrips/27749/5 "2022-02-25T18:37:37Z")
> **[Okto Research](https://www.oktoresearch.com/dac8stereo.htm)** > > Objective performance > **[Okto dac8 Stereo D/A processor](https://www.stereophile.com/content/okto-dac8-stereo-da-processor)** > > For his review of the Pink Faun 2.16x music server in the December 2020 issue, Kal Rubinson needed to use a Linux-compatible multichannel D/A processor. A little Googling uncovered the 8-channel dac8 PRO from Okto Research in the Czech Republic, so... ---
**Author:** ![Arenith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/arenith/32/62875_2.png) [@Arenith](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Arenith)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 7:04pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/something-even-more-cost-effective-than-denafrips/27749/6 "2022-02-25T19:04:00Z")
I’ve been considering to purchase this for some time. I’m just not sure if I should just go for this objectivist ultra-performing machine or something like the Abbas DACs with premium hand-selected components and tubes and such, which _most likely_ would sound (hate to say this…)… MORE ANALOG. ---
**Author:** ![Serhan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/serhan/32/192329_2.png) [@Serhan](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Serhan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 7:15pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/something-even-more-cost-effective-than-denafrips/27749/7 "2022-02-25T19:15:13Z")
John Atkinson put this one on Stereophile’s A+ list. So, there must be something about it. An onboard streaming option is available from manufacturer. ---
**Author:** ![Arenith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/arenith/32/62875_2.png) [@Arenith](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Arenith)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 7:31pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/something-even-more-cost-effective-than-denafrips/27749/8 "2022-02-25T19:31:29Z")
Of course performance is not to be (pre-)judged by images of DACs’ insides, but compare these: Abbas 4.1 SE: ![abbas](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/3X/b/1/b16a75fb9160d86db58bf05f46ee14457cc377f8.jpeg) Okto Research DAC8 Stereo: ![okto](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/3X/5/0/502baf36e911e9884438d306eedd02903816a069.jpeg) Not hard to _see_ why the Abbas product is so intriguing… But can’t know without hearing, and surely not buying both. ---
**Author:** ![RonP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/ronp/32/213555_2.png) [@RonP](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/RonP)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 7:47pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/something-even-more-cost-effective-than-denafrips/27749/9 "2022-02-25T19:47:25Z")
You can’t make a mistake going with Schiit products in terms of value for money and factory support. ---
**Author:** ![john2213](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/john2213/32/94338_2.png) [@john2213](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/john2213)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 9:05pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/something-even-more-cost-effective-than-denafrips/27749/10 "2022-02-25T21:05:16Z")
Limited resolution but with some tube goodness. $1,000 bucks or so… [DAC – Border Patrol](https://www.borderpatrol.net/dac/)