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DROP + Grace Design Standard DAC Balanced - Digital-to-Analog Converter with Audiophile XLR, USB-B, 3.5mm Stereo Connectivity, Black DROP + Grace Design Standard DAC Balanced - Digital-to-Analog Converter with Audiophile XLR, USB-B, 3.5mm Stereo Connectivity, Black DROP + Grace Design Standard DAC Balanced - Digital-to-Analog Converter with Audiophile XLR, USB-B, 3.5mm Stereo Connectivity, Black DROP + Grace Design Standard DAC Balanced - Digital-to-Analog Converter with Audiophile XLR, USB-B, 3.5mm Stereo Connectivity, Black DROP + Grace Design Standard DAC Balanced - Digital-to-Analog Converter with Audiophile XLR, USB-B, 3.5mm Stereo Connectivity, Black

DROP + Grace Design Standard DAC Balanced - Digital-to-Analog Converter with Audiophile XLR, USB-B, 3.5mm Stereo Connectivity, Black

DROP + Grace Design Standard DAC Balanced - Digital-to-Analog Converter with Audiophile XLR, USB-B, 3.5mm Stereo Connectivity, Black DROP + Grace Design Standard DAC Balanced - Digital-to-Analog Converter with Audiophile XLR, USB-B, 3.5mm Stereo Connectivity, Black DROP + Grace Design Standard DAC Balanced - Digital-to-Analog Converter with Audiophile XLR, USB-B, 3.5mm Stereo Connectivity, Black DROP + Grace Design Standard DAC Balanced - Digital-to-Analog Converter with Audiophile XLR, USB-B, 3.5mm Stereo Connectivity, Black DROP + Grace Design Standard DAC Balanced - Digital-to-Analog Converter with Audiophile XLR, USB-B, 3.5mm Stereo Connectivity, Black
$ 262.65

Score By Feature

Based on 62 ratings
Sound quality
9.90
Quality of material
9.48
Volume control
7.31

OveReview Final Score

How Our Score Is Calculated

Product Description

We're thrilled to release the much-requested balanced version of the massdrop x grace design standard dac, following the success of the standard dac.
a standalone balanced dac — designed to work with high-end balanced amplifiers such as the drop thx aaa 789, alex cavalli amps, and others. Grace design is known for producing highly accurate and transparent gear, and this new dac is no exception.
advanced features — the sdac-b is equipped with the akm ak4452 digital-to-analog conversion chip, which is the same as the one used in our first collaboration with grace design, the m9xx dac/amp.
A balanced output, three-pin xlr outputs, and a coaxial spdif digital input are all found on the back panel, allowing the dac to work with both balanced and single-ended amplifiers.
three-pin xlr — the three-pin xlr outputs also allow you to connect to powered speakers and control volume with software.
Components Included: 3. USB-B to USB-A cable with a length of 3 ft (1 m).

Questions & Answers

Is it necessary for the cord to be USB 2? 0 in order to take advantage of USB 2. Is the supplied cord a usb 2 and does the dac have a 0 setting?

Yes, the USB 2 cable that comes with the device is included. Almost any USB cord you buy today will have at least two USB ports.

Is this powered by the USB port on the back? Is there another USB port? Is the digital input coax, toslink, or both?

Yes, there is only one USB port that serves as both a power and a data source. Also, there's a 3rd input. Coax/Toslink combo port of 5mm.

Is it possible to play this on an Xbox One S? Instead of buying a cheap pair of headphones, I'd rather use my nice ones?

No, USB DACs are not supported by the Xbox Series X. I experimented with a few different options. Optical audio output was available on the One X, but it is no longer available on the Series X, so the only way to listen on headphones is to use the controller's headphone jack (which isn't the best) or HDMI (via a receiver or TV audio output options). Bluetooth headphones aren't supported at all.

What's the best way to connect this to my Samsung TV's optical output?

This DAC makes use of a mini-USB port. A Toslink to mini Toslink adapter or a cable with Toslink on one end and mini-Toslink on the other would be required. In the other, there's a toslink.

Selected User Reviews For DROP + Grace Design Standard DAC Balanced - Digital-to-Analog Converter with Audiophile XLR, USB-B, 3.5mm Stereo Connectivity, Black

I bought this along with the Drop THX AAA 789 and it made me smile
5/5

Being somewhat anal, I first connected the amp to itself and experimented with various CD recordings, transport, headphones, and cables in order to truly understand the best combination, etc. This was slightly better than listening straight from the CD player, but I was not "happy" with it. "Now we're getting somewhere/that's what I'm talking about!" I exclaimed as soon as I added this little DAC to the mix. " It just makes everything more accessible. " The lows became tighter and tighter as the day progressed. The highs became more defined, extended, and natural sounding. All of a sudden, the background went black and everything started to open up. Sweet!.

Malaysia Cardenas
Malaysia Cardenas
| May 06, 2021
I was able to get more bang for my buck
5/5

I swapped out my expensive Schiit DAC for this Grace, which has a much higher spec 32 bit rate. a greater frequency It was very simple to set up. Now I just have to find someone to buy my schitt.

August Frey
August Frey
| Apr 09, 2021
I'd give it five stars if I could figure out how to make the USB2 mode work, but I haven't been able to do so yet
4/5

After an hour of trying, I couldn't get it to work at all, and I was about to return it, but I unpacked it and tried it again the next day, and it sounds fantastic. The signal from my television to a crown amplifier was completely cleaned up. There is no hiss and the sound is very strong. The fact that the outputs are balanced is a huge plus. If you buy it and it doesn't work with your computer, don't waste your money. Give up as soon as possible. It would be nice if this company provided tech support, so it does not receive five stars, but it is unquestionably a keeper. If you're clever, you'll be able to solve it. It should not be a problem for smarter people than me. Computers aren't my strong suit.

Camila Roberson
Camila Roberson
| Dec 05, 2021
For the money, this is a fantastic balanced DAC in a small package
5/5

My HS-II sounds great with balanced outputs. I can connect an RCA subwoofer to the unbalanced output. Both USB and optical sound great, and switching between computers is a breeze. There is no volume control because it is designed to be used with an amp or powered speakers, so it is highly recommended as a balanced stereo dac.

Brianna ROWLEY
Brianna ROWLEY
| Oct 04, 2021
It was well worth the money
5/5

I use it with my Drop THX 789 and XLR Balanced Hifiman Sundara and can't say enough good things about it!.

Maria Gibbs
Maria Gibbs
| Feb 02, 2021
I was looking for someone to round out my team
5/5

First and foremost, it arrived ahead of schedule, and I am extremely pleased with the entire purchasing experience. In terms of the product, it is subjective to list general characteristics; however, for me, this is all a show. I have a Macbookpro, my discography is FLAC-encoded, and my top-of-the-line headphones are Sennheiser HD800S, and I'm rediscovering everything because I used to listen to music with Sennheiser Urbanite or Beyerdynamic Aventho wireless headphones. (When everything is APTX, these are a sublime experience. ) br>br>I'd like to point out that the Grace SDAC Balanced is fantastic, and it is well worth the money. I have a lot of stacionary cable and, most recently, a little estática, but the sound is flawlessly clear, transparent, and flawless. I use it in conjunction with the THX AAA 789 projector. I'm enjoying it because it's a beast. br>br>Thanks to Amazon, the cables and equipment arrived in excellent condition, all in a reasonable amount of time, and it was without a doubt an unforgettable experience. My project was in pandemia, and they made it possible. Thank you so much.

Hayes Travis
Hayes Travis
| Aug 12, 2021
A es100 was replaced
4/5

This tiny DAC has proven to be extremely useful. Initially, I was using an es100 with an AMP, but I couldn't get rid of a strange static hiss coming from the balanced connection. It was nearly unbearable to listen to on my headphones. This DAC was the answer to all of my problems, and the sound quality is unrivaled.

Simon Gibson
Simon Gibson
| Nov 23, 2021
Simple, elegant, and effective
5/5

br>Clean sound. Simple, inexpensive, and effective. The construction is solid. Also, it's a plug-and-play setup. This is a great option if you're looking for a low-cost feature-light balanced dac to pair with a balanced amp. It only has one purpose, but it accomplishes it admirably!.

Dakota McDonald
Dakota McDonald
| Feb 23, 2021

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