We recently curated a list of the best IEMs in India under Rs. 5,000 so users can hop on the audiophile journey. Along the same line, we have brought another list of the best DAC/Amp in India so you can drive the IEM to the maximum power and experience crystal-clear sound with minimum distortion. So without any delay, let’s go ahead and find out what are the affordable DAC/Amps available under Rs. 10,000. We have also mentioned a few premium ones, in case your budget allows you to push the envelope a bit.
Best DAC/Amp in India for Android, iPhone, PC & Mac
Here, we have listed the 8 best DAC/Amps in India for Android smartphones, iPhones, PCs, and Macs. You can expand the table below and move to any section with just a click.
1. FiiO E10K
FiiO E10K is another great DAC/Amp in India that is low on cost and high on the feature set. Keep in mind, the DAC is only compatible with PCs and Macs and it does not work with smartphones. The FiiO E10K features the PCM5102 DAC chip which is an upgraded version of WM8740. The new DAC chip is said to bring crisp and loud audio while reducing noise and distortion from other sources.
It has a top-notch digital filter to reduce any delays and silence intervals. What’s more, the FiiO E10K comes with a bass boost as well which would be preferred by all. Not to mention, the new LMH6643 amplifier has enough power to deliver rich and fuller sound. To conclude, if you want a powerful and affordable DAC/Amp in India for PC and Mac then FiiO E10K tops the list.
Buy from Amazon: Rs. 4,990
2. Creative Sound Blaster Play
Those who want to upgrade the sound card of their laptop without splurging much, Creative Sound has you covered with its Blaster Play DAC/Amp. It’s modestly priced and brings 24-bit 96khz playback to your computer. The best part is that it has a USB-A connector, unlike USB-C ones, so you can connect it to all sorts of computers. And you will not need a Y splitter as the DAC has a separate line for mic and audio.
Not to mention, the DAC has a high impedance output of 300Ohms which means it can drive almost any headphone/IEM to the maximum volume. Simply put, if you want a no-frills DAC/Amp for your PC or Mac then Creative Sound Blaster Play is the most affordable choice out there.
Buy from Amazon: Rs. 2,999
3. Shanling – UA1
If you are a beginner and looking for an affordable DAC/Amp to start your audiophile journey then my first recommendation would be Shanling – UA1. It costs just Rs. 3999 and offers a DAC chip — ESS Sabre ES9218P — to be specific, and packs an amplifier as well for a power-packed output. The key features of Shanling – UA1 are Hi-Res Audio, portability since you will be using it on your smartphone, metal build, low power usage, and more.
What I particularly like is that it’s a perfect DAC/Amp for modern smartphones since it comes with a USB-C connector. Most smartphones currently don’t have a headphone jack so it can double as your USB-C to 3.5mm connector and a powerful DAC/Amp as well.
Apart from that, Shanling – UA1 comes with a smartphone app as well which can be fine-tuned according to your preference. Having said all of that, bear in mind, users have claimed that in terms of sound, it refines the audio quality marginally, but with respect to loudness and bass enhancement, it does a great job with minimum noise.
So to sum up, if you are looking to enjoy lossless music on your smartphone then Shanling – UA1 is a perfect DAC/Amp for beginners. Note that the Shanling – UA1 is also compatible with PC and Mac. In case, you have a higher budget then you can check out Shanling UA2 (Rs. 6999) and UP2 (Rs. 5999). The UA2 is particularly great for the price.
Buy from Headphone Zone: Rs. 4,499
4. TOPPING – NX1s
The NX1s by TOPPING is a fantastic value for money and a worthy DAC/Amp for both smartphones and computers. Its premium DAC chip can drive power up to 300Ohms which is great for this price. Not to mention, the TOPPING – NX1s has a frequency range up to 100kHz which makes it a certified Hi-Res DAC/Amp. And that means you can enjoy lossless music encoded with FLAC/LDAC without any issue.
The best part about TOPPING – NX1s is that you can choose the mode between clear, neutral, and mega bass for deep, punchy bass. Not to mention, it packs a 1000mAh battery which gives you 40 hours of extended playback time. I would say, the NX1s is simply a great DAC/Amp at this price and you can’t go wrong with it. It has better output power, lower noise, lower harmonic distortion, and more.
Buy from Headphone Zone: Rs. 3,999
5. Astell&Kern – AK XB10
Astell&Kern – AK XB10 is another great DAC/Amp in India and those who are serious audiophiles may find it indispensable. It comes with a 2.5mm balanced output which means it’s much better at reducing the ground noise and enhancing the power output. You will have also have a richer audio experience due to the balanced output. Of course, you also have the option for 3.5mm unbalanced output.
Other than that, Astell&Kern – AK XB10 comes with the Cirrus Logic CS4350 DAC chip which is said to be quite powerful. What I like about this DAC/Amp is that it has built-in Bluetooth. So you can wirelessly connect your smartphone or laptop to the DAC/Amp. That’s awesome, right? It supports SBC, aptX, and aptX HD codecs on Android and AAC on iOS. Qualcomm’s aptX HD can transmit audio signals up to 24-bit/48 kHz which makes it a great wireless Hi-Res DAC. Overall, if you are looking for a portable and wireless DAC/AMP in India that does not compromise on sound then Astell&Kern – AK XB10 is the right pick.
Buy from Headphone Zone: Rs. 5,999
6. iBasso – DC04
iBasso – DC04 is one of the unique DAC/Amp on this list that features a dual DAC chip. It uses two CS43131 chips which is a promising DAC from Cirrus Logics. The dual setup is said to bring top-notch audio clarity while reducing distortion and background noise. On top of that, it supports Hi-Res audio on both smartphones and computers.
On the audio interface, it brings a 4.4mm fully balanced headphone jack which is better than the traditional 3.5mm jack in terms of reliability. This will help especially those users who have premium IEMs with 4.4mm output. And just like many affordable DACs on this list, iBasso – DC04 can also go up to 300Ohms. All in all, I would say, just like Shanling UA1, iBasso – DC04 is a power-packed DAC/Amp and you should definitely give it a shot.
Buy from Headphone Zone: Rs. 6,999
7. Schiit – Modi 3+
If you have got a higher budget and want a premium DAC/Amp then Schiit – Modi 3+ is simply the best you can buy in India. Unlike Chinese and Korean DACs, this one is designed and manufactured in the USA and is quite popular among studio professionals and audio enthusiasts. Schiit – Modi 3+ comes with the new AKM AK4490 DAC chip that promises to deliver high power output. The best part about Schiit – Modi 3+ is that it can be used with your computer, smartphone, coaxial digital source from TVs, USB interface, and more.
In terms of audio quality, the DAC has proven to bring detailed, crisp, and louder sound from all kinds of speakers. In addition, the Schiit – Modi 3+ does a phenomenal job at reducing the distortion and noise. To sum up, if you want a premium DAC/Amp in India under Rs. 15,000 then you can rely on Schiit – Modi 3+ to deliver crystal clear sound.
Buy from Headphone Zone: Rs. 12,999
8. TOPPING – E30
The TOPPING – E30 is our final DAC/Amp on our list and it’s a premium one just like Schiit – Modi 3+. In fact, both the DACs ship with a similar AKM AK4493 DAC chip that is making waves in the audio industry. The powerful DAC chip can deliver Hi-Res sound up to DSD512 which is 512 times that of CD quality and can go up to PCM 32-bit/768kHz which is just amazing. On top of that, it offers six filters for PCM decoding and two filters for DSD decoding for tuning the sound according to your taste.
And just like Schiit – Modi 3+, you can also connect it to any device you want including your smartphone and computer. And to reduce jitters on Windows computers, it comes with a specially-optimized Thesycon driver for distortion-less output. To conclude, if you are a professional and need a versatile DAC, the TOPPING – E30 is a perfect choice.
Buy from Headphone Zone: Rs. 11,999
Drive the Sound To Maximum with The Best DAC/Amp in India
So these are some of the best and affordable DAC/Amps in India that you can buy right now. I have mentioned DAC/Amps for both beginners and professionals, keeping modest pricing and feature set in mind. I am sure you would find a worthy DAC on this list. In case, you are looking for noise-canceling headphones that can go along with the DAC of your choice then head over to our list. Anyway, that is all from us. If you have any questions then let us know in the comment section below.
