10 Used DACs That Still Crush The Competition 2025 Guide Buyers Guide

Navigating Today’s DAC Market: How to Score Big Buying Used

There is no shortage of options in today's market regarding digital-to-analog converters. Let's discuss why buying a used DAC in 2025 will be one of the best moves you could make for your system. Whether looking for a standalone DAC to complement a streamer or upgrading what was built into your preamp or integrated amplifier, the sky is the limit regarding options and price. While the market for DACs has calmed over the past few years in terms of the tech advancing as fast as computers in the early 2000s, the market in terms of price is all over the place.

Many of today's DACs are made outside of the US, in part or whole, so many factors affect the price. The global chip shortage a few years back or the tariff news we are drudging through presently show that some things are out of the industry's control.

The vast used market can be a great way to score big on sound without spending your whole audio budget. As the technology in DAC implementation has advanced, so has the longevity and relevance of a DAC. Before the last five years, give or take, a DAC could be outdated a year or two after its release. This was in part because the technology and capabilities of streaming services were constantly evolving.

Best Used DACs That Still Dominate in 2025

At this point, the evolution has caught up and stabilized to a point where there are DACs on the market that will last into the foreseeable future without being outdated in quality, connection, and, most importantly, sound. Let's dive into the 10 best used DACs that will still crush most of the new competition on the market and blow you away, not your budget.

The 10 Best Used DACs You Shouldn’t Miss in 2025

1. PS Audio DirectStream MK1

This is one of the best-reviewed DACs of the last twenty years. Paul McGowan and company created something that sounds incredible, setting the bar for the rest of the market regarding the connections, internal power supplies, and overall sound capabilities of a standalone D/A converter. This is a clean, natural-sounding DAC. It will set a soundstage in your listening space, making it hard to turn off for the night.

Pro Tip: The DirectStream benefits from a good digital interconnect or optical cable.

2. Weiss 501 / 502

The Weiss 501 and 502 set a precedent in detail retrieval and delivery that few DACs have since touched. The 502 has all the necessary capabilities and functions, including DSP, Roon Ready status, and an incredible headphone output section. With or without the extras, this DAC can carry your system to a level you didn't think possible in the digital realm without worrying about being outdated or outclassed for a long time.

Pro Tip: If you pair with headphones, the only difference between the 501 and 502 is that the 502 has a full-size chassis and the additional balanced headphone output on the rear of the unit.

3. Cambridge CXN100

The CXN series came seemingly out of nowhere! But, if you know Cambridge, you will know that could not be further from the truth. Cambridge R&D prides itself on taking time and methodically designing gear that will sound good and last well into the future. This streaming DAC is just as at home in a $50k system as it is in a $5k system, and with a slight chip change, the CXN100 delivers a slightly more linear sound than the famously natural sound of the CXN V2. Both of these are incredible options to elevate any system.

Pro Tip: The CXC is an incredible CD transport that pairs well with the CXN streamer or any other DAC. You will be impressed by what the transport, an optical cable, and the CXN100 can do for your silver disc collection.

4. Aqua La Scala MKII

Hailing from Italy, this DAC does not follow competitors' rules for DAC engineering. This is an R2R DAC for the future. It features a modular design that can be updated relatively easily. For instance, if there is a significant change or update to the tech involved, you can send your DAC back to Aqua and simply have them update the specific module that will bring your DAC up to speed.

With that in mind, the La Scala MKII stands head and shoulders above most on the market in terms of natural timing and delivery, musicality, and detail retrieval. The La Scala will have you questioning whether you still need your vinyl collection. (You do, by the way, vinyl forever!)

Pro Tip: This DAC's modular design makes it both ahead of its time and as future-proof as they come. Buy used or new with confidence that you will have world-class digital-to-analog conversion for many years.

5. Benchmark DAC3

From the studio to your home, this DAC will tell you every secret your digital music has been holding on to. With three variations adding to the already versatile DAC3 one just a DAC, one with a preamp, one with both a headphone amp and preamp built-in),, this has become a favorite at TMR and will deliver the goods in any system.

Pro Tip: This DAC is great in most setups and incredibly revealing. Try using interconnects to tune and add warmth.

6. Chord Qutest

Few companies have commanded the attention of the audiophile community over the years the way Chord has. Whether it's the famous DAVE or the headphone fan favorite Mojo, Rob Watts has taken DAC chip implementation in a direction that other companies will be chasing for years to come. The Qutest is a DAC that can work in any system. Don't let its small size fool you; it will blow you away with its ability to throw a monumentally wide soundstage.

Pro Tip: Use an upgraded external power supply, such as an Sbooster, to ensure your Qutest gets clean, quiet power.

7. Schiit Audio Yggdrasil

The results have to be heard to be believed. That is partly because the price is already so low when new that when you find them used it seems too good to be true. The Yggdrasil is just one of the pieces that punches way above its weight. Detail and build quality are both here, and with enough money left in the budget, you can bring in a stellar streamer, CD player, or both.

Pro Tip: The Yggdrasil loves balanced (XLR) outputs — it sounds bigger, deeper, and more holographic when you go fully balanced from DAC to amp. Also, Schiit occasionally releases firmware or board upgrades, so watch out. You can often upgrade an older Yggdrasil instead of replacing it, and the cost is way cheaper than buying new high-end gear.

8. Denafrips Pontus II

R2R Glory at prices that make sense! That is becoming harder and harder to find. With a natural delivery and timing that puts you in the room with the artist, the Pontus II is a masterclass in how to make R2R DACs, and makes this one of the best used DACs in 2025.

Pro Tip: Use this in non-oversampling mode to release the full R2R magic, giving you smoother transients and a more natural sound. Also, R2R Dacs tend to sound better if left on. If you do turn off in between listening sessions, allow for a warm-up period before critically listening.

9. Bryston BDA 3

The Bryston is a solid pick. It has a neutral sound and is built to last through a tornado. If you want a DAC with all the detail you can ask for and don't want to worry about issues with sound, digital relevance, or build quality for the next twenty years, this digital-to-analog converter is for you.

Pro Tip: If you’re building a system around the BDA-3, use high-quality digital sources — this DAC is brutally honest. Feed it junk, and it’ll let you know. It’s also worth using the HDMI inputs if you want to hook up a media server or Blu-ray player; Bryston’s HDMI audio performance is no afterthought — it’s one of the best in the business for pure two-channel playback.

10. DCS Bartok

Unrivaled in detail and versatile as any DAC, the Bartok sits comfortably on top of many best-of lists. Whether you use it in your central system or as a headphone amp, the Bartok has become one of the most sought-after DACs on the market, both new and used.

Pro Tip: Make sure all firmware is up to date, or you have the file ready to install if purchasing used.

Buying Tips for Used DACs

Always check for packaging, remote, and accessories.
Make sure that the tube type is readily available if tubes are involved.
Check the connections on your digital sources against the DAC's input capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is buying a used DAC safe in 2025?

It is when you buy from a trusted source. TMR ensures that everything that comes through our doors is tested, certified, and ready to rock. If we have it listed, we would comfortably sell it to our mothers.

Do DACs really get “outdated” quickly?

The easy answer is no. The technology, both with DACs and streaming services, and other digital sources, has significantly stabilized over the past five or so years to a point where a DAC becoming outdated is less of a concern, and largely dependent on how much the DAC's functions are tied to specific functions. For example, if you buy a DAC that relies heavily on DSP functionality, room correction features, or if the streamer is the primary function, there is more to be outdated. The more a DAC is focused on the chip implementation itself and the power supply, rather than the streaming capabilities or DSP functionality, the more future-proof it will be.

How vital is firmware support when buying a used DAC?

If you buy a DAC for the DSP functions and, to a lesser extent, the streaming capabilities, firmware is essential. Most companies will update and offer free firmware updates in the future, even for a while after a model is discontinued. However, many standalone DACS, such as the Benchmark DAC 3, do not have these functions and do not have firmware to be updated.

Ready to Upgrade Your Sound? We’ll Help You Make It Happen.

At TMR, we don’t just sell used DACs — we help audiophiles unlock their system’s full potential. Whether you’re looking to buy, trade in your current gear, or need guidance finding the perfect upgrade, our team of expert HiFi Guides is here to walk you through every step.

Shop our certified used DACs — tested, tusted, and performance-checked.

Trade in your gear — ♻️ turn what you have into what you’ve always wanted.

Talk to a HiFi Guide today — get personalized advice based on your setup and listening goals.

Let’s upgrade your system, without blowing your budget.