Bargain Basement, Giant Killing DACs for PC Audio

Hello,
I recently acquired a Aune Headphone amp/DAC with upgraded caps factory direct from China via fleabay for $165 shipped. Very happy with it considering money spent. Has USB too

I have ordered the Burson Audio HA-160D, which should be shipping in a couple of weeks. While the Burson isn't 'dirt' cheap it is relatively inexpensive for a head amp/preamp/DAC combo piece, and the comments and reviews I've seen have in general been very positive.

I think I read somewhere--Burson's Facebook page?--that Burson will also be releasing a standalone DAC in the near future, also very affordable.

I'm not sure there is such a thing as a 'giant killer' in digital, unless that means killing your ears after awhile.

Thanks for replies so far.

Will check out the Aune - that is the type of new, USB suggestion I was thinking of vs say, a used Bel Canto with a SPDIF adapter....

The closest I've heard to giant killer in my travels is the MHDT Paradisea. At around 400 bucks used it's putting out some pretty good sound for the dollars. I personally sold off my Wavelength Cosecant after getting one. There is better sound of course out there but it hits pretty hard for around 400 on the used market.

Here's a link to information about the Aune Mini SE. Like Pdspecl, I bought the SE version with upgraded internal parts. The shipping from Hong Kong took about seven days after purchasing on ebay.

A consideration for some people might be that the Aune does not have an optical input, which means you're out of luck if you wanted to use it with an Airport Express. It has USB and coax digital inputs, as well as analog inputs in case you want to use it as a preamp rather than as a DAC.

I've been extremely happy with the sound of it using the USB output of an iMac, then to a Jolida FX-10 tube integrated and a pair of JohnBlue JB3 single driver speakers.