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  1. #51

    Re: DAC suggestions $6k and under?

    Quote Originally Posted by 2FlyingYorkies View Post
    So far I'm finding both of these relatively inexpensive DACs (SMSL D400ES and Topping D90SE, to be specific) to be considerably more competent than the DSJ. More life, more energy, deeper and tighter bass, crystalline highs, veils lifted, the whole audiophile 9-yards. Haven't really found a downside yet. Certainly not enough to make me want to spend 6x more on a Holo May or Bricasti M3, at least not at this early stage of things. Now, it is a very literal rendition of the music - no color or editorials added. It's a very different sound from the PS Audio, which was all about smoothing things out and adding a little 3rd-order euphoria. So I guess we've figured out that I like the more analytical side of digital conversion. Maybe that's because I was never a vinyl guy, and have generally disliked the sound of tubes. Anyway, it's early days, and maybe I'll find the warts as I move through different music. Time will tell. Not sure which of the two is my favorite yet, though. They're quite similar to each other, but not identical.
    Any additional feedback on the two DACs?

  2. #52
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    Re: DAC suggestions $6k and under?

    Just learned of the Lab12 Ref DAC1 at $3290.00 which is said to sound outstanding. It's a non-oversampling DAC. However, it does use a couple of triode tubes in the output. Part-time audiophile did a review. Also, the person who told me about the DAC says it sounds better than a slightly more expensive DAC I was talking about, for what that is, worth.
    Aurender ACS10 w/Audioquest Diamond USB, Esoteric N05xd
    Mark Levinson #526, 534 & JBL 4367's
    Clearaudio Performance DC w/Maestro cart
    Clarus Concerto & their Crimson cables

    HT: Marantz AV8003, Linn 5125, JBL SAM3ha, Revel s30,
    SVS PC13 Ultra
    Transparent, Analysis Plus & Tributaries. PS Audio filtering
    Sony XBR-75X940D & BDP
    Parasound P6, MBL 8006b, Artisan speakers/subwoofer

  3. #53
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    Lakeland, Florida
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    Re: DAC suggestions $6k and under?

    I recommend the Holo Audio May KTE DAC. I feel it can easily compete with your 15K+ DACs no problem. I ENJOY mine very much!!!
    George
    -----------------------

    Aurender ACS10 Music Server > Holo Audio May KTE R2R Ladder DAC > Pass Labs XP-30 Preamp > Pass Labs XA160.5 Class A Mono Blocks > Martin Logan Renaissance ELS 15A Speakers

    Powered By 2X BPT 3.5 Signature Plus Ultra Isolators | Shunyata Research Hydra Triton + Typhon | Shunyata Hydra 2 Power Conditioner

  4. #54
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    Re: DAC suggestions $6k and under?

    Did you hear one first or buy on chance? We have the same ACS10, how would you describe the May sound?
    Quote Originally Posted by Audioseduction View Post
    I recommend the Holo Audio May KTE DAC. I feel it can easily compete with your 15K+ DACs no problem. I ENJOY mine very much!!!
    Aurender ACS10 w/Audioquest Diamond USB, Esoteric N05xd
    Mark Levinson #526, 534 & JBL 4367's
    Clearaudio Performance DC w/Maestro cart
    Clarus Concerto & their Crimson cables

    HT: Marantz AV8003, Linn 5125, JBL SAM3ha, Revel s30,
    SVS PC13 Ultra
    Transparent, Analysis Plus & Tributaries. PS Audio filtering
    Sony XBR-75X940D & BDP
    Parasound P6, MBL 8006b, Artisan speakers/subwoofer

  5. #55
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    East Bay, CA
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    Re: DAC suggestions $6k and under?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr Peabody View Post
    Did you hear one first or buy on chance? We have the same ACS10, how would you describe the May sound?
    It sounds like a Schiit Gungnir Multibit.

  6. #56
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    Re: DAC suggestions $6k and under?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike View Post
    Hey Norman, you coming to Munich this year?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
    Just saw this. Not this year, bbut probably next. Would love to do your Fla show next year too.
    NORMAN
    Custom PC with Memory Player Software Suite/ Modded Denon CD transport>Lampi GG1 (and sometimes PACIFIC) DHT tube Dac> Rowen 850W Isolating Transformer/ Rowen SS Preamp and PA1 monoblocs/Lampi Silk power cond. with Phase flipper> Heil AMT KITHARA & Syrinx in parallel hookup. Swiss cables (Reference line) for PC/interconnects and speaker cables. Goldmund Sweetcord PC. FTA Callisto unpowered USB cable. Basic analog: vintage Lenco L78 TT with Rowen mat, Denon MM cart, iFi iPhono2 with 15v Hynes SR3 LPSU. Synology 12 TB NAS. 2nd system:KenWin Bluetooth speaker 3rd system TBI Millemnium amp with Aulos speakers and SB Duo hookup.

  7. #57
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    Re: DAC suggestions $6k and under?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr Peabody View Post
    Did you hear one first or buy on chance? We have the same ACS10, how would you describe the May sound?
    I watched a few reviews and even spoke with the re-seller in more detail. My system is extremely revealing. The DAC is very detailed but without sacrificing musicality. It provides a highly detailed robust bass without it sounding sloppy. Both mids and highs are very clear and natural sounding. The DAC provides a very relaxing and enjoyable presentation in my system. Even after 9 months of ownership, it's still a jaw-dropping experience for me. The build quaility is 2nd to none.
    George
    -----------------------

    Aurender ACS10 Music Server > Holo Audio May KTE R2R Ladder DAC > Pass Labs XP-30 Preamp > Pass Labs XA160.5 Class A Mono Blocks > Martin Logan Renaissance ELS 15A Speakers

    Powered By 2X BPT 3.5 Signature Plus Ultra Isolators | Shunyata Research Hydra Triton + Typhon | Shunyata Hydra 2 Power Conditioner

  8. #58
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    Re: DAC suggestions $6k and under?

    Sorry for the delayed reply - lots of family over the holiday weekend, so we didn't do any additional critical listening until this weekend. We're using a fairly diverse playlist with everything from Mahler to Daft Punk, most with known good studio recordings, some super-clean EDM, and a few live and raw concert performances from the 70s and 90s. Source has been my Aurender, both from locally stored tracks and streamed from Qobuz. Bitrates range from 16/44 redbook CD to 24/192 and DSD256, all fed through via USB.

    The SMSL D400ES can best be described as "honest". I can't find anything it's adding to the sound anywhere in the frequency band. Dynamics are excellent, bass extension is rather remarkable, and high end clarity is very good. Imaging is solid and soundstage is as broad and deep as I'm willing to accept as believable. No "digital sheen" that I can detect, and I tend to be a walking brightness and sibilance detector. Not as emotional of a sound as the Topping, but don't take that to mean it's boring. It's just not adding anything extra. I keep wanting to turn things up louder than normal, which is usually a sign that there's nothing fatiguing and I'm enjoying the ride. The box is nicely constructed and comes with a clear color display, but there's nothing fancy about any of it. The industrial design could be better, but considering the price point, probably not much.

    The Topping D90SE is very similar to the SMSL in overall sound, except that it adds a more atmospheric element, in the sense that there's more low frequency growl at times that gives a sense of space and environment. It generally sounds good (to me), and adds an extra bit of excitement, but honestly I'm hearing it in some recordings that I'm pretty sure shouldn't have it. It's perhaps somewhat in line with how the DSJ presented things (just without all the 3rd order distortion). The rest of the presentation is generally clean and correct. I jsut get the impression that there's a little extra editorial color being added to the music somewhere in the analog stage. This one is more utilitarian looking than the SMSL and is slightly more compact, too. The display is OLED, but oddly is rendered in a very range of old-school looking 7-segment LED and pixel-graphics fonts.

    At the moment I have a mild preference for the Topping, and my wife has a strong preference for the SMSL. We both agree there's no going back to the DSJ even after it's repaired, as it's completely outclassed by both of these DACs. We're also both rather amazed at the performance that's available for $8-900 these days. Does it feel odd to be seriously considering a long term relationship with a DAC at this price point? Yeah, kind of. There's no eye candy here, but my DAC lives in a (well ventilated) cabinet where you can't see it anyway. For someone who likes a digital presentation that's heavy on detail, honesty, and full-range clarity, with little to no added color, both of these devices are the real deal.
    Jeff

    Main System
    Streamer/Server: Aurender N100H; Disc Player: Oppo UDP-205; DAC: Topping D90SE; Preamp: Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE Stage 2; Power Amp: ATI AT542NC; Speakers: Focal Sopra No. 3; Cables: Wireworld, Kimber, Cullin; Power: Ansuz Mainz8 X-TC, PS Audio Dectet, Furutech outlets

    Basement Media Room
    Streamer/Server: Aurender N100SC; Disc Player: Panasonic DB-UP9000; Surround Pre/Pro: Monoprice Monolith HTP-1; Power Amps: Apollon NC1200SL (custom 3-channel w/Sparkos SS2590 op amps), Apollon AS3600 6-channel; Speakers: Focal Kanta No. 3, Kanta Center, 300 ICW8 (x6); Subwoofer: Rythmik F18SE (x2); Cables: Wireworld, BlueJeans; Power: Torus RM20, Furman Elite 20PFi; Room Correction: Dirac Live w/ Bass Control; Video: Sony 77" A9G OLED

  9. #59

    Re: DAC suggestions $6k and under?

    I'm seriously looking at an exaSound s82 Mark II at around $8k. A little more than the $6k limit, but includes a Roon Core, on-board SSD storage, streamer and great DAC in one unit. So, seems like a great value for the money.
    Kevin

    Main: VPI Aries 3/Grado Reference3, and Aurender N200 > PS Audio DS DAC. Luxman L-509Z integrated amp. Sonus Faber Elipsa SE speakers. PS Audio P10 power. Transparent Audio, Cardas and Audioquest cables.

    Bar: EAT C-sharp/Hana MH, and exaSound s82 > Luxman L-595SE amp. GolderEar One.R speakers. Shunyata power, Audioquest cables.

  10. #60
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    Re: DAC suggestions $6k and under?

    For the sake of closing the loop on this thread, I wanted to report back that we ended up picking the Topping D90SE. In the end, the extra energy and emotion sounded better with the types of music we listen to most. It ends up being the best of all worlds - my brain is happy that it's a technically correct DAC (i.e. the measurements are nice), my ears are excited about the sound, and my wallet is pleasantly surprised at the unexpected savings over what I was expecting to spend.

    Perhaps I can best sum it up by saying it sounds an awful lot like a Meitner MA3, but with a zero (and more) missing from the price tag. Not quite as smooth on the top end as the Meitner, lacks the built-in streamer (that I don't need), and isn't anywhere near as flashy looking, but the sound really is shockingly similar.

    And if, over time, I find something I don't like about this unit, it's frankly cheap enough to just move on and not worry about it.
    Jeff

    Main System
    Streamer/Server: Aurender N100H; Disc Player: Oppo UDP-205; DAC: Topping D90SE; Preamp: Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE Stage 2; Power Amp: ATI AT542NC; Speakers: Focal Sopra No. 3; Cables: Wireworld, Kimber, Cullin; Power: Ansuz Mainz8 X-TC, PS Audio Dectet, Furutech outlets

    Basement Media Room
    Streamer/Server: Aurender N100SC; Disc Player: Panasonic DB-UP9000; Surround Pre/Pro: Monoprice Monolith HTP-1; Power Amps: Apollon NC1200SL (custom 3-channel w/Sparkos SS2590 op amps), Apollon AS3600 6-channel; Speakers: Focal Kanta No. 3, Kanta Center, 300 ICW8 (x6); Subwoofer: Rythmik F18SE (x2); Cables: Wireworld, BlueJeans; Power: Torus RM20, Furman Elite 20PFi; Room Correction: Dirac Live w/ Bass Control; Video: Sony 77" A9G OLED

  11. #61

    Re: DAC suggestions $6k and under?

    Quote Originally Posted by 2FlyingYorkies View Post
    For the sake of closing the loop on this thread, I wanted to report back that we ended up picking the Topping D90SE. In the end, the extra energy and emotion sounded better with the types of music we listen to most. It ends up being the best of all worlds - my brain is happy that it's a technically correct DAC (i.e. the measurements are nice), my ears are excited about the sound, and my wallet is pleasantly surprised at the unexpected savings over what I was expecting to spend. Perhaps I can best sum it up by saying it sounds an awful lot like a Meitner MA3, but with a zero (and more) missing from the price tag. Not quite as smooth on the top end as the Meitner, lacks the built-in streamer (that I don't need), and isn't anywhere near as flashy looking, but the sound really is shockingly similar.

    And if, over time, I find something I don't like about this unit, it's frankly cheap enough to just move on and not worry about it.
    You were open to overlook the (much lower) price and consider imports. You ended up with a sound that you like; saved yourself over $5k from your original budget; and if/when you decide to sell your PS Audio unit, will end up with extra money in your pocket. Nice win! Congrats!

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