DAC suggestions $6k and under?

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2FlyingYorkies

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The PS Audio Directstream Jr in my main system (see signature for the other components) has decided to start hissing on the left channel. I've never been 100% happy with it, so this is a reasonable opportunity to start looking elsewhere. I've seen plenty of threads lately discussing DACs in the $10k range (MSB Discrete, etc), but that's too rich for my blood. If we cut the price in half, where should I be looking?

I should note that I do not want tubes, full stop, regardless of how awesome the sound might be. It's just a hassle I'm not willing to live with. Otherwise, I like a nice balance between warm and analytical, but nothing that trends to the overly bright side. The DSJ has always fallen on the overly warm side of the equation for me, as though it's trying too hard to sound analog, and instead ends up being slow and bloated. The ESS Sabre 9038 in my Oppo UDP-205 disc player is noticeably cleaner without giving up too much emotion, but I'm obviously not going to use that as my primary DAC.
 
2FlyingYorkies said:
The PS Audio Directstream Jr in my main system (see signature for the other components) has decided to start hissing on the left channel. I've never been 100% happy with it, so this is a reasonable opportunity to start looking elsewhere. I've seen plenty of threads lately discussing DACs in the $10k range (MSB Discrete, etc), but that's too rich for my blood. If we cut the price in half, where should I be looking?
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Lumin T3
 
2FlyingYorkies said:
The ESS Sabre 9038 in my Oppo UDP-205 disc player is noticeably cleaner without giving up too much emotion, but I'm obviously not going to use that as my primary DAC.
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Don't like or rule out gear based on the chip alone. It's all about how it is implemented.

You will be doing yourself a disservice if you shop based on what chip is in gear.
 
Sure - my comment was meant to mean that I don’t want to use the Oppo specifically; it doesn’t have the right mix of inputs and isn’t really set up to be used that way. I have zero objection to a delta-sigma DAC chip. I’m even open to the idea of some of those lower priced imports if they sound good (assuming I can hear before I buy, or get a reasonable return policy).
 
crwilli said:
Look at the Bricasti M3.
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Second vote for the Bricasti M3. With the remote and analog volume control it is also an excellent preamp for digital sources possibly making it a greater value depending on your application and input needs. A network card for streaming is also an option.
 
I checked these two out when I was DAC hunting and seeing that my limit was $3500, I had to look else were. These will do you perfectly for a man with your budget. Good Luck.

1. Holo Audio May KTE

2. Rose 150B
 
I was also going to suggest the M3, although no experience the M3 & M1 were on my hunting list. The M1 is over your budget.

I had also considered the Holo May DAC, the Spring is cheaper and siad to come pretty close.

Where you are looking I'd also not rule out the Schiit Yggdrasil. The Benchmark 3 gets a lot of love but I understand it to be quite neutral.
 
Just a note when I interviewed Lukasz Fikus of LampiZator for the Baltic 3 review, he said that the "digital section", the D/A chip and "methodology" (R2R vs. delta-sigma, etc.) are significantly less important than the "analog section" of the DAC. He said in his and his team's extensive R&D in developing the Altantic TRP, Baltic 3, etc. series of DACs that a single transistor in the analog section has more effect than what "DAC chip/methodology" is used in the digital section.

I'm inclined to believe him.
 
Mr Peabody said:
I was also going to suggest the M3, although no experience the M3 & M1 were on my hunting list. The M1 is over your budget.

I had also considered the Holo May DAC, the Spring is cheaper and siad to come pretty close.

Where you are looking I'd also not rule out the Schiit Yggdrasil. The Benchmark 3 gets a lot of love but I understand it to be quite neutral.
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All my experiences with Bricasti M1 and M3 DACs have been wonderful. Schiit also makes nice DACs for the money; I used a Gungnir MB for a number of years, but the Lampi B3 completely blew it into the weeds, so I sold it. The Holo May is nice, too, it reminded me most of my Gungnir MB, albeit quieter due to the external LPS. Of the ones you've mentioned here, I'd be inclined towards the Bricastis.
 
I did hear the Teac 505 which I was really impressed with. It runs around $2k and you can add a clock for about the same price which is said to step up the sound quality a good amount. We ran the same streamer into the Teac and the built-in DAC of the Mark Levinson preamp, I think 5302, I can't keep their numbers straight. The ML had a bit more detail but I personally preferred the presentation of the 505. In other words I would have given up that extra detail to listen to the 505.
 
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the HiFi Rose 150B. It's in his budget and it's a killer DAC and so much more.
 
BorderPatrol DAC SE-i

Extremely musical. Don't let it's cheap price fool you.

It basically does redbook tho - so you have to down res hi res files which is easy to do with most servers.
 
2FlyingYorkies said:
...
I’m even open to the idea of some of those lower priced imports if they sound good (assuming I can hear before I buy, or get a reasonable return policy).
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If you are willing to consider "lower price imports" then you might want to check out different DACs made by Topping. They are fairly inexpensive (less than $1k); easy to buy online (free returns Amazon, etc.).
 
Aqua La Voce S3 at $4650 or if you're willing to go up a bit on your limit the La Scala. All the boards in the La Voce S3 are modular and user replaceable if an upgrade becomes available.
 
Jack said:
Aqua La Voce S3 at $4650 or if you're willing to go up a bit on your limit the La Scala. All the boards in the La Voce S3 are modular and user replaceable if an upgrade becomes available.
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The La Scala with the stock tubes is OK. The La Scala with NOS tubes is FANTASTIC.
 
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