DAC's $5k - $11k

rbbert

rbbert

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What are DAC's worth considering in this price range? Are 1 or 2 clearly better than the others?
Some recommended ones I have run across:

Mytek Manhattan II
PSAudio DS
Chord DAVE
Lampizator Atlantic/Golden Atlantic
MSB Discrete
Ayre QX-5 Twenty

Please feel free to add to this list, I know it must be incomplete. At this point, I am more interested in sound through the USB input.
 
MSB Discrete hands down.

To my ears, the others mostly sound similar. The MSB is the end game for the person seeking analog sound from their DAC.

If you want detail and a top down presentation, there are other options.


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I'm not really looking for "analog" or "digital" sound. To me, most analog sounds a little fuzzy; OTOH, much digital sounds a little "ringy" and often hyperdetailed (probably recording technique more than the medium). I like the "air" around voices and instruments than analog can usually do better; I also like the background "blackness" more often found with good digital, and (what I consider) realistic detail. So while I would characterize my tastes as probably leaning a little toward "analog", it's only a little.

All the higher end MSB DACs I have heard have most of the sound qualities I am looking for (more than dcs, for example); if the Discrete carries that over into this price range it's probably what I will want. OTOH, the one time I heard the Lampizator Golden Gate (a few years ago) I was also very impressed/happy with the sound.
 
rbbert said:
I'm not really looking for "analog" or "digital" sound. To me, most analog sounds a little fuzzy; OTOH, much digital sounds a little "ringy" and often hyperdetailed (probably recording technique more than the medium). I like the "air" around voices and instruments than analog can usually do better; I also like the background "blackness" more often found with good digital, and (what I consider) realistic detail. So while I would characterize my tastes as probably leaning a little to "analog", it's only a little.

All the higher end MSB DACs I have heard have most of the sound qualities I am looking for (more than dcs, for example); if the Discrete carries that over into this price range it's probably what I will want. OTOH, the one time I heard the Lampizator Golden Gate (a few years ago) I was also very impressed/happy with the sound.
Click to expand...

The Discrete absolutely does. The Discrete is the best “value” in the line because it gives you a good dose of the stuff it’s Big Brothers have. Basically saying, they’re cut from a very similar cloth.


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Jack said:
Also look at the two Aqua DAC's in that price range the La Voce S3 and the La Scala Mk II.
Click to expand...

Great suggestion. The La Scala has tubes and is very organic sounding. The La Voce has more detail, but still organic and musical.

We sell Aqua for under $10k and MSB for over $10k. Both are very organic.

For the guy looking for lots of hyper detail, we have other options. [emoji6]


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On your list the Lampi and MSB might be better, but other than those two I would take the T+A above any of the rest...
 
MSB Discrete hands down. Naturally people tend to look past Discrete because it’s the entry level and there’re 3 big brothers above the ladder. How good it could get, right? IMO MSB’s ability to pack this much performance in their entry level Discrete at this particular $10k price point is as big of an achievement as Select II itself.

Also, since I don’t have a turntable or tube gear, I do not have much reference when it comes to “analog sound”. But I will say this, the Lumin A1 that many people regard as analog sounding did not float my boat at all. I hated music through it, YMMV of course. However, another supposedly analog sounding Discrete on the other hand is a home run for me. I just love music through it.
 
Many good/great suggestions floating around. As one of the dacs from your initial list, for me hands down choice is Lampi GA+ TRP which I heard in many systems including mine and it always delivered beyond belief for the price tag.
But the only way is to narrow the list and hear selected ones in your system if feasible...
 
My streamer/DAC Bricasti M3 plus Network Player Card and MDx Processor board sound awesome with Roon. Both streaming and DSD are great.
 
i can also vouch for the t+a dac8 dsd -- below your price range but this DAC punches well above it's weight.

below $11k its hard to imagine there are DACs that are materially better ...at least not $7k+ better. there are, however, DACs that will certainly sound different.
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fwiw and ymmv, in terms of analog vs digital sound in DACs... i think of this in terms of tone rather than detail and i don't think one necessarily precludes the other.

the DACs that folks describe as analog all seem to have R-2R converters rather than chips.
 
I would try Lampizator Golden Atlantic TRP and Aqua DACs before any other in this price range.
 
Weiss DAC501 or DAC502, $9850 or less in the US.

DAC501 / DAC502 | Products | Weiss Engineering Ltd.

Underrated and under the radar. Some may be prejudiced due to its pro audio/studio heritage. As was I.

Despite this, it has managed to confound and pleasantly surprise me with its balanced, detailed sound yet sounds natural and musical.

When I was planning to buy the Chord DAVE last year (before reviews were out for the Weiss), I compared the Weiss with the Chord DAVE twice (in a group and alone) in different systems. I got the Weiss.

Recently, I also compared the Weiss with the Aqua Formula, with a view to getting the Formula. The Weiss stayed.

There has been a recent flurry of reviews but those from Stereophile and Hi-Fi Knights are consistent with my experience.

Weiss Engineering DAC502 D/A processor | Stereophile.com

Weiss DAC501 – HiFi Knights

Ultimately though, despite the great reviews for any DAC, nothing beats listening to one in your system or doing A-B comparisons.
 
I'm not looking for DAC now since my luxman d-08u has a wonderful built-in DAC. It replaced my old Oppo 205 & 105. If I want to get a new DAC, I would consider dcs bartok or MSB Discrete.
 
I have extensive experience with the "original" MSB Analog DAC back in the 2012-2014 time-frame, and it was very good, though at the time, it seemed that MSB's products were in a constant state of "beta" with respect to functionality. The good buddy of mine that had one had to send it back to Watsonville a number of times to implement firmware upgrades that should have done correctly the first time. Hopefully their Operations have improved since then.

I've also heard consistently good things about the the Lampizator Golden Gate and also the TotalDAC, so I am in full agreement with Adam (Elberoth) you should evaluate the Lampizator.
 
A lot of talk about the Rockna Wavelight and WaveDream plus I would support the noted Aqua Voce dacs to the choices noted above. Something about being able to keep your dac and upgrade it, that's a big plus..
 
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