Best DACs under $50k

**Randy Myers** · January 27, 2019, 03:36 PM

Just getting a feel. Since digital is the heart of my system

. My list is based a lot of reading and forums more so then being able to actually listen. These 5 are the ones that fall on my list that I would enjoy owning.

1. MSB assuming but never heard
2. dCS
3. Lampizator assuming but never heard
4. T+A
5. Berkley assuming but never heard

**aKnyght** · January 27, 2019, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by Randy Myers

Just getting a feel. Since digital is the heart of my system

. My list is based a lot of reading and forums more so then being able to actually listen. These 5 are the ones that fall on my list that I would enjoy owning.

1. MSB assuming but never heard
2. dCS
3. Lampizator assuming but never heard
4. T+A
5. Berkley assuming but never heard

great list... my only addition would be: brinkmann nyquist

**Randy Myers** · January 27, 2019, 03:54 PM

I also hear that if you are not interested in DSD (similar to the Berkley) then the Schiit Yaggy is pretty good and a great value. One of our club members had one.. it was excellent but would not work for me... Schiit is amazing especially when you consider that many times they are a fraction of the price with those they compete against. My pre-amp still blows me away with how good it is, and what a value.

**Mike** · January 27, 2019, 04:00 PM

1. MSB REF DAC
2. Chord DAVE/Blu2
3. Lumin X1
4. Luxman D-08u
5. T+A PDP3000HV

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**Kuoppis** · January 27, 2019, 04:36 PM

Brinkmann Nyquist mk2, Meitner DA2, MSB Reference, Nagra HD DAC are my top four.

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**Alpinist** · January 27, 2019, 04:41 PM

MSB Reference
MSB Premier
MSB Discrete

Ken

**Phishphan** · January 27, 2019, 05:33 PM

EMM DA2
MSB Reference

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**Randy Myers** · January 27, 2019, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by Alpinist

MSB Reference
MSB Premier
MSB Discrete

Ken

So Ken, what do you think about MSB

**bart** · January 27, 2019, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

1. MSB REF DAC
2. Chord DAVE/Blu2
3. Lumin X1
4. Luxman D-08u
5. T+A PDP3000HV

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Mike, nice list.
You prefer the T+A PDP 3000 and not the MP 3100?

Let me add another bargain DAC: Metrum Acoustics Pavane.
6K here.

**UltraFast69** · January 27, 2019, 06:25 PM

The usual suspects, system dependent, plus top honors to:

- Brinkmann Nyquist MKII

**Mike** · January 27, 2019, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by bart

Mike, nice list.
You prefer the T+A PDP 3000 and not the MP 3100?

Let me add another bargain DAC: Metrum Acoustics Pavane.
6K here.

I do. I’ve compared both.

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**Phishphan** · January 27, 2019, 06:57 PM

Best bargain dac is the Bryston BDA3. It’s quite good for the price.

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**Mikado463** · January 27, 2019, 08:43 PM

you mean someone would actually spend over 50k for a DAC ??

**Randy Myers** · January 27, 2019, 09:02 PM

As amazing as it may seem, some people do... someone spending over $20k-$30k on any individual piece gear is just crazy in my view.

**Mikado463** · January 27, 2019, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by Randy Myers

As amazing as it may seem, some people do... someone spending over $20k-$30k on any individual piece gear is just crazy in my view.

ditto .........

**audio.bill** · January 27, 2019, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by Randy Myers

As amazing as it may seem, some people do... someone spending over $20k-$30k on any individual piece gear is just crazy in my view.

Of course everything is relative... there are many people who would say spending more than $2K on any individual piece of gear is insane yet the market exists for a reason.

**Al M.** · January 27, 2019, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by audio.bill

Of course everything is relative... there are many people who would say spending more than $2K on any individual piece of gear is insane yet the market exists for a reason.

Correct. I once read an article where a household help for rich people talked about their psychological problems and pill addictions, very interesting (obviously she saw more of their private lives than others). But she also wondered why they would have a stereo for 3,000 dollars. A whole stereo! She found it scandalous. If she only knew.

**sakso136** · January 28, 2019, 02:58 AM

Originally Posted by Mike

1. MSB REF DAC
2. Chord DAVE/Blu2
3. Lumin X1
4. Luxman D-08u
5. T+A PDP3000HV

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Hi mike, do you like more dave+ blu over the msb premier?

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**bonzo** · January 28, 2019, 03:11 AM

Lampizator
Total dac
MSB
Aries cerat

**sakso136** · January 28, 2019, 03:15 AM

Originally Posted by bonzo

Lampizator
Total dac
MSB
Aries cerat

Hi bonzo,
Is your order in degree of preference?

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**bonzo** · January 28, 2019, 03:25 AM

Originally Posted by sakso136

Hi bonzo,
Is your order in degree of preference?

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The first one is, the other three are not, and I should have clarified its the Golden gate I am referring to

**Mikado463** · January 28, 2019, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by audio.bill

Of course everything is relative... there are many people who would say spending more than $2K on any individual piece of gear is insane yet the market exists for a reason.

you are correct, it exists for the insane .........

**Mr Peabody** · January 28, 2019, 10:42 PM

Reserve my padded room, I'd spend it, if I had it like that. It's all about priorities and whose wife has a ring in their husband's nose.

I love audio gear, I don't own a piece of jewelry worth anything and wouldn't spend money on jewelry for myself. Some guys spend the money on cars, or whatever. I don't see the big deal.

Originally Posted by Mikado463

you are correct, it exists for the insane .........

**Mikado463** · January 28, 2019, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Peabody

Reserve my padded room,

no worries, I'm sure you'll have company !!

**Randy Myers** · January 29, 2019, 09:27 AM

I guess the billionaires need something to waste their money on. I believe I do pretty well, work hard, have a nice home, etc., etc. However I would not and honestly, could not, even dream of many if not most of the pieces that get talked about on forums and in magazines. And most people that know me think I am crazy with how much I have in audio equipment

...

**CPP** · January 29, 2019, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by Randy Myers

I guess the billionaires need something to waste their money on. I believe I do pretty well, work hard, have a nice home, etc., etc. However I would not and honestly, could not, even dream of many if not most of the pieces that get talked about on forums and in magazines. And most people that know me think I am crazy with how much I have in audio equipment

...

Hey wait till you retire and try to spend a huge chunk of $$ on audio or something other. You have to balance healthcare, insurance, living you know the food, utility bills, home/car maintenance, and for those that still have a mortgage, well that and our favorite, taxes . SO the moral of the story unless you are just plain rich buy your dream audio stuff or any stuff before you retire.

**a.wayne** · January 29, 2019, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by Randy Myers

As amazing as it may seem, some people do... someone spending over $20k-$30k on any individual piece gear is just crazy in my view.

Crazy Rich ....!

**mep** · January 29, 2019, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by CPP

Hey wait till you retire and try to spend a huge chunk of $$ on audio or something other. You have to balance healthcare, insurance, living you know the food, utility bills, home/car maintenance, and for those that still have a mortgage, well that and our favorite, taxes . SO the moral of the story unless you are just plain rich buy your dream audio stuff or any stuff before you retire.

It's not a good retirement plan to retire in debt and have a mortgage on your home to boot.

**Oly** · January 29, 2019, 11:40 AM

I recommend the Accuphase DC-37. Price is well south of $50K.

**AJ Soundfield** · January 29, 2019, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by Randy Myers

someone spending over $20k-$30k on any individual piece gear is just crazy in my view.

Agree, that's why with me, for >$20-30k you get 2 pieces, not one.

cheers,

AJ

**CPP** · January 29, 2019, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by mep

It's not a good retirement plan to retire in debt and have a mortgage on your home to boot.

All depends on your pocket book to include investments, 401K, pension and not to mention your mortgage payment.

**mep** · January 29, 2019, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by CPP

All depends on your pocket book to include investments, 401K, pension and not to mention your mortgage payment.

This could be another thread and I don't want to hijack this one.

**Shadowfax** · January 29, 2019, 12:13 PM

If you have enough cash to buy a $50 DAC, I would hope you don't have a Mortgage.

I don't have that much to spend on gear, and I have not had a Mortgage for about 12 years. But, my overall plan is to downsize and spend some money on a nice system BEFORE I actually retire. I have 10 years to plan and do it.

**mep** · January 29, 2019, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by Shadowfax

If you have enough cash to buy a $50 DAC, I would hope you don't have a Mortgage.

I don't have that much to spend on gear, and I have not had a Mortgage for about 12 years. But, my overall plan is to downsize and spend some money on a nice system BEFORE I actually retire. I have 10 years to plan and do it.

Brian-You are way ahead of the curve if you paid off your mortgage 12 years ago and still have another 10 years to save money before you retire. Congrats.

**CPP** · January 29, 2019, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by mep

This could be another thread and I don't want to hijack this one.

True.

**Shadowfax** · January 29, 2019, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by mep

Brian-You are way ahead of the curve if you paid off your mortgage 12 years ago and still have another 10 years to save money before you retire. Congrats.

Sorry for off topic reply here.

Thanks. In my first career, I worked 55 hours a week for 25 years, plus my wife worked back then too. I devised a good plan to pay off the mortgage and save many thousands of dollars. Working off the Amortization sheet, I would pay one full payment, Principal & Interest, then I would pay 4 or 5 more Principal Payments with it and save the Interest from those extra 4 or 5 months. So I paid off a 30 year mortgage in 10 years and saved a ton of money. I do little seminars in the lunch room at work explaining how to do this.

Other things in motion right now is Roth Conversions of all older IRAs. Switched all my current 401k contributions to Roth 401k status. Another thing we did 2 years ago was to purchase 3 Cash For Life Annuities. Two of them were all existing Roth IRA money and the 3rd was from Joint Savings. So in 8 years when we turn them on, we will get $XXX,000 per year until we both die, our investment will be gone by the time we are about 80 so that was a no brainer with female life expectancy in the 90s now. Plus 2/3rds of that income will be Tax Free since it was Roth money. Overall we are setting ourselves up to have the smallest Tax footprint we can have when I retire.

Also when we paid off the house, I asked my wife to stop working. I then switched careers and tripled my income and benefits.

In reality, I have enough money to buy whatever I want to, but "choose" to keep that money for fun in retirement...if I make it...LOL. I will buy that killer system someday. I already primed the wife a little since we will be visiting Suncoast in March.

Cheers, carry on!

**Mikado463** · January 29, 2019, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by Shadowfax

If you have enough cash to buy a $50 DAC, I would hope you don't have a Mortgage.

now a fifty dollar DAC, that I can swing !

I don't have that much to spend on gear, and I have not had a Mortgage for about 12 years. But, my overall plan is to downsize and spend some money on a nice system BEFORE I actually retire. I have 10 years to plan and do it.

good plan Brian !

**Shadowfax** · January 29, 2019, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by Mikado463

now a fifty dollar DAC, that I can swing !

good plan Brian !

LOL, I guess that will be a 3rd thread, under $50K, Under $5K, and under $50

**Mr Peabody** · January 29, 2019, 08:55 PM

I'm jealous of your visit to Suncoast. Coming to Axpona some day?

Originally Posted by Shadowfax

LOL, I guess that will be a 3rd thread, under $50K, Under $5K, and under $50

**cmarin** · January 30, 2019, 04:11 AM

TotalDac d1-twelve-mk2 DAC (3 boxes): 32500euros ($37,150) incl VAT in Europe, 29900euros ($34,180) excl VAT out of Europe

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**Phishphan** · January 30, 2019, 08:02 PM

This thread devolved into a discussion of who would spend that on a DAC. In this (sometimes insane) world of high end audio, it’s almost too easy to spend 20k on one piece of gear. 50 on a dac does seem a little silly given the speed at which tech changes. However, for folks making 7 figures, with minimal debt, that may not be a huge expenditure

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**mdp632** · January 30, 2019, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by Phishphan

This thread devolved into a discussion of who would spend that on a DAC. In this (sometimes insane) world of high end audio, it’s almost too easy to spend 20k on one piece of gear. 50 on a dac does seem a little silly given the speed at which tech changes. However, for folks making 7 figures, with minimal debt, that may not be a huge expenditure

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Threads like this should be fun. Audio is the only hobby I know where an expensive high end product and their owners are met with fierce criticisms.

You don't see it in the automotive world. A reasonably minded adult car enthusiast who drives a Mustang GT(Great car btw) wouldn't go on a Ferrari forum and blast the owners for spending that much. You could have bought a few Corvettes for that price etc!

But, we have in the audio world. Maybe its anger directed towards the costs of some of these products and their perceived value by some.

In the end, its all relative as some of the other postings have stated. You can own a Select II and drive a Honda or you can own a Yggy and drive a Lamborghini.

Doesn't matter as long as you enjoy it in good health.

**Phantom_Audio** · January 31, 2019, 02:12 AM

Back to the Threads Original Topic,

I would suggest the Playback Design Dream Series (MPD-8) if you are after after a musical enjoying listening session Fatigue Free.

**wisnon** · January 31, 2019, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by Shadowfax

LOL, I guess that will be a 3rd thread, under $50K, Under $5K, and under $50

Pity we never met up Brian...

**wisnon** · January 31, 2019, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by mdp632

Threads like this should be fun. Audio is the only hobby I know where an expensive high end product and their owners are met with fierce criticisms.

You don't see it in the automotive world. A reasonably minded adult car enthusiast who drives a Mustang GT(Great car btw) wouldn't go on a Ferrari forum and blast the owners for spending that much. You could have bought a few Corvettes for that price etc!

But, we have in the audio world. Maybe its anger directed towards the costs of some of these products and their perceived value by some.

In the end, its all relative as some of the other postings have stated. You can own a Select II and drive a Honda or you can own a Yggy and drive a Lamborghini.

Doesn't matter as long as you enjoy it in good health.

Mark, but this is a GENERALIST forum, so you analogy is not great. This is not a MSB forum where you have Chord people coming on to bash the price of a Sel 2. Therefore, you will see dissenting views of all types, BUT if we bear in mind that this is not that serious, then we can still maintain a fun perspective. No matter what ones opinion is, it's nice to Have Schitt and MSB products out there for people to choose from and discuss about. Variety is the spice of life.

**mdp632** · January 31, 2019, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by wisnon

Mark, but this is a GENERALIST forum, so you analogy is not great. This is not a MSB forum where you have Chord people coming on to bash the price of a Sel 2. Therefore, you will see dissenting views of all types, BUT if we bear in mind that this is not that serious, then we can still maintain a fun perspective. No matter what ones opinion is, Its nice to Have Schitt and MSB products out there for people to choose from and discuss about. Variety is the spice of life.

My name isn't Mark but, perhaps you have me confused with another member with a similar username? Correct, this isn't a serious thread but, from my perspective my post was exactly what i encounter reading these forums. Only happens in audio hobby; where we have this anger and vitriol towards higher end expensive stuff and people that own or want to purchase such products.

Doesn't happen in cars, motorcycles, watches, fine wine, cigars.. you name it.

Everyones comes together for each respective hobby. Regardless if they perceive value or can afford XYZ etc... There is always an appreciation for the higher end and more exclusive.

In audio; not so much. Again from my perspective but, your mileage of course may vary.

**Mike** · January 31, 2019, 09:03 AM

Well said.

**Shadowfax** · January 31, 2019, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by mdp632

Doesn't happen in cars, motorcycles, watches, fine wine, cigars.. you name it.

Everyones comes together for each respective hobby. Regardless if they perceive value or can afford XYZ etc... There is always an appreciation for the higher end and more exclusive.

In audio; not so much. Again from my perspective but, your mileage of course may vary.

I guess it depends on what forums you are frequenting. I have been on both sides myself. I will never ever tell anyone that they are foolish for buying X, if they can afford it and enjoy it. I will voice my opinion that it might not be 50x better than Y, but now I better understand the last 5% of Audio Nirvana.

It does happen with Watches, Cars, and other items. I post on another forum that is 80% dumpster divers and Vintage enthusiasts who regularly berate those who purchase modern gear, cables other than Radio Shack and so on. Then you find some of those same people talking about their watch collection. A Rolex doesn't tell time any different than a Timex, but some people enjoy expensive watches while others will spend the money on audio gear.

That said, I feel extremely lucky to have ever even heard a $50K DAC. Ever since that day with Lampi gear and Pure Audio speakers, my system sounds like crap. But it really doesn't, the other gear is just better. If I wanted to forsake my retirement, I could buy one but in reality it's not in my cards because I can't fully justify it, for me. I did gain a much bigger appreciation for what a $50K DAC can do and that it did sound truly awesome.

I may question people, and point out the obvious, but I never tell anyone they are foolish for buying whatever it is that makes them happy. Plus, I would never get the chance to hear all this great gear if people did not buy it or have Demo Days for those who maybe can't.

Good thread overall.

**Phantom_Audio** · January 31, 2019, 09:33 AM

I moved away from Whatsthebest forum for this very reason. Bunch of Lunatics in the industry. I hope the same thing does not happen on this forum.

**wisnon** · January 31, 2019, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by mdp632

My name isn't Mark but, perhaps you have me confused with another member with a similar username? Correct, this isn't a serious thread but, from my perspective my post was exactly what i encounter reading these forums. Only happens in audio hobby; where we have this anger and vitriol towards higher end expensive stuff and people that own or want to purchase such products.

Doesn't happen in cars, motorcycles, watches, fine wine, cigars.. you name it.

Everyones comes together for each respective hobby. Regardless if they perceive value or can afford XYZ etc... There is always an appreciation for the higher end and more exclusive.

In audio; not so much. Again from my perspective but, your mileage of course may vary.

I hear ya, but as I live in the Geneva area, I can disagree about watches in everyday life, if not on forums. All my "watch" buddies agree in discussions that with watches, ones needs predigree and workmanship. In the late 1990s, a lot of ex-bankers were doing luxury watch start-ups and charging upwards of 15 grand! Many flopped. The reasoning then was "who are you and what is your claim to fame". The only newbies (I recall) to make it on their own generally were people like Roger DuBuis who worked as lead designers for a big name before and the brand that started as in-bond/duty free on airlines, Raymond Weil (similar history).

The big groups like LVMH, Swatch and Richemont were able to push thru some other non-pedigreed brands thru sheer brute market power...like Mont Blanc (still a Pen maker in my eyes) and Bulgari (a silk scarf brand). They may be made by expects OEM suppliers and have nice styles, but I still cant take them seriously!! LoL

Still, as I said above, its better to have them on the market than not. I don't mind more choice...just wont pat top dollar ever for a scarf or pen around my wrist. LoL

Thread: Best DACs under $50k