Latest and greatest DAC's

Mike

Mike

Audioshark
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Sarasota, FL
Axpona this weekend and Munich next month. I'm going to both. What are the hot new DAC's I should be listening to? Aqua DAC is on my must listen list.

Any others spring to mind?
 
audio.bill said:
Mike - Hate to state the obvious but you've already got most of them and have effectively cornered the market! :audiophile:
Click to expand...

What's funny Bill is that I picked up Chord for the DAVE (after hearing it two years ago at CES - the debut). It really impressed me and still does. No one was talking about it back then. I was actually doing an Audeze headphone listen and kept moving the LCD-3's along the line. On the end was the odd looking DAC. I listened for 5 seconds, pulled the heapdhones off and asked the rep "what the hell is this one?" It was soooooooo good.

The Aqua DAC intrigues me. There's a few others too, but as they say, you have to listen.

Since I dropped Soulution (long story I'll happily tell over a beer sometime), I'm also on the hunt for SS amps/preamp/etc.

Ok, back to DAC's.


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Mike said:
Since I dropped Soulution (long story I'll happily tell over a beer sometime), I'm also on the hunt for SS amps/preamp/etc.

Ok, back to DAC's.


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Click to expand...

I'm all set in the DAC department. I am on the hunt for a preamp, so this mention of preamp search has me interested :).
 
A comparison/opinion on a couple more affordable DACs for us peasants would be appreciated. If you have the time.

Exasound E32
Wired4Sound 2v2SE
 
JimmyS said:
I'm all set in the DAC department. I am on the hunt for a preamp, so this mention of preamp search has me interested :).
Click to expand...

What budget range are you thinking? SS or tube?


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Meitner system, DA2 DAC ($25,000) and matching TX2 CD/SACD transport ($25,000) and might was well throw in the MTRX2 1kW monoblock amplifiers (price around $80,000/pair)
 
I had the Meitner MA-1 and DAC2X. Both were excellent. Man, combined with Pass XA160.5's it was outstanding.


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Seems the Dac-of-the-Month train has made its next stop at the Aqua. The TotalDac, Nadac, and Lampi were previous stops :)

I believe the new MSB Reference DAC should be at Munich. It appears like a mini Select.
 
...and not to forget the Nagra HD DAC of course + Meitner DA2.


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Keith - that's a great topic for a separate thread. Would love to explore this further. Heck, even I can't keep up with the onslaught of new DAC's and have to really work hard to pick the winners from the pretenders. Companies like Berkeley focus solely on digital products and they have a great pedigree and great products. The Chord uses some interesting technology to deepen the soundstage, while combining in one box with a nice volume control and headphone amp.

Maybe you can start a new thread? It is interesting. We don't see this with amps, turntables, etc.
 
Now that I think about it, also Playback Designs Sonoma and Merlot come to mind...

But that is kind of it. Anyone plainly implementing Sabre chips is not really too much of interest IMHO.

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My sweet Gryphon Kalliope. DAC for Analog diehards. Meaty mids, deep bass and smooth highs. It can tame and bring the best out of very high resolution, on the edge (of brightness) systems. A cost no object design voiced for musicality first.


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