2. digital
  3. 179846-175658

Best DACs under $7,000.00

I'm tentatively beginning the search for a DAC upgrade.  Currently, I have Innuos Zen MK3 as a streamer connected via USB to a Denafrips Iris DDC that is connected via I2S to a Denafrips Pontus II DAC.  The Pontus II is excellent but I feel it's the one point where I could gain incremental improvement toward that illusive natural, layered, analog end-of-the-rainbow.  I simply can't / won't spend above $5,000.00 - $7,000.00 on the DAC. The rest of my system:  top-of-line Prima Luna Evo 400 Integrated Amp and a set of Harbeth speakers.  Right now, I'm looking at Denafrips Terminator II or Holo Audio May DAC.  I've never seen an a/b comparison of these two, but both stand out and have a following.  Of course, the unsettling thing is DACs have evolved so much and are still in a blooming state technologically, making it a given that whatever we have today will probably be surpassed by better for less later, like electric vehicles. But that's the nature of the beast.  Does anyone have alternative suggestions in this current climate?

gregjacob
metaldetektor
162 posts
 

Skimming this, I would caution against assuming you agree with the designer of your speakers. I did that once as a short-cut (bought a highly regarded dac that my highly regarded speaker designed also used), and ultimately didn't care for it.

If you just want something that "gets the job done", any of the DACs in this thread would do just fine. If you are curious and/or have a perfectionist streak (as many audiophiles do...), I think you just have to buy a few dacs that intrigue you (ideally used, so you don't get hosed when re-selling -- you'll lose some cash, consider that the price of your tuition) and hear them for at least a few weeks each (I'm no fan of rapid A/B switching), and see which one is best *for you*.

 

gregjacob OP
116 posts
 

Good answer and good point.  Yes, if I was exclusively doing what the speaker designer recommends, I wouldn't have created this whole discussion.  I do respect his opinion as it jibes with many others and has won best of show in some setups. But I still have to work within my budget and also find what works best (or good enough) in my setup. And the DAC world continues to evolve...  Thanks for your input.

jon2020's avatar
jon2020
991 posts
 

The 10 Audio review was for the standard version and Stereophile reviewed the HE version which has an upgraded power supply that adds about $1200.

 

Not sure if the upgraded power supply would impact the difference in SQ between upsampling and NOS.

blisshifi's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
blisshifi
1,212 posts
 

@tvad I would still say the Lampi Baltic 3 is still warmer and does have some bloom compared to most DACs on the market. Maybe not in comparison to other tube DACs, but certainly compared to the DACs I listed. I agree that there is a dimensionality and wonderful midrange to it, but I tried my very best with it and felt it was lacking in speed and control in the bass and did not articulate highs as well as the T+A DACs, the Tambaqui, or a fully-modded PS Audio DirectStream DAC.

In all honesty, I A/Bed the Lampi Baltic 3 against a 10 year old Modwright Transporter which uses the same tube set, and I could barely hear a difference between the two. There was a slight improvement in detail and clarity the Baltic 3 brought, but it was minimal upon multiple times of switching back and forth.

The lack of speed, and the sonic similarity to a much older unit I already owned were the reasons I found it easy to part with. For sure it was a very engaging DAC, but at the end of the day I longed for more.

Post removed 
More to discover