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

Dodge 7 DAC is amazing, Better than Berkley Audio, DAC 1, Dave, Hegel, Vega G2.1........you can't go wrong.

I have the audio gd r 7 mark 2 without lower regeneration.  Have a la audio already. 9 months plug and play listening. Herb Reinhardt review was overdone with optical metaphors, but in the end, he has the correct point is that you have digital clarity and range of digital, yet the sonic qualities vinyl keeps you off Netflix and audio forums, irony appreciated

Should I be convinced that the PS Audio DSD DAC (with latest software) and Network Bridge II is out there which notably superior to what I own? With an AQ Vodka Ethernet cable, it is all dead silent and audibly serendipitous. Am I to upgrade a DAC and separate streamer, or is there a superior DAC + streamer $7K or less. Neal

I now have a Pontus . I don’t like any upsampling DACs. They all sound brittle to me. I hear good things about the Sonnet Passithea. I will try it soon.

@lucmichaud1 I have the Sonnet Morpheus and it’s excellent, so I’m sure the Pasithea even better

@gregjacob @juanmanuelfangioii @willywonka  The Audio-GD review is in stereophile Nov 2022 print/digital edition magazine, page 25

  • I own a Terminator Plus which I use in my main system. Its feed by an Innuos Zenith Mk3 and a Phoenix USB. Love the result. I bought a Terminator 2 for my second system with a Gaia DDC. Fabulous results. Have not heard the other DACS.