Does a Tube Dac make sense?

Hello,
I have a friend who has a full Rogue tube system. He used to have a tube DAC that cost around 1k. He did not like it. It was too dull. I had him try the first gen M2Tech young DAC. This was not tube based. M2Tech is a chip based DAC with lots of detail. Through optical connections I was even getting a little sibilants. He put it in his system and said it was unbelievable. Bottom line you need a chip based DAC or a $5k R2R DAC. If you go with the Aries II you will be disappointed. If you can find this 1st gen M2Tech Young DAC used for $600 buy it. It was like $1400 new. No remote control just a simple DAC. New, buy the RME. It is customizable. That is good for you and when you upgrade you will be able to sell it for a decent return over the next two years. 

It did for me, but you'll need to try in your own system.  Went from Schiit Yggy and Chord Qutest to Lamipzator Golden Atlantic TRP (much more expensive) and believe it is significantly better.

 Bottom line you need a chip based DAC or a $5k R2R DAC. If you go with the Aries II you will be disappointed.

i don’t know exactly which person this comment is directed at, but all good intentions of this poster aside, i cannot fathom how such proclamations can be made without knowing the system and room the dac is going into, or what the tastes of the user are... good system building is all about compatibility and synergy with associated gear and listener preferences

The Jolida (Black Ice) tube dac is a real cracker for well under 1000 bucks. In fact just yesterday I was trying to find the txt messages between myself and the buyer of the one I sold to see if he if he would consider selling it back to me. Want to compare it with my current RME that I am also very happy with. 

My personal opinion having a DAC with only a tube based output is like having a preamplifier with the tone control set non-flat and no way to ever change it.  Tone controls are a great idea, and only stuffy audiophiles killed them, not because they were bad, but through their own hubris.  A tone control can help a recording sound the way you want to sound, help to tune a room a bit, or can set flat so it does nothing.


I am all for the option of the tube output on a DAC. I have no doubt for many people, on many recordings, that it will provide them with something that sounds better to them. However, just like tone controls, I doubt it would be ideal for all recordings, but if that is the only choice for output, you are stuck with it.