Looking for recommendations for a 'warm' sounding DAC

I wanted that same "non-clinical" sound and found it with my Aesthetix Romulus (it's the DAC+CD model). I bought a Signature version and after about a year, decided to roll the stock (ElectroHarmonix) tubes. Now with Amperex BB 12AX7's and Telefunken 7308's (replacing the 6922's) and upgrading the Sig to Eclipse, I have (for my ears) a very detailed, but airy ("non-grating") high-end. I recommend you take a serious look/listen at the Romulus (or DAC-only Pandora) and as with any tube gear, fine tune the sound to your ears with the tubes  

@gadios  

Very interesting DAC test. No testing methodology is perfect but that is a very credible comparison - especially considering that the votes were closer on the finalists.

Is there a list available of how all the DACs ranked? I would be curious which PS Audio model you tested and how it performed.

@duckworp - Have you considered a tube buffer? I have a Black Ice/Jolida Foz SS-X which I use in my desktop system and it's a great little unit. It acts as a tube buffer, bass enhancer, and sound stage expander. The bass and soundstage effects are completely adjustable. It could be an inexpensive way to solve your problem.

@gadios - Never mind, I found it. Did you ever address the issue of using optical connections for the DAC test?

Aqua La Voce S3 would be a great choice, it sounds nothing like the Chord or most delta-sigma DACs, you can listen to it for hours (and hours, and hours) with no fatigue at all, actually you'll find it hard to switch it off.  

"Is there a list available of how all the DACs ranked? I would be curious which PS Audio model you tested and how it performed".

As I just wrote in another thread, DACs are not sprinters, they are not all running in the exact same direction )). Their performance can not be fully measured, regardless of what the objectivists are trying to prove. DACs, just like any sources, are system-dependant, and to a large extend listener-dependant.

Metronome DACs are warm and glowing, if you use the tube buffer.
A bit colored, but very pleasing.   

Hello , try the Canary Audio Dac Kd2000. I have compared it against my Cary 306/200 dac . Canary was much more sweeter , more depth and wider. Very close both are very good , Cary is more I would say dynamic but I like the Canary better IMHO. Good luck 

warm = R2R generally speaking

aqua, rockna, msb, denafrips, etc

I’m dusting off this old thread just in case someone out there is on the hunt for tube warmth in their system.  I stumbled upon the Line Magnetic LM32 DAC.  It adds just the right amount of tube warmth (to my liking) even with the stock tubes which I rolled to a matched pair of Mullard’s NOS.

A Kitsune Holo KTE DAC, Level 2 or 3 would do just fine.
As people upgrade to the Holo Mays, they are available in your price range.

duckworp , which dac did you finally get?

One of the best in my opinion regards of being SS or Tube DAC is the Playback Design Dream Series MPD8. Its Super Smooth, Transparent, Fatigue Free Digital System. It lets you forget about warm, lush blah blah and diverts your attention to the music. No Clinical cold sound here either its just lets you hear for hours ends with no fatigue exactly the same feeling i get when listening to vinyl.