Two years ago I went through the same task of trying to find a DAC that made a difference to SQ. Like you I have an all tube system but found that Denafrips Pontus, and the Orchid and Pagoda made absolutely no difference. The distributer for Denafrips who loaned me the Pontus said I would need the Terminator to notice any improvement in SQ. I eventually went with a SS DAC in my price range which did provide greater dynamics and clarity, This was the Pure Audio Lotus 5 which used the ESS 3089 chip. The fact I liked it surprised me because I have generally hated ESS products finding them way to bright but the implementation in the Pure Audio was extremely musical and a great match with tube amplification.
Need help choosing a new DAC
With so many options for DACs these days, I'm having a hard time deciding on a new DAC. Currently considering a MHDT Orchid or Pagoda, Denafrips Pontus II, Benchmark DAC3, Schitt Yggdrasil, or Audio Mirror Tubadour III SE. I don't need any options such as volume control, BT, or MQA. I also prefer musicality over measurements. I'm currently using a SMSL SU-9, which will be moved over to my office system. I'm tired of moving it back and forth between systems. My bank account prefers the cost of the Orchid since the other options cost up to twice as much, but I can go as high as $2500. I mostly steam Qobuz thru a Raspberry Pi 4, but also use a Cambridge Audio CXC v2 CD transport on occasion. My preamp is a Don Sachs DS2 tube preamp going into a D-Sonic m3a-1200s amp feeding "Gunned" MMGs. I mostly listen to the Grateful Dead, rock, jazz, and acoustic music. Which DAC should I get and are the any others I should look at?
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- 97 posts total
I would add the Ayre Acoustics Codex to your list. It’s $1,995 new and has both USB and optical inputs. It’s somewhat comparable to the Benchmark in that it’s very neutral sounding and highly resolving, but unlike some solid state gear not edgy or overly bright. It’s something to which you can listen for hours given its clear, smooth sound. Also Ayre provides great support for their products. If you can audition the gear you are considering you will hopefully find one you like best. Happy listening! |
@arafiq I'm not 100% certain I'm going with a tube DAC. In fact, tube DACs only recently came on my radar as I have been doing research. The other components in my system aren't leaving anytime soon. Just trying to find the right DAC for my system and keep it within my budget. |
- 97 posts total