Tube or R-2R DAC for Tube System

@idolindian
It would be helpful if you had a DAC and listed what you don’t like about it and what direction you want to go, otherwise we are just guessing on your preferences. Without context, all we can do is suggest DACs that we like rather meeting your preferences.

Great experience with Aqua La Scala - R2R with tube output stage. It nicely blends with both SS and tube gear. I personally used it with a tube pre (Lamm) and SS monoblocks (MSB). It is detailed, yet very musically enjoyable.

I’m having difficulty with “or”. I bought my first external DAC and am really happy with it. No complaints at all. Then I bought another one of a different type “just to try it out”. It’s pretty damn good, too. The thing I’ve noticed is that the differences aren’t necessarily better, just different. There are shortcomings in each I don’t think I’d have ever noticed without the other to A/B compare. But I think I’m getting a better idea of my personal preferences and now I have 2 reference points for comparison when I inevitably start looking for my next DAC.

Choices are nice.
There’s really no substitute for experience.
“You can’t get what you want, ‘til you know what you want.”

The Denafrips Terminator plus r2r is the best DAC I have ever owned. It sounds great with my Cary SLP-05 per and Primaluna Dialogue 7 Monoblocks. A friend of mine has the Ares II and it sounds good, especially for the cost. Here is a review from someone I trust.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xS8_iWwtCs&t=295s

Hello,
I would say stick to chip based DACs with tube gear unless you are going to a Holo May or a Denifrips Plus for DACs $5k or less which have a special over sampling function. Last but not least is the RME Black pro. It has tone controls. It will let you dial in the sound that you want. For $2k that is not bad. One of the best R2R DACs I have demoed was the Electrocompaniet. Very smooth without loss of detail. That’s the biggie. The loss of detail or sparkle when you pair DACs with tube gear. I have tested this. It’s about budget. If you can, please demo stuff on your system. If you cannot then heed my advise. The one I liked for the money was the first gen of the M2Tech young DAC. It had a touch of sibilant. When a friend installed it on his full Rogue tube system he said it was awesome. You can get these pretty cheap. If you want to take this to another level get an SBooster linear power supply for it. This sound will smoke a basic DAC. I hope this helped. This store in the Chicagoland area has this DAC. https://holmaudio.com/
I don’t run tube gear. If I did I would have this DAC for the price. It’s probably $1K with the SBOOSTER. You will have to check.