2. digital
  3. 188020-162022

What’s the best DAC < 6k (system specific)

I have a decent DAC built into my SS integrated amp but think I can do better with a stand-alone. I’m looking for accuracy, definition and sound stage. Emphasis on sound stage. I have few vinyl albums and find that the ones that sound really good are quite expensive. So, trying to improve the streaming to it brings or approximates that magical HQ vinyl sound. Maybe I’m chasing a red herring but, from what I read, there are some boxes out there that can come darn close. Has anyone compared the Holo May KTE with the T+A DAC 200 or similarly priced products? I know the T+A is a little more but I don’t mind used too. I went from Border Patrol SEi to Ayre Codex to Ayre QB9 Twenty. When I changed my Pass Int 60 amp to one with built in DAC, I thought it sounded better than the QB 9. Actually the QB 9 had more detail than the amp DAC. However, Using the new amp’s (Hegel 590) DAC bypass, to my ear, the QB9 is somewhat fatiguing during extended sessions so, I’m using the smoother, marginally less detailed Hegel built in DAC. There are no places to demo equipment near me so, I have heretofore depended on forums such as this for decisions, of wihich have been very satisfactory thus far. I love pure jazz sounds like the guitar plucked from the fingers of Bill Frisell and John Schofield; the edgy sound of a tenor saxophone; the sultry female voices of Melody Gardot, Chantal Chamberlain and others. Enjoy classic rock as well.

My system:

Hegel 590 Integrated Amp+DAC

digital streamer pis Innuos Zenith MK3 with Innous Phoenix reclocker (strmg Qobuz)

analog is VPI Classic/Transfiguration Axia cart into Parasound JC3+
Magico A3 spkrs w/Audio Sensibility Statement cables.

I was using Audio Sensibility Statement silver interconnects for the QB 9 which I still have to use with a stand-alone.

I know that good sound is more often a matter of taste. However, I am still interested in the opinions of others in this forum and welcome yours if you have one.

Thanks in advance.

hysteve
lnitm
143 posts
 

Mytek Manhattan makes a great dac with mqa in that price range and is Stereophile class A 

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,152 posts
 

Yes in fact I am buying the T+A 200 after taxes ,our multi state audio club 

we have had compared 6 dacs upto $15k 8nclud8ng the mola mola 

and chord David ,Denafrips terminator 12+, holomay KTE 

Lascala top dac and new Meitner  Briscati21

the T+A had not only the most natural balance but built in HQ player and several settings for it which is a powerful program if you want to learn it to tune your system  even better and built into the back end of Roon , and has a separate R2R for DSD 

Also the separate preamp section is a excellent if you wanted to use it pure class A and totally descreet circuit ,the whole unit is galvanically isolated, internally I have never seen a dac this high tech totally different then the competition and uses 8-BB dac chips to lower the noise floor further similar in that sence to the great Accuphase in think#78 it’s not real big only around 14 pounds ,the dual meters too are useful and have 3 settings it’s a steal and ifyou shop around you can get15% off ,upscale audio  had a demo unit  for $6200 just last week we had a 2 day event .that’s what’s cool about hav8ng the time and don’t mind driving state to state,

I have heard some excellent systems way out out of my paygrade but Audio is fun.

stuartk
2,788 posts
 

@hysteve

Look at a used Aqua Acoustics R2R DAC. I have the La Voce mk2 which was about $3200 a few years ago and it remains in my LR system. It is one of the best sounding DACs I have ever heard. R2R DACS=analogue sound

As it happens, I have a La Voce S2 I’m looking to sell. PM me if interested.

thebingster's avatar
thebingster
34 posts
 

+1 on the Aqua DACs. Their "entry" DAC is the La Voce S2 which I had in my system; and later upgraded it to their S3 (the upgrade was about $1,500 and requires it to be sent back to the factory in Italy). For my ears there wasn't a very discernible difference between the S2 and S3 versions. Meanwhile, I had an opportunity to buy their highest level DAC (the Aqua Formula) used, so further upgraded to that. I don't know what stuartk is asking for his Aqua Voce mk2 but I'd jump on it if it's within reason. The sound from these is really organic and also, like stuartk, is the best I've ever heard. You can find some reviews of the La Voce from when it first was offered (maybe 5- 7 years ago). I believe the cost new is in the $5K range. 

hysteve OP
78 posts
 

thebingster thank you and everyone else who commented. I’m waiting on stuartk’s ad. I hope the La Voce is better than what I sold already ie the Ayre QB9 twenty!

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