Which DACs are known to be sweet/rich/relaxed?


Problem
System is nicely transparant and detailed, but tends to get bright and harsh with certain (rock) recordings and at higher volume levels.

Objective
Nudge the system towards a sweeter, richer, more relaxed presentation.

Proposed solution / first step
Upgrade to a (tube based) DAC, budget $25-40k.

Current chain

  • ROON Nucleus
  • Mola Mola Tambaqui
  • Gryphon Essence pre amp
  • Gryphon Essence monoblocks
  • Focal Stella Utopia EVO
  • Full loom of Triode Wire Labs cables
  • Dedicated power line straight into Puritan PSM156 mains filter
  • System resides in the living room with some diffusors but no absorption other than sofas, chairs, and some rugs.


On my radar
Lampizator Pacific (or Golden Gate 2 since I heard it's more "tube-like")
Aries Cerat Kassandra 2 Ref or Sig

— What other DACs should I consider?
— Do you think upgrading to another (tube based) DAC will achieve that sweeter, richer, more relaxed presentation?

robert1976

I still say if you want to spend money your best investment would be a Trinnov, it could replace the DAC and preamp.  Why try to EQ with a DAC or wires buy a device designed for the purpose. 

So no name, and there are many many "top people" at TI. Their CTO is Ahmad Bahai. I don't know him personally, but I have met Kyle Flessner, who would probably reach out to Ahmad who could find out if anyone has even heard of you. They make not take it kindly if the report is not factual though.

So, as expected, not one test report, not one measurement, nothing 3rd party.

I don't have any desire to relate to someone who I feel is misleading. The patent communicates nothing about accomplishment (but does reveal a need to transition to a traditional material for connections, negating even some of the most basic claims). Patents are just that, patents. They are no guarantee of any performance criteria. You, the manufacturer are responsible for that.

So I will implore you again, if your claims are valid, then you should have readily available test reports, 3rd party test results, or other repeatable documentation that supports your very significant claims of superiority. If not, I have to assume they are just that, claims, with no foundation of basis to consider them valid.

You have made significant claims in your post, that is effectively an advertisement. Chastising someone who is asking you to back up your claims and making that a character fault on their part .... I will leave the conclusions on that to others.

It's kind of tasteless to keep throwing your credentials out there, I've heard this from you several times now on this forum and another forum where you use the name CinDyment.

@invalid, for one I am not the illustrious Cin Dyment, though I do admire his ability to take up firm residence in so many heads. Quite a skill. Two, it is a valid point in the discussion, because we are talking physics and a poster has made significant but at this point unsupportable claims. I consider it relevant to the other posters to know that I am not just spouting off, but am extremely familiar with material properties as it applies to their usage in electrical and other applications. Considering I was able to read a marketing blurb on Silversmith's website and correctly estimate a very high resistance cable, something virtually everyone else in the audio world seems to have missed, I would say I bring a skilled perspective to this discussion. However, out of respect for the op, other than to say don't trust claims that do not come with supporting documentation, I am done on Teo_Audio's cables. For you @invalid a natural response is to question suppliers claims when not supported with documentation, not to attack the person pointing that out. I expect that on a political discussion forum, not an audio forum.