2. digital
  3. 177148-147732

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
frozentundra
207 posts
 

Robert1976

 

per my previous response

make sure you do the easy stuff, first 

tonal balance is a big thing and easy to do with Roon dsp

so, is converting files to dsd , in roon

i tried playback design dac in my system and was astounded how sweet that was ,but expensive

then, I tried dsd conversation with Chord dac, dsd is the way to go for rock albums of 80’s 

 

jeff

Ag insider logo xs@2x
cleeds
6,036 posts
 
 
 

deludedaudiophile ... Most of the time I don’t like to credential drop ... I have a PhD in solid state physics (which is not the same as solid state devices). I have worked in the semiconductor industry on device physics ...

Don't be silly. You've touted your PhD here so often that your claim now seems dubious.

... I am a highly qualified skeptic ... I expect you to be able to supply those measurements. That is not too much to ask ...

Notwithstanding your questionable qualifications as a skeptic, no one here owes you anything and we certainly don't owe you any measurements or blind test results. This is a hobbyist's group. If that's not acceptable to you, you may be in the wrong place.

deludedaudiophile
493 posts
 

@cleeds 

 

Why are you protecting a supplier from obvious dubious claims to the detriment of the thread? That is political behavior not rational behavior.

Ag insider logo xs@2x
cleeds
6,036 posts
 

deludedaudiophile

Why are you protecting a supplier from obvious dubious claims ...

Please stop with your accusations. Nobody here owes you anything. No one owes you measurements, blind tests, or anything else to satisfy your notions of what is "right." This is a hobbyist's group.

deludedaudiophile
493 posts
 

@cleeds why are you protecting a Supplier, not a hobbyist on a forum you called a hobbyist who is making unsupported dubious claims again to the detriment of this thread????  I did not ask a hobbyist for anything. I asked a supplier. 

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