Seeking Advice on NOS DAC

Oh, wait a minute. I just saw a pic of the DAC2.1 and it only has balanced-outputs. My system is SE tubes and I don't know if I want to use XLR adapters.

Don’t know if you’ve heard of or thought of MHDT Labs, but I have their Balanced Pagoda, and it sounds amazing. Particularly with good tubes.

I too and a big fan of the NOS sound, after having had a Scott Nixon DAC for a long while.

I highly recommend the Pagoda. 

@lowrider57 AN dacs of that vintage don’t have USB inputs, mine doesn’t I use coax. You could of course get a usb/spdif converter. As far as questions I wouldn’t stress too much about caps my DAC is Circa 1995 and still going strong. It’s a pretty low stress environment in terms of the output stage. perhaps ask for some interior pics? I don’t think there’s much to worry about AN has fantastic interior build quality.

Stretch your budget just a little for a used Pavane. You can later upgrade if you feel the need.  The base model is much better than the Hex and their Level 3 (run through a very good preamp) beat their highly rated Adagio head-to-head, for my tastes, in my system - although the Adagio was very good and other listeners may have called it differently.

I bought a Dodson D 217 mk. II d with 218 software upgrade and used it happily for over a decade. However, one of my system goals has always been to achieve ultimate transparency without crossing over the line into harshness. So when the Hex came out I decide to give NOS a shot and pulled the trigger and I do have to admit, the filterless approach does come off as a bit more organic and the micro shadings/information are more cleanly and decipherably presented. Then the Pavane reared its ugly head and after much deliberation and gnashing of teeth, I decided to take the plunge. It is MARGINALLY better but the sweet spot for the money is most certainly the Hex in my book. And I paid $3800 for my Hex brand new so at $1500, I'd be all over the one you're currently eyeing up.

I listen to redbook CD 100%.

Best of luck to you, whatever your decision.