2. digital
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Still looking for a DAC I can demo at home. . .

I'm looking to spend up to $4500 on a DAC. Must be able to demo at home!  Yes-- I know-- this eliminates  many possibilities but I don't actually enjoy buying/selling gear, so buying gear on A'gon to try, and then having to re-sell it, holds 0 appeal for me. I think of myself as a music lover rather than an audiophile. Perhaps, for those of you reading this, other, less flattering adjectives come to mind ;o), but nevertheless, the search goes on. I have:  Wells Majestic integrated, Silverline SR 17.5 Monitors. I plan to keep my Jolida JD100 cdp as a transport. Emotional involvement, "musicality" (lots of arguments about what that means, I know) are more important to me than hyper detail. Borrowing John Darko's analogy, I'm more interested in "tasting cake" than knowing whether the butter is organic, the eggs are laid by Rhode Island Red hens or Sea Turtles, the flour is winter or spring wheat, etc. Sea Turtles? OK- I'm starting to experience the particular flavor of insanity that comes from spending far too much time reading threads and reviews.  I've held off  trying Schiit Yggy due to conflicting reports re: whether its resolution is too "digital/analytical" sounding. PS Audio Directstream JR. has its fans and critics. Anything else in this price range I can demo at home ???
stuartk
soix
10,366 posts
 
Sounds like the Metrum Hex DAC might be right up your alley from a sonic perspective.  TMR Audio is selling a used one here, and I think they might offer a 30-day return period.  Worth checking out I'd think.  Best of luck in your search. 

333jeffery
122 posts
 
I have both the Yggy and the Directstream dacs. The Yggy has been a great dac for two years now, while the Directstream lasted only a few days. Both are very resolving, but the DS had a harsh glare to it that made my ears hurt. The Yggy is nice and natural sounding. No fatigue at all. I only replaced it because I found a Rockna Wavedream at a great price and decided to upgrade.
stuartk OP
3,516 posts
 
I now have a Metrum Adagio to try out, courtesy of Mike Powell at Verastarr Cable. I can't afford it, but I have a chance of picking up a Pavane at a great discount, and the latest Pavane is almost identical to the Adagio.
rhljazz
1,255 posts
 
Buy a new Chord Hugo 2 or a used Hugo 1.  No off the shelf dac chips, proprietary watts time aligned filter.  Check the reviews on line from the British press.
It is small, portable, outstanding build quality, and doesn't require a high dollar aftermarket power cord.  I like it best on battery power only.  Plus you get a free headphone amp with the dac!
The Hugo just plain sounds like music on both my very different amp/speaker combinations that I use between summer and the winter.
 I am split about 50/50 between analog and digital.  The Hugo never sounds digital, no glare, no fatigue either.  It has all the detail but never bright or in your face.  Piano is especially well reproduced.
 My musical preferences are primarily jazz and classical FYI.
stuartk OP
3,516 posts
 
@333jeffrey: there seems to be a great deal of disagreement re: YGGY.  I don't know how to account for such disparity except to hypothesize that it may be a component that's especially system-dependent.  What is the rest of your system?  I've already paid to ship 3 dacs for home trial, so the idea of having to pay for more shipping plus a possible re-stocking fee is not that appealing at this point. I'm hoping the Adagio/Pavane will make my ears happy. We'll see. If it doesn't blow me away, then I'll have to reconsider YGGY. 
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