Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

No Dlcockrum, we haven't heard the Terminator, if it sounds close to a Formula, and then the Formula is then improved that moves the Forumula out ahead doesn't it?

There is no denying that the Terminator may be one of the best affordable dac's but it is hardly cheap at nearly $6k that doesn't mean it isn't a fantastic deal, but as mentioned there are other inexpensive dac's that come close to the best of a much higher price point, the T+A is one, so the the Schitt Yaggy, and I am sure there are others.

The difference between a reference product and one that comes close is difference by degree, and just because something is extremely well made doesn't guarantee you good sound. The Meitner DA2a $25k dac was very well made and employed unique technology from one of the best minds in digital Ed Meitner it still didn't sound as good as the LH Labs or the Formula. 

The Esoteric D03 that we had was a 60lb pure dac at $23k and the $15k Meitner Dac 2xse was better sy $8k less.

The point we are making is that there are plenty of storries of great affordable gear that comes close but still fails to exactly emulate some of the best digital.

Mke Lavigne was mentioned as he was an early Aqua adopter and loved the sound on a very expensive system it took a $90k dac to better the Formula for Mike it took a $35k dac in our shop to better the Formula.

Is any piece of hardware worth it? That remains to be seen value is what we place on an item, a Diamond is a hunk of compressed coal why does a stone nicely polished and cut sell for $30k? 


You miss the point of our last post, we are not saying anything negative, about Denifrips, it is just that they are very new to the scene and are relatively unproven. Their long term stability is unknown, these are all relevent factors.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ

Charles1Dad, you may not believe it and say that it is hype but we have compared the Dac 8 to more expensive dacs and when driven correctly the sound is really awesome. 

If you check out John Darko's review of the Dac 8 Mr. Darko compared a $4k T+A Dac 8 to the DCS Rossiini and a couple of other expensive dac and his conclusion was that the Dac 8 came quite close.

We do sell way more expensive dacs in our shop it is just how good the dac 8 can sound is why we recommend it so highly, and at this point we have never heard a $4k dac with this kind of sound quality.

A Dac 8 DSD vs the Denefrips would be very interesting.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ

Dlcockrum, well said and I looked at the price of the updated Formula. The retail is $17,000 now.

Just because something cost more doesn’t necessarily make it a better product especially in high end Audio. 

+1 Dlcockrum

I think that one has the be careful about a DAC like the T&A DSD 8 when most of the sound is from what looks like poorly implemented filters.

I think the fixation on DACs and their sound is a mistake. Get a good high quality tube preamp with the right tubes and create the tailored sound you want. Simply Connect a high performance SS DAC - any number of Stereophile class A+ will do and many others that Stereophile hasnt reviewed.

Carefully crafted optimal sound does does not need to come out of one box and one box alone.

Synergy anyone?

A high synergy 10K system will beat a poorly matched 100K system.

Thanks for that great post Dave.  Appreciated.  Irony is that I heard the Ayre QX5 (the one I currently own) vs the T+A DAC in a system I was pretty familiar with and to my ear it wasn't close.  It shouldn't be since the Ayre goes for a bit under 6k to 8500 or so, but often times when folks claim a 4500 component sounds better than 'anything' under 10k is fallacy and hyperbole.  I have loved the Ayre Codex at under 2k.  I felt that it bettered most of the DACs I heard under 5k, but that was a few years ago. It's still a killer for the price, but with all the new dAC's out there under 5k things have changed and will continue to change.  

We all win out, but the one thing that we have all concluded is that digital is SOOOO system dependent.  I have heard my own DAC in a few different systems now.  Each time it was allowed to stay on for a few days and it sounded different.  It's got the same sound signature an all, but I haven't loved it in every system.  I can honestly say that every DAC that I've heard in multiple systems has sounded differently than I remember.  Not scientific, but most of you understand my point.  So many variables and between electric and which type of connection you use.......;). YMMV.