Point of diminishing return for a DAC

Well! I feel like I just finished my masters in DACs.   I’m very grateful for all who took time to comment!  

mtdining48 posts12-26-2019 1:46pmSince I have recent experience from Pi DAC through DCS Vivaldi stack, I might as well chime in. I ended up with an Ayre Codex fed by a Roon Nucleus. I have been quite underwhelmed by the Rendu products - Digital and lifeless, reminiscent of the recent McIntosh preamps.
The Codex was a massive step up in musicality, pace, as well as micro detail and soundstage over every less expensive option. Meaning full up grades cost nearly to over $10k. If I were to upgrade, I have to say the DCS Bartok is the most affordable DAC through which vocalists sound human.
As a side note, the R2R people and to a lesser extent the Chord people make me laugh. 1) are you really going to find two resisters that match?

2) a billion taps does not make your DAC sound as good as anything from DCS.

OK...this is just downright absurd.
To the OP...this is the kind of thing that your post of "diminishing returns" should warn against...;p-)

First, what this dude fails to mention is that the DCS Bartok lists for $15,000 before you are victimized by a $1,000 power cord and a pair of $1,500 interconnects so you "can extract the best from it".

In fact, this post defines the absurdity of "diminishing returns.

Second, make your system "balanced".
Meaning, invest in proportionate amounts between "source" (DAC/streamer), amp, speakers and cables.

A $2500 DAC mates well with adjacent components in the relatively same price zip code. This is nt a fixed rule, but a decent one.

This same gut who thinks a DCS is the only DAC to make vocals sound human also might mandate $15,000 speakers so that the DCS has the chance to shine on good speakers.

Me..?..like I have said three times recently: I'm happy at the 92% level of audiofoolery and beloieve that each 1% on the way to the unattainable can cost $2,000 - 5,000 and if you have the money and value that...then GO FOR IT.

Well! I feel like I just finished my masters in DACs.

Not so (fast)... @fastninja12 : )

With all the options available you're going to have to set a price limit first,
regardless of whether or not you've reached "that point". Of course it's helpful to audition (at least once) a really great system just so you know.
Best of luck though. 

The Audio-gd R8 is FPGA based so you will be able to update firmware and improve its sound very often. 

I find A MUST to feed any DAC with a clean USB signal and I dont agree on keeping the Mac Mini. I have the SOtM SMS-200 Ultra Neo and it was a BIG improvement over direct computer USB, even with a W4S USB Reclocker and an Audioquest Jitterbug I had. If budget allows, go with the SOtM SMS-200 Ultra Neo. If not, a cheaper and I heard also good is the Ultrarendu.

My system sounds (for me) better than three multi thousands dollars systems I've heard and, even its not only the DAC, but the whole chain what matters, the Audio-gd R8 was up to the task.