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Looking for recommendations for a 'warm' sounding DAC

Would anyone know of a warm sounding DAC, budget to £2500/$3000 new or used. My ears don’t like a crisp and clinical sound, I find that Chord/dcs/Topping sound painful if loud. I know many love those crisp leading edges that these deliver but that sound does not synergise with my amp/speakers nor my sensitive ears. I know the easiest way to achieve this would be to switch speakers to a mellow speaker but this option is not available.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
duckworp
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
I like lowrider57's Audio Note DAC suggestion.  No gratuitous warmth but a natural/organic character  I understand duckworp's aversion to components that emphasize or exaggerate the leading edge for "sense" of detail. This sounds artificial. 
Charles 
mitch2
4,247 posts
 
Look for a Yamamoto YDA-01B.....the “B” denotes the tubed version.
https//6moons.com/audioreviews/yamamoto8/dac.html
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Agree with mitch2 regarding the Yamamoto DAC (I’ve owned mine for many very happy years. SS version but utterly organic). I believe that the Audio Note DACs are more available on the used market ( Larger company with far more DACs built and sold). Also in the stated price range the OP can find a 2.1 or 3.1 model and achieve excellent natural sound quality. Terrific value purchased used IMHO.
Charles
jackd
1,078 posts
 
If you are in the EU or UK you might want to look for a used Aqua La Voce.  The S2 version is even warmer than the S3.
supermerio
78 posts
 
I use chord dave with m scaler to my vitus sia 025. speakers
is a wilson sasha 2. The m scaler added a degree of warmth vs
the standalone chord dave.
my main source is an aurender s10.
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