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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.
128x128duckworp
8th-note
414 posts
 
@gadios  

Very interesting DAC test. No testing methodology is perfect but that is a very credible comparison - especially considering that the votes were closer on the finalists.

Is there a list available of how all the DACs ranked? I would be curious which PS Audio model you tested and how it performed.
8th-note
414 posts
 
@duckworp - Have you considered a tube buffer? I have a Black Ice/Jolida Foz SS-X which I use in my desktop system and it's a great little unit. It acts as a tube buffer, bass enhancer, and sound stage expander. The bass and soundstage effects are completely adjustable. It could be an inexpensive way to solve your problem.
8th-note
414 posts
 
@gadios - Never mind, I found it. Did you ever address the issue of using optical connections for the DAC test?
relaks
63 posts
 
Aqua La Voce S3 would be a great choice, it sounds nothing like the Chord or most delta-sigma DACs, you can listen to it for hours (and hours, and hours) with no fatigue at all, actually you'll find it hard to switch it off.  

relaks
63 posts
 
"Is there a list available of how all the DACs ranked? I would be curious which PS Audio model you tested and how it performed".

As I just wrote in another thread, DACs are not sprinters, they are not all running in the exact same direction )). Their performance can not be fully measured, regardless of what the objectivists are trying to prove. DACs, just like any sources, are system-dependant, and to a large extend listener-dependant.
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