Higher End DACs


I am looking for a DAC (potentially streamer&DAC) to be paired in a mcintosh system (c1100/611). Its my first foray into digital streaming and I have no need for a CD player.

I see a lot of love for Esoteric, however, most seems to be around their transports? Are they not as renowned for pure digital streaming and/or standalone DACs? I see DCS (for instance) often referenced for standalone DACs - how does Esoteric compare?
ufguy73
In January 2015 my system and that of many of my clients were not stable enough. It could be awesome for a week and after that week I could hear some harshness in the sound. And the dynamics and layering would be less as well. And when I visited clients I auditioned it even more often.

So I phoned a person who is also specialized in electro-smog. We talked for many hours on the phone at that time. And I started to focus on the influence of electro-smog. And I tested many tools that are on the market in this particular aspect.

Like most audio products most products regarding electro-smog are not able to reveal all aspects of sound. So based on Tru-Fi (all aspects of sound) most products did work more negative than positive. But after time I understood what electro-smog is and does to sound and stage.

And I was able to find different tools (products and parts we use for modification) that can reveal all aspects of sound and limit the negative influence of electro-smog. Later that year I started to focus on the influence of magnetism on sound and stage.

In 2016 I met a person who is specialized in high-frequency noise. Again we talked for hours on the phone. I started to test different products and parts that reduce the influence of high-frequency noise. And again most products and parts again were not able to reveal all aspects of sound.

It cost me a lot of time to find parts and products who are able to give me access to all aspects of sound. Because over 99,99% are still useless. This is what it is. But  I can deal with that.

Now in 2020, we are far ahead of all other people in audio. This year we will start to talk with manufacturers to imply our ideas in products and systems. It will create many new options and levels in both sound&vision.
I dont believe in miraculous solution in general, when they exist they are always high cost.

There exist differences between each rung of the 3 rungs scale, an amplifier of 500 dollars cannot beat a 10,000 one....But this being said, the fabulous upgrading of the sound I live with a low cost budget has transformed totally my system in this " emotional" space where it is impossible to turn off any musical files because it is too beautiful and unique...I trusted my ears and they guide me each step at a time....The ears know much than our conscious brain...

I am not a fool ,there exist better systems than mine, my point is not boasting about my system, my point is debating the belief that it is necessary to pay big money to afford this "emotional" musical space... For me the dimensions of sound necessary to enjoy music are : natural timbre, imaging, soundstage, immersive presence, details, 3-d very precise locations of main instruments and background...Presence of harmonics in relations with all or most of the spectrum...My 4 points methods address the 4 level of perceived musical sound... I will not repeat it here tough.... I just want to gives hope to all people with low cost budget...I enjoy very much what I have and know why.... My best to all....


The money will never guarantee you anything. People think and talk about brands and products all the time in audio. It proves that they do not understand sound and audio at all. I now have contact with several new clients in the US as well. I was surprised how much further we are in audio than people in the US are.

Many people in the US still connect their systems often directly to the wall. When I said this to my clients, many of them started to laugh and were surprised about this.

We also create special audio groups in electricity for our clients. People forget that due to trial&error you can only get access to a rather limited level in the end result of every single part of their system.

When you are not able to understand the DNA of each individual product you use, your choices become even laughable. The saddest part in audio is the fact that most audio products can not reveal all aspects of sound.

This has a huge negative impact on each system you imply these products. It will always lower the level of the emotion of the whole system. Many sources and DACS can only create a very limited level in the layering of sound. The harmonics on the recording are the most important part of the emotion music possesses.

People make often the wrong decisions in sources too. First by buying network players and DACS who are not even able to reveal all aspects of sound. And second, they forget most aspects who negatively influence their source and DAC.
Where is the long sought ‘IGNORE’ button...I sure would like to skip  through all those posts by bo 😉