2. digital
  3. 157410-146840

Best DAC for around $2,500 or less

What are your opinions on the best DAC for under $2,500?  Looking at the Schiit Yggy or many of recommend Denafrips so looking at their Pontus.  Any thoughts on how these two compare?  It might be misguided by I tend to think your getting a little more for your money with a direct to consumer company like Schiit and I know they are highly regarded for their DACS.  Anything else to look at in this price range? 
mvrooman1526
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,313 posts
 

Obviously, there's no single best because, after all, what criteria would you use to determine best?

Denafrips, Audio Mirror, and MHDT would be were I would be looking.

n2siast
19 posts
 
RME ADI-2 DAC. Best kept secret.
erik_squires
15,916 posts
 
I have a Topping DX3, the Mytek Brooklyn is far better sounding to my ears. Both measure exceptionally well.

Oscilloscopes don’t enjoy music, so I don’t go exclusively by measurements unless those measurements have been proven to agree with my enjoyment. Few have.

The Brooklyn Bridge is just a little more than your budget and comes with built in Roon client.
jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
Oscilloscopes don’t enjoy music, so I don’t go exclusively by measurements unless those measurements have been proven to agree with my enjoyment. Few have.

Couldn't agree more.  The measurement thing is such a red herring.  This is about music, how it sounds, how it pleases and brings joy.  What does measurement have to do with it?  We all have ears.
jaytor's avatar
jaytor
747 posts
 
I've often found that my enjoyment of a product is inversely correlated to how it measures (at least traditional measurements like THD and signal to noise). The only measurements that I've found to be at all meaningful in my evaluation of audio products are input and output impedance, and speaker waterfall charts.

The impedance numbers give some indication of likely compatibility between components. I'd never purchase a speaker based on its waterfall chart, but if there are obvious ringing or decay problems, I won't waste my time auditioning them because this does tend to correlate to my likely enjoyment of them.
More to discover