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Mid-priced warm sounding DAC?

I've recently decided that a good route for me to take is upgrading my system with a good DAC. My current system is a bit bright sounding, so I'm looking for a good DAC costing up to $600 (used) that will provide a smooth, warm sound to match my currently bright system. I'd also like the DAC to be capable of upsampling, although if necessary I could add an upsampler to the digital chain at a later time. My preference would be to have it built-in, however.

Any suggestions?
jwglista
chriskeating
189 posts
 
I think that all the advice to check out the non-oversampling dacs is right on the money. I have a Shigaraki DAC and it is filterless and non-oversampling and I run it with a battery. It is SMOOTH and MUSICAL and just right.........like porridge.
peterh
41 posts
 
Buy a quality USED DtoA converter. There are a lot of them out there as people have been buying single box units.
jwglista OP
206 posts
 
If the DAC does not oversample, wouldn't that mean that certain details in the music would be left out? I'm assuming that is the trade off: smoothness for musical detail.
alpha3
130 posts
 
Try the Musical Fidelity A3 24 dac.
Its upsamples 24/96 or 24/192.
You can find one used for about $650.00 or lower.
Regards,
Dan
jsala
99 posts
 
Non-OS vs oversampling is is like tubes vs solid state. Tubes should not sound good since they don't measure well. Conversely, SS should sound much better, given the great specs. However, when you listen, tubes can sound magical and muscial. The same is true for non-oversampling. If music were originally recorded as 24/196 then I think that a 24/196 dac would sound great. But if your source is redbook cd (16/44.1) then the sonic benefits of upsampling/oversampling are dubious (in spite of the so called technical arguements).
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