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Most organic / real / analogue sounding DAC (ideally with Volume Control) for $1500??????

I’d say I’m completely jaded with digital Hifi.   All sounds so thin & clinical.

I people raving about Benchmark DACs & Chord Mojos etc. They sound like hell to me.   Nothing at all like real live voices & instruments.

I’ve been reading about R2R Ladders & NOS.   The descriptions match what I’m looking for.   I want natural sound that makes me forget about Hifi & just listen to the music.
like Reel to Reel without the faff.

Lifelike is my aim, but I certainly prefer a warm, dark sound over clinical.

Don't need a load of inputs.  Only need 2 or 3.
I don’t have any analog sources, so prefer the DAC to have Volume Control to eliminate the need for a Pre Amp.   However, if the best sounding DACs don’t have Volume Control & there are clear sonic benefits to having a Preamp, then I could be persuaded.

I’m in UK btw, so need brands that ship to UK.


Suggestions please?


Thanks

singintheblues
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
am running my own lil dac shootout given the covid time at home

in play:
chord qutest, 2qute, mojo
chord m scaler (in association with certain dacs of course)
metrum jade, octave
ayre codex
mhdt stockholm, orchid w/ a gaggle of tubes
neko d100-2
van alstine fet topp r2r
border patrol
jolida black ice glass (now out for wally mods)
hegel rost and h390 internal dacs

sold/relegated:
rme adi-2 -- image size and depth poor, despite great clarity
schiit bifrost mb -- tone nice but sibilant lower treble
node 2i internal -- rolled muddy slurred
topping d90 -- clear but somewhat artificial in tone

fleschler
2,026 posts
 
@justmetoo  Very nice analog and comparable to what I hear from a VPI TNT VI, modified SME IV and Benz Ruby 3.  
melchior-christoph
15 posts
 
three_easy_payments4
I do own a Metrum Amethyst Non-Oversampling DAC  (1.3k) and a Systemdek IIX / SME / MC / Ortofon Prepre feeding my tubeamp.
Than I have a dedicated LOKI DSD DAC..
.
The DSD DAC is a € 100 device and is on par with the Non-Oversampling DAC and the turntable - and sounding VERY ANALOG. BUT SACD / DSD64 has a very limited offering.
.
What I mostly do is download LP rips, convert them to 24bit / 48khz and have them in an iPod Classic / Pro-Ject Digital Dockingstation feeding my Metrum DAC via chinch toslink.
.
Many of my favourite albums from Ultravox / Alphavile / Yazoo / Depeche Mode were produced in 24bit / 48 khz anyway, so the loss is minute.
.
When listening to Rolling Stones on DSD I do not know whether it sounds "better" in the sense that it gets more music out of it, but for sure sounds more like"reel to reel".
.
There are newly recorded SACD / DSD64 albums which deliver "sound plankton" which to match one would need a DXD aka 352.8 khz recording.
.
The sky is the limit. I am happy with 24bit / 48 khz with a non-oversampling DAC and a tube amp. YMMV
.
And no - my turntable sounds for the most part just like my Nos DAC.
( I do not have the money for an tube EAR prepre, but than it might be better. MIGHT!!!)
.




melchior-christoph
15 posts
 
audiofun4
The 777 is a tube DAC. I do have a tube amp, so I do not need the "infusion of happy vibes" a tube might give you with SS gear.
I am a sucker for a "mellow" sound - and with my tube amp and the Metrum Octave I had before I already got me there.
The Amethyst just added more bass and "grunt" - letting the Octave sounding a wee bit dreamy - and the Amethyst more "real".
I am a happy camper with 24bit / 48khz and even redbook sounds "analog enough" - warm and bassy that is now.


 

ryder
1,690 posts
 
Chord Mojo and Benchmark DAC sound like hell? That’s quite an exaggeration there. What speakers are you using?
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