2. digital
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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
antigrunge2
1,418 posts
 
Look at an Antelope Audio Zodiac Gold + Voltikus power supply: top DAC, very flexible inputs and very good preamp. There is a review on 6moons
mboldda1's avatar
mboldda1
575 posts
 
I second the L.K.S.  MH-DA0004 dac,also take a look at the musical paradise all tube dac.https://www.musicalparadise.ca/store/index.php?route=product/product&path=61&product_id=97
mvrooman1526
42 posts
 
@singintheblues  How has your experience been with the Ares 2? 
singintheblues OP
96 posts
 
@mvrooman1526 I’m happy with it.   It doesn’t have any sonic signature that I can hear.  It’s not thin or bright (which is a an absolute none starter for me), but it doesn’t seem to add anything either.
I forget it’s there.


madavid0
214 posts
 
I'm about at the end of trying to bridge the large quality gap between my record system and my digital. I built a custom audio PC with linear power supply, isolated SSD power rail, and Paul Pang v3 USB controller. I've went through a a bunch of DACs, currently using a Yggdrasil Analog 2. Chinese balanced isolation transformer, audiophile cables throughout mostly Audio Sensibility. The fact is, nothing so far has been able to bring me the big realistic dynamics that I get out of my best records. Record setup is a Triangle Arts Concerto with upgraded platter, speed controller, Reed 2A tonearm and TA Zeus cart. Hashimoto SUT into a Chinese all-tube phono stage (Marantz 7 clone I believe).

I just don't know what to do. Am I just going to have to make my primary system analog only and leave digital to my headphone system?
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