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Some DACs I am Considering-Any thoughts?

Soekris 2541                $1.1

Doge 7                         $1.2

Mhdt Pagoda               $1.4

Denafrips Pontus         $1.8

Audio Mirror SE           $2.5

Holo Audio Spring 2    $2.7

Audio Note 4.1 Kit       $3.6

Lampizator Amber 3    $3.8

Anyone who can speak from experience  about comparisons
between any two these?

I like the use of a tube and I like the R2R style of build.

Prefer to stay under $2.5 but might be swayed.

Thanks in advance for sharing.

(Some of these prices are certainly not correct)
chorus
chorus OP
976 posts
 
Thanks for the additional suggested DACs. In August 2019 Our club
held a DAC It Out event which included the Cutest and it came in #3
in the blind test. Ahead was the Schiit Yggy ,the Jolida DAC ($750)
and the new Line Magnetic. All tube models. See AZAVCLUB.com
Events for the complete writeup.

I have come to believe that the associated test gear was so harsh that the tube DACs had an advantage. 

4 people from Chord showed up and watched the process proclaiming they were satisfied with process. 

At of today I am 3 days away from the end of my trial period for the Audio Mirror Tubadour I recently acquired, 

As I compare it to the Denafrips Ares I had the sound seems more involving without any ear burn I experienced with the Ares. I am not saying the $750 Ares is a dog, far from it. I wish I had started with the Pontus at $1,750.

The Audio Mirror base model I have @ $1,500 is being discontinued in favor of the more upgraded SE model @ $2,500.
If I keep the base model I will have it upgraded. BTW Vlad, the owner,
is a pleasure to work with and quite generous as well. He is getting busy though and as a one man show with a full time job I can foresee some
wait possible wait times. Worth it in my mind.
Post removed 
jsal3689
84 posts
 
Anyone that doesn't put the Denafrips #1 has not heard the Denafrips. It is head and shoulders above anything I have heard.
jmolsberg's avatar
jmolsberg
467 posts
 
I had my AM Tubadour upgraded to the SE after owning it for the better part of a year. Vlad really is great to work with! The DAC is phenomenal. 
mrklas
441 posts
 
I have a Moon 280D with MiND 2.  I am very pleased with the DAC.

My digital journey started with a Node 2i and then I used the DAC 1 Module in my McIntosh Preamp.

My listening habits are eclectic - I may listen to Bob Marley and then put on Metallica follow-up with Paul Simon, Black Sabbath and Peter Gabriel.  Or I may just play Spyro Gyro and chill. 

The Moon has exceeded my expectations in everyway including the ease of use of the MiND 2.  So impressed with the Moon DAC I will consider other Moon components if I decide to upgrade my system.

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