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Looking for a tube (or tube sounding) DAC

I’m selling my Shiit Yggy and want to purchase a tube DAC as a compliment to my Primaluna Dialogue HP integrated amp. My budget is up to $6,000. I have a small assortment of music on a hard drive, do not have analog gear, no headphones, and listen almost exclusively to Qobuz through Roon. My list of DACs to consider so far are:
  • Lampizator Baltic 3 $5,900
  • Holo Audio May Level 3 $5,000 (not tube)
  • Tubadore III with all additions $2,300ish
  • Primaluna EVO 100 $3,000

Others I thought of, but are not tube are:
  • PS Audio Perfect Wave with network card
  • Mytek Manhattan II with network card

I live in a small town in OR and it’s four hours to Portland. I would love to hear suggestions from all of you. I’m looking for a nice step up from the Yggy. If you’re interested in my Yggy, it will be on Agon next weekend.

My gear:
  • Roon Rock via an Intel NUC that I built.
  • Ethernet connection to a separate switch, then fiber optics to an EtherREEN.
  • Bryston BDP-1 music server (might sell this too)
  • MiniDSP SHD for Dirac room correction
  • New DAC
  • Primaluna Dialogue HP integrated
  • Martin Logan Summit X speakers
  • Cables and interconnects are Acoustic Zen and Kimber.

Thanks, everyone!

Steve
smills59
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biketony
93 posts
 
Maybe give a try to the metronome LaDac.very musical and warm
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
5,053 posts
 
I don't want to twist your arm to spend about 1/5th of your budget, but the MHDT Orchid DAC sounds incredible with my Quicksilver tube gear, my Node streamer, and my Salk Speakers. I've matched it also with Atoll solid state gear. In all cases, it is clear without being edgy and always adds a third dimension to the imaging. There is no smudging of the image. It is available via MHDT on Ebay or via Linear Tube Audio, who are great to work with. That said, if I were to try another, from my research the Audio Mirror Tubador is at the top of my list.
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
sympathetic colorations and system synergies are the lifeblood of assembling beautiful sounding systems

we listen with our ears, for pleasure and to stir passion

'accuracy' and measurement geeks have always missed the central point of why this pursuit exists
grinnell
1,111 posts
 
The MHDT made my system sounds so much better
smills59 OP
54 posts
 
Thanks for your suggestions. It's not the I don't like the Yggy, I have an itch to upgrade to a higher level and I love the sound of tubes.

I think the Aquahifi DACs are out of my budget of $6,000, but they sure look nice!  I'll check out the MHDT Orchid.  I do have the Holo Audio May KTE on my list, but it's not tube.  Definitely still on my list.

I'd love more suggestions, and comments on the Tubadore III and Lampizator Baltic 3.

George, you and I traded comments in an earlier thread when I bought my PL.  You had the same comment then.  I demoed the Saunders AMP with my Parasound preamp against the PL and decided on the PL.  I never listen to music loud (wife doesn't like it).  I've not noticed any issues with the PL and my ML Summit X speakers.  Now maybe it's clipping and I can't tell, but I think if it is, it would be rare.

Thanks again.  This is indeed a great community of folks.  
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