What is the best DAC ever made?

See the Accustic Arts thread for another perspective.

Just discovered this thread....

Thanks Ertugrul for your comments re: Metronome Kalista transport w/kls DAC on similar level as $100k continuum tt. Reviewers and owners have made similar comments that the Kalista is more like a super high-end tt setup than digital. I recently heard similar results ina system featuring Magico Reference loudspeakers.

As a bonus, the Kalista is stunningly beautiful, too.

As Linn demonstrated many years ago, the source component is the most important component in a system.

Tmhaudio fails to disclose he is the distributor for Metronome.

Again.

Well, I am not a distributor but proud owner of the Metronome Kalista/C2A signature DAC combo (for few months now) and upon extended listening in my own system it rivals my two well reserched and set up analog set-ups. The Kalista/c2a combo simply is the best digital (or non-digital) sound I have heard. I have not heard all the top level DACs but have heard enough to claim this combo to be the best "I" have heard.

The one I really like is the Audionote DAC-5 signature. It sounds extremely smooth and relaxed, but not sluggish and dead. The way it handles woodwinds and string instruments, in particular, is thrilling. I've heard it coupled to both Audionote transports and to 47 Labs Pitracer.

The bad news is that the last time I looked, it was something like $30k.