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Best Bang for your Buck DAC ?

I just realized I’m in the market for a DAC , I don’t want to spend a fortune on a DAC either . I picked up a drangonfly cobalt a while back and am unimpressed  so I moved it to my CPU and sounds really good on my system there which when I bought it figured I would do anyway since it was my first DAC purchase . There are so many DACs I have no clue , how high up on the returns chart can I go at say $1,000 before I run into heavy Diminished returns resistance. I’m open to buying used . I was thinking about a Schitt made in the states ? Anyone’s take on best bang for buck DACs? 
ngiordano
dinov's avatar
dinov
831 posts
 
Jolida (black ice) tube dac. Phenomenal dac for the money. You can also change things around with different tubes. A big bargain. 
chorus
976 posts
 
I see several things suggested here that you can't buy for $1,000.
I did recently try the Denafrips Ares 2 and sold it after a week or
so for what I paid. Try that one its pretty good for $750. 


brauser
525 posts
 
The AudioQuest Cobalt USB DAC has 'no right' to sound as good as it does for $300.00. Amazing piece of miniaturization!
dletch2
455 posts
 
$300 buys a lot of parts, and the packaging costs are minimal.
emilm
18 posts
 
I will not be very original as I will also recommend Denafrips Ares 2 Dac.
As close as you can get to analogue sounding dac without tubes.
I am rediscovering my cd collection.
It never sounded so good!
Speaking of value, you have to double the price,750 to get a better sound.
Schiot Bifrost 2
sounds also very good and has 5 years warranty!
But it doesn’t have the creamy smoothness of The Ares 2. Enjoy!


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