Need a DAC Recommendation.

Save your money and get a used ps audio DS jr dac, it will blow these mentioned dacs away in sq and in features. For example: do the other dacs above have an Ethernet connection? Fpga based? I2s input? (I2s and Ethernet are the best inputs to use on a dac), free firmware upstages that provide new features and sounds better, MQA support, up samples to dsd? Most of these other dacs mentioned above don’t provide even 1 of these features let alone all of them. You can get a used jr for around $2400

The rme adi-2 dac is tough to beat at it’s price point.

FYI, the Border Patrol's tube is not part of a buffered output, but part of the the signal path. That might help differentiate it from other tube DACs.

For clarification: The tube in the Border Patrol is part of the power supply, not the audio signal path.

@ghasley and what is your point? It is still one of the best sounding DAC’s on the market today. I have DAC’s from Bel Canto, Simaudio that cost 3 times what my BP Se cost and the BP SE is my favorite.

It is also the unit that gets the most use in my office system with my QS Integrated. Wonderful combination and made in the USA.