Need a DAC Recommendation.

I was just reading the asr of the new topping d90se and the gustard x26.

Both measure great but the 3rd harmonic of the new topping is-130db and the gustard is-115.

John Curl has studied this and finds that the odd order harmonics is really bad. 

No company ever indicates which order of harmonic is being produced by their product. 

I can tell you,  this is what makes a product sound musical. 

Remember,  no instruments or human voice ever goes above about 4khz.

But it's the harmonics that allow you to tell the difference between a violin playing a c note or if it's a piano. 

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



The border patrol has a tube rectifier, so you are correct. 

Hello,
RME ADI -2 DAC  $1150. I like how you can adjust the EQ to fit your system. John Darko reviewed this and rated it very high. Plus you pick the sound signature. The Topping is very good too. The Denifrips Ares 2 is good. I just like how you can set up the RME. Be careful of R2R DACs if your system is already warm or tubes. If you have SS go with the RME or the Denifrips. You will need to jump above $1500 to go to the next level. 

I just so hate the BS “ The new snatch catcher 9000 blows them all away for only $200.”  Please you get what you pay for. 

just a few comments based on earlier posts below

-- the border patrol dac uses its tube, a rectifier, in its power supply - it is not directly in the signal path, either as a driver of, or as a buffer for its analog outputs

-- you do get what you pay for, but some models do bring more value than others, esp. those with direct sales channels (denafrips vs ps audio, for instance) - or if you value features and lots of ancillary functions, the rme adi2 is terrific for its price, even if it is more on ’clean and lean’ side of the sonic palette with chord, and the better bitstream chi-fi dacs

-- as for denafrips, i had trouble with the entry level ares ii, it had an annoying sibilance (for me, a major no-no) that i could not cure with cables, input choices, nos/os settings etc etc... but stepping up to their next level pontus model did the trick... a very very good sounding dac (though 2x the ares price)

-- don’t overlook the wonderful ayre codex for under a grand used, if you are a headphone listener as well as standard in-room two channel... excellent sound, very balanced presentation