Some DACs I am Considering-Any thoughts?

I was testing in my system:

Lampizator Amber 3
MHDT Pagoda
Chord Qutest
Audio note 1.2x siganture
Audio note 2.1x signature
Chord Mojo (jus for fun)

So the strongest were Lampizator Amber 3 and Audio note 2.1 signature. Lampizator has very good details, drums were superb, but vocals in my system did not had "love" - flow like AN 2.1x which ticked all these fields. By my surprise AN 1.2x was better than MHDT Pagoda (with stock tube) and it was nothing bad and nothing special, Pagoda was better than Chord Qutest (chord is absolutely too much hyped, when i heard it i do not understand for what people are giving very good reviews to them...)

When i got Sootto RCA (single wire working like coaxial) cable from innuos streamer to my AN 2.1x signature now the things became wonderfull and total it was cheaper than to get new Amber 3 dac. Chord mojo is a joke, my fiio E17 alpen i liked more that mojo with Meze 99c or just playing from TV. 

I was really sceptical regarding Audio Note dac but now i would always test it with other dacs, of course if you have possibility (dealer) to do it. Also please give chance to Lampizator (i would like to test Lampizator Baltic) as they give 6 days trial and you loose nothing, really great dac!

not to say that other dacs and other gear from relative newcomers aren’t also excellent -- but in general, when dealing with longstanding still-productive high end makers like audio note, conrad johnson, audio research, pass and so on... they have been making excellent, exquisite sounding gear for so long... it is hard to do wrong to trust their ability to deliver (although obviously their ’value equation’ may not be the best anymore with their fairly high prices, you most certainly get what you pay for...)

i always like to say, when some companies have been out there for 30-40-50 years at the top of the game, always respected, always recommended, with happy, discerning customers for several generations now, ’they have not been stealing money from deaf people all these years...." 😁😁😁

-- side note -- mhdt dacs sound much better with a tube upgrade from the stock ones shipped with new units ... even jian @mhdt says so ...

Lots of excellent DACs mentioned, but if you’re looking for the “magic” in music, go with the highest level Audio Note UK DAC (not AN Kit) you can afford. Most of these other DAC manufacturers didn’t even exist when Audio Note UK started making NOS DACs. While you’re looking for the right Audio Note UK DAC, get a Denafrips Ares II DAC for $800. Used ones sell like hot cakes (3-year Transferable warranty!); you’ll get most of your money back when you sell it, after getting your Audio Note UK DAC, or keep it as a backup or for a second system.

I owned 1 of the DACs on the list and sold it to keep the cheaper Gustard X26 Pro at $1500.

I had go with the Audio Note Kit DAC, had the 2.2, it was amazing, would have the 4.1 if I had the coin.
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