Tube or R-2R DAC for Tube System

It is tough to make generalizations.

amen

@idolindian
It would be helpful if you had a DAC and listed what you don’t like about it and what direction you want to go, otherwise we are just guessing on your preferences. Without context, all we can do is suggest DACs that we like rather meeting your preferences.

Great experience with Aqua La Scala - R2R with tube output stage. It nicely blends with both SS and tube gear. I personally used it with a tube pre (Lamm) and SS monoblocks (MSB). It is detailed, yet very musically enjoyable.

I’m having difficulty with “or”. I bought my first external DAC and am really happy with it. No complaints at all. Then I bought another one of a different type “just to try it out”. It’s pretty damn good, too. The thing I’ve noticed is that the differences aren’t necessarily better, just different. There are shortcomings in each I don’t think I’d have ever noticed without the other to A/B compare. But I think I’m getting a better idea of my personal preferences and now I have 2 reference points for comparison when I inevitably start looking for my next DAC.

Choices are nice.
There’s really no substitute for experience.
“You can’t get what you want, ‘til you know what you want.”

The Denafrips Terminator plus r2r is the best DAC I have ever owned. It sounds great with my Cary SLP-05 per and Primaluna Dialogue 7 Monoblocks. A friend of mine has the Ares II and it sounds good, especially for the cost. Here is a review from someone I trust.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xS8_iWwtCs&t=295s