Next best exponential DAC quality level?

Hello,

I have demoed the Hint6 and it is very good for what it is. I call it the Swiss Army knife of integrated amps. It does everything ok. That’s just it. It doesn’t do anything great. I am going to suggest you listen to a Hegel 190. The Hegel 120 will do very well to. Hegel goes great with KEF speakers. The DAC, preamp, and amp section inside will put the Hint6 to shame. Once you demo a Hegel you will get it. This store in the Chicagoland area is a dealer for all of this if you want to check this out or demo things in your home. Actually Holm Audio is having a KEF, Ayre, and Nordost demo event this Thursday, December 2nd from 12:00 to 9:00pm. If you call the store they will give you details. 
 

www.HolmAudio.com

@ozzy62 

what are you running to your Pontus ll as your digital input? I’m looking for a new CD transport?

All the best.

JD

@cindyment  It appears you are regurgitating a load of stuff about DACs from Wikipedia or wherever, your incites don't seem to come from experience or first hand knowledge.

Here we go: A $99.00 DAC is a turd and you can't put lipstick on it you probably have a better DAC in your laptop or car.

What makes a good DAC? Firstly it needs as good a signal as possible, so just sticking a computer USB into it isn't going to cut the mustard. If you're using a computer you need JPLAY or similar to reduce computer jitter and provide drivers for the DAC.

Secondly to get the best sound you need a re-clocker such as Mutec to put the USB into before the DAC. Then an AES/EBU or COAX into the DAC.

Please don't worry about OP amps or valves or trannies if the signal and jitter are taken care of properly you'll get a great sound. A big clean linear power supply is more important than what OP amps you use.

The icing on the cake is a Word or Master clock so you can either slave your system to the Master or output separate Word signals.

Some good cables both digital and analogue will help enormously.

@curiousjim 

I am using a Lumin U1 mini streaming Qobuz and local files from a  Synology NAS.

Guys …. Guys …. You are wasting your time and energy engaging with this persona , I suspect this is merely another example of a certain members sock puppetry.

Same egotistical methodology, same use of three paragraphs , same abrasive manner ( altho turned up a notch due to the anonymity)  claims of expertise in the field of XRay and other medical sciences e.g. Neuroscience etc .etc .

One might consider that since his suspension and release, orchestrated by another barely believable persona, and being aware that he will be under scrutiny from the Admin and Moderation team,  the requirement for anther account as an outlet for his ‘True’  personality must be compelling.

*** Simply Ignore ***