Next best exponential DAC quality level?

Would it be unfair to equate the ASR meausrement crowd with Covid? Some people love that it exists and enjoy talking about it while others get mad at its very existence. Me, it doesnt much matter to me…I am vaccinated against Amir’s dastardly measurements.

Seriouslt though, if someone is certain their $50 dac is better than your $xx dac, who cares. They are happy, you are happy, life is good.

I think it comes down to how you define better. Better measuring or subjective enjoyment of euphonic colorations? Euphonic doesn’t have to be syrupy. 

Same with amps. Better measuring go with nCore Hypex or Benchmark ABH2. You want the sound that makes you smile and toe tap? Go with First Watt or McIntosh.

@dht4me 

I know you want to believe the Audionote is the more accurate one but it just is not. The other two will be orders of magnitude more accurate. Audionote DACs are not accurate, have never been designed to be accurate and they don't even claim they are.

The euphonic distortions, yes distortions, the less than flat frequency response, the artifacts from NOS, the interactions of the tube output with the next stage, especially if going into another tube stage, and the interaction of all those artifacts with the rest of your system and the room creates an artistic presentation that you find pleasing. 

Could Audionote achieve the same sound for much less. I expect so but that's neither here nor there.

In terms of bass and single speakers the DAC does not care single speaker or subs and your ears don't either <100Hz. The two other DACs are going to have more accurate and deeper bass. Given the CS5i, if you have the amp to drive them, compared to Audionote you may just have too much for your room. That can sound flabby where some bass rolloff will feel tighter. That high/low rolloff has been consistent across Audionote DACs.  I am at -3db at 17Hz on my bass array and  the bass is tight but I have significant acoustic controls.

The exaggerated instrument separation that audiophiles such as myself crave would also most likely be a harmonic distortion artifact. Same with the added depth, width, and texture.