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Need help choosing a new DAC

With so many options for DACs these days, I'm having a hard time deciding on a new DAC.  Currently considering a MHDT Orchid or Pagoda, Denafrips Pontus II, Benchmark DAC3,  Schitt Yggdrasil, or Audio Mirror Tubadour III SE.  I don't need any options such as volume control, BT, or MQA.  I also prefer musicality over measurements.  I'm currently using a SMSL SU-9, which will be moved over to my office system.  I'm tired of moving it back and forth between systems. My bank account prefers the cost of the Orchid since the other options cost up to twice as much, but I can go as high as $2500.  I mostly steam Qobuz thru a Raspberry Pi 4, but also use a Cambridge Audio CXC v2 CD transport on occasion.  My preamp is a Don Sachs DS2 tube preamp going into a D-Sonic m3a-1200s amp feeding "Gunned" MMGs.  I mostly listen to the Grateful Dead, rock, jazz, and acoustic music. Which DAC should I get and are the any others I should look at? 

terrapin77
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,629 posts
 

It doesn’t look like you care about balanced output or native DSD either.  

Or remote selection of inputs. I will not do hifi without any of these.

terrapin77 OP
87 posts
 

@fuzztone The Don Sachs preamp has a balance input but the output is RCA.  I don't think I have ever listened to a DSD file so that isn't a concern for me.  

fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,629 posts
 

Some have some features but not all pieces under consideration. That makes it unconcerning.

Never experienced a SACD? The originalpocommercialization of DSD.

Better through a good DAC than a Sony BDP.

I'm just making the point that I'm not worthy of assistance.

arafiq's avatar
arafiq
1,682 posts
 

If you already have tubes in your audio chain, it might be overkill to go for a tube-based DAC like Audio Mirror or MHDT. I owned an Audio Mirror Tubadour III (non-SE version), and it was a great dac when paired with SS equipment. When I moved to a tube integrated amp, it become too much of a good thing. I felt that it was homogenizing things too much for my liking.

By the way, I'm surprised to see Benchmark DAC3 on your list. It is great DAC no doubt, with a lot of fans. But sonically it is quite different from almost every other DAC on your list. If you're after utmost neutrality then go for it. 

My vote is either Denafrips Pontus II or Yggdrasil. Both are highly regarded and provide great bang for the buck. They also keep their value better than many other DACs. I also agree with @fuzztone about DSD playback. Listening to DSD in either 128 or 256 format is quite an experience. For this reason alone, I would pick Pontus II as my first choice.

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