DAC Question: Delta-Sigma vs R2R

@larsman why you would think a new cheap $300 DAC would be better than a Chord Hugo, for example, which is 5 years old or so? 

I'll bite.  I would challenge anyone to listen to a $440 SMSL M500 MkII DAC (also a headphone amp) and swear that the Chord Hugo not only sounds better but is the better DAC. 

It may be a close call, of course, because the Chord Hugo was a tremendous bit of kit in its time at what, $3,000?

@jonwatches1 - Thanks! And depending on the rest of the gear in the system, it may indeed be very hard to tell the difference between the DAC's. I was using a Chord DAVE + M Scaler, and it was fine, but I ended up replacing that setup with a Holo May KTE DAC, which has a lusher sound, that I prefer. 

@noske - You could very well be right, depending on the rest of the gear. Personally, I would find both of those DAC's on the dry side for my tastes, but lots of people love 'em, so that's great! 

@larsman Personally, I would find both of those DAC’s on the dry side for my tastes

This is so true. Hence, should you be able to wade through my rant above, I do suggest that it might be an option to add something in the pre-amp or amp.

Like tubes.

SS? er, no, it’d be like walking into a stainless steel bathroom to have a cold shower.

edit - no, that's not fair of me.  There are plenty SS which are warm.  In fact I often enjoy my Sansui au-555A from 1974 which was given to me by my grandchildren at the time when I retired.

@noske - Indeed, and I have a similar attitude - I love having tubes in my system - I've got a couple of good tube headphone amps, and in my 2-channel system, I use a Herron Audio tube preamp with an MSB SS power amp - both of those components are essentially colorless; they add no warmth but they are not dry and clinical - they do a great job of delivering the source, so the main effect on my sound is the DAC, and that's where I'm using the Holo May R2R DAC. 

I’d recommend MHDT Orchid or, if you run balanced, the Pagoda — both tubed R2R DACs and neither likely to tweak your tinnitus.  Not sure, but they might offer a trial period.