Is there a DAC ranking list?

@rpurcz 

I think no DAC is the best DAC. Peachtree offers GAN amps that don't require a DAC. So, why spend $15k on a device to color the sound.

Good question! Especially when some technically superior ones come in under $1k.

Besides, haven't the differences in DACs grown progressively smaller year by year since the 1990s? 

By 2022 even most smartphones seem to come with acceptable DACs.

@holmz 

I own a CD player, and I do some DSP.
And my main experience is that we have been hearing since the 80s that CD would destroy vinyl in term on sound quality.

And that's the point, isn't it, albeit a contentious one.

We are all democratically entitled to have our opinions and the reader is free to decide what to make of them.

with due respect to other responders - there are clear and salient alternatives to the chord qutest, as good as a dac as it is

at $1500 used, the other terrific alternatives are, based on my travels through dac land... prime examples

- denafrips pontus

- soekris 1541 or newer model 2541

- mdht orchid or istanbul (for less money, about a grand), but doing a tube upgrade, perhaps with a tube adapter closes the cost gap some

qutest is excellent, on the clear and clean, slightly lean side of the spectrum... excellent spatial capabilities, filters are nice but barely perceptible, fixed output

denafrips and soekris provide the spatial excellence but more midrange midbass warmth and fullness many appreciate, xlr outputs, additionally the soekris adds remote volume capability and headphone out, big plusses for some

mhdt tube dacs are yang to the chord’s ying -- warm, flowing, slightly softer focus, more natural less robotic sound, more coherent top to bottom, more analog in presentation overall, a more rose colored glasses view of the world... many systems can benefit from this front end

just my 2 cents

Since we manufacturer audio products included a 101D DHT DAC with a separate 25lb power supply, we have heard so many DACs, etc.  There are no giant killers period.  There are good sounding DACs at their price points.  DACs in one persons system may not have the same SQ in your system.  We have 5 systems in our listening room in Northern New Jersey - all are welcome to come in and even bring some of your gear to hear how it may sound with the different speakers  we have in there.

You need to begin to lean what makes a component sound the way it does.  Tube vs SS.  Different tubes, different resistors, capacitors, chokes, etc.  Learn the basics and then you can get a better handle on what may work in your system.  I bet very few if any people hear have even heard a DHT product. Probably nobody has heard a DAC with V-Caps, Dueland Caps, Audio Note Caps, etc., let alone DACs with separate power supplies.  Hearing something at a show and not in your own system is nice but you still have no idea how it will change the sound in your own system.

Any one in NJ come by for a listen, we are always open to entertain.

Happy Listening.

Its a personal taste thing.

The best DAC I have owned is the Doge 7.

Better than  Lumin X1, Auralic G2 or any if them, Berkley Audio Aplha, or Danafrips Terminator which I have all owned and tested with my system.

VAC 70/70 and Wilson Sasha 

Also much cheaper

Dac's I own and sell

Wadax Reference DAC and streamer

CH Precision C1 will be upgraded to 1.2. All previous customers can get their Dacs upgraded.

Brinkmann Nyquist Mark 2

EMM Labs MA3

Hifi Rose 150 and RS250

NAD / Bluesound. 

Dac's should match the level of electronics, speakers etc you have. The Hifi Rose at $2495.00 rs250 is a great buy especially if you have a 2 channel/cinema system combo. The Wadax makes sense for guys who want ultimate systems, The CH Precision Factory certified $29K dac is a bargain with a HD streamer board.