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DAC recommendation in 5 to 10K range

I recently get to the point that I want to try a new DAC in $5 to $10K range and would like to know if there are recommendations I should try and audition.

 

My current DAC is a Denafrips Terminator, to me, Terminator is an overall fun DAC that provide good clarity, energy, and scale. It has strong macrodynamic focus with good impact and punch, as well as solid resolving power and texture, but I feel drawback is lacking micro dynamic capability, tonality is not organic, neither is presentation, treble is not that refined, and can sometimes get too hot and gritty. What I hope in my next DAC is a balanced DAC that lean a bit more toward the relaxed and slightly sweeter smoother side of things, great organicness, great placement accuracy and depth in overall stage, great coherency and liquidity, as well as having great impact and punch.

elan120
gerihifi
4 posts
 

Join this community, it’s for me the most dedicated and professional forum you can find on this topic.

Also checkout this great DAC comparison by a well-known forum member: Short High End DAC Comparison, PT.2 – Sonvs Apparatvs (sonusapparatus.com)

You will get a lot of detailed help, from people seriously testing & most important OWNING DAC’s (not just referring to Youtubers) for a wide range (every DAC/DSP above €25k makes technically no sense besides owning certain brand...).

I was on the DAC race the last 10 months and than joined them, lot’s of very useful insights!

 

vthokie83
945 posts
 

jl1ny,

Funny how small changes can cause some sweet sound, just a little money and time to find a better solution. If you want to upgrade that USB cable, there are some very good "reasonably" priced cables that will improve your sound even further.

Look at eBay for Supra USB cables, just make sure that you are buying from "Zendada" who is an official distributor.....Wireworld USB cables are also excellent. Both options can be had for under $100 depending on the length you require.

badgerdms
158 posts
 

Based on your description, I would check out the Merason DAC1.  It's not going to do anything above 24 192, but it's the most organic sounding DAC I've heard at $6K, throws a huge soundstage and has excellent bass.  Detail without sterility.

Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjgasp
64 posts
 

+1 @chcook Weiss DAC501 (or Weiss DAC502 if you need balanced headphone jack)

auroravengeance's avatar
auroravengeance
135 posts
 

I have not heard the Terminator yet, but I have heard its clone Musician Aquarius (they are basically the same company), and the sound was what you have described.

I have just concluded a one month search for a new DAC and tried the following:

- Musician Aquarius
- Aqua La Scala MKII
- Rockna Wavelight
- Rockna Wavedream
- Audiobyte Hydravox
- Teac UD-701N
- Esoteric N-05XD
- Sonnet Morpheus
- Lab12 Reference Dac1

And I settled on Lab12 Reference Dac1 in the end. The sound you are looking for was exactly what I was searching for and I found it in the Lab12. Close contenders were La Scala MKII and Teac UD-701N. Listening to it now while I was typing this reply. 

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