DAC suggestions


I know I shouldn't have. I have an inexpensive PS Audio dac I upgraded after seeing it on the web. It sounds good but I'm looking for better. I would like to get away from some of the brashness, shimmer, sizzle whatever. In the past I have owned several different dacs including Antelope, AMR and an integral dac in Mac 2500 pre. Can you make a suggestion? My budget is around 2 grand used.

I'm curious about lampizator. Aqua voce, T+A. I know there are a million. My system consists of Bat 75se amp and currently but soon to change a Cary 98 slp pre and Von Schweikert VR4 jr speakers.  thanks

 

 

dpm2340

+1 Wyred4sound 10th anniversary DAC.

It pairs very well with my analog ears.

Another vote for Denafrips here. Sound quality, feature set, build quality, they are a tremendous bang for the buck. I have the Terminator I with the updated DSP board and I’ve yet to listen to another $3K DAC that does a discernibly better job. The ARC Dac-9 would be the next level up if I had the bank. 

My Toppoing DX3 Pro or whatever isn't brash... just ice cold. It usually sits in a box somewhere around the house until I need it for a special project.

+1 for Denafrips … and they play DSD all the way up to 1024. 
IMO, the Terminator 2 dac is a great value. 

Holo Audio also makes excellent dacs that are as good if not better than Denafrips. They also do DSD very well. 
 

 

My Gustard R26 just shipped from china today. Hope to have in hand by end of next week. Will hook up right away with balanced xlr’s upgrade power cord and play a radio stream through it 24/7 for a week before I sit in the sweet spot and do a leave me alone listening session. My first go to song is Tin Pan Alley Stevie Ray, second up will be Jethro Tull Thick as a Brick whole album. Then select tracks from Pink Floyd the wall, and to finish it off I will use Jack White Blunder Bus. Will post my results when done unless it sounds so good I take a week off work, put on the adult diaper and lock the doors to never be heard from.