Best DACs under $7,000.00
I'm tentatively beginning the search for a DAC upgrade. Currently, I have Innuos Zen MK3 as a streamer connected via USB to a Denafrips Iris DDC that is connected via I2S to a Denafrips Pontus II DAC. The Pontus II is excellent but I feel it's the one point where I could gain incremental improvement toward that illusive natural, layered, analog end-of-the-rainbow. I simply can't / won't spend above $5,000.00 - $7,000.00 on the DAC. The rest of my system: top-of-line Prima Luna Evo 400 Integrated Amp and a set of Harbeth speakers. Right now, I'm looking at Denafrips Terminator II or Holo Audio May DAC. I've never seen an a/b comparison of these two, but both stand out and have a following. Of course, the unsettling thing is DACs have evolved so much and are still in a blooming state technologically, making it a given that whatever we have today will probably be surpassed by better for less later, like electric vehicles. But that's the nature of the beast. Does anyone have alternative suggestions in this current climate?
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Thanks to Everyone for contributing your thoughts and passions to this thread: Obviously, there is a broad selection in this price range. In summary and for your research benefit, here is a wrap on what was suggested: DACs – $5,000 - $7,000 range, (not listed by any rating): TotalDAC d1-tube-mk2 DAC Kitsune Holo May DAC Sonnet Pasithea DAC Denafrips Terminator II or Plus + DAC Aqua La Scala Optologic Bricasti M1 SE MDX with network card T+A DAC 200 Lampizator Amber 4 DAC Lampizator Baltic 3 DAC Merason DAC 1 Weiss 502 DAC SPL Director Mk2 Preamp DAC Chord Hugo TT2 DAC Doge 7 with NOS tubes PrimaLuna EVO 100 DAC Mola Mola’s Tambaqui DAC Callista USB Cable Audio Mirror Toubador IV SE DAC Musetec 005 DAC Simaudio 680D Mojo Audio Mystique X SE D/A
Other components / items listed: Audiowise SRC.DX USB to DX converter Network Acoustics ENO Ethernet filter Elite Plixir Conditioner |
- 281 posts total