Sorry lazy eye...
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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@vthokie83 that is very true. Very rarely did I have the same speakers, amps, or streamer with each different dac. Way too many variables in my system to give a reliable opinion, but I really like the T+A Dac200 w/ the Lumin U2 mini :) |
+1 for the Merason DAC1. It's towards the analog end of the spectrum while having a lot of detail, a very wide soundstage and excellent bass. Some folks love to focus on resolution, but I find that once you hit a certain level, more resolution isn't always a good thing. My direct comparison was with the Weiss 501/502 and the Chord stuff. I much preferred the Merason. to either of those. |
Thanks badgerdms. That's the kind of feedback that DAC hunters are looking for. It's scary enough to plunk down thousands on a review. So the more we receive feedback and it gets reinforced by different users in varying environments, the better the chances of being pleased with the purchase. The Merason is sounding nicer all the time. |
To phastm3: Thanks for looping back and responding to that. You are right, the rest of the system can completely changed the opinion of a DAC. But you did stimulate a lot of folks to look into the T+A Dac200. Me included. Thanks. |
- 281 posts total