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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?

gregjacob
ricevs
1,543 posts
 

As stated before.....you need no tubes, transistors or opamps BEFORE the DSP chip in a digital amp.....no preamps, no DACs with their output stages and no normal tube or transistor amps......of course there are transistors in the DSP chip and drivers and GaN transistors in the class D output stage......but before the DSP chip there is nothing....but a PCM signal from your source.

Yes indeed....it is magic......and now VTV Audio also has a digital amp that has  higher power than the Peachtree amp.

invalid
1,178 posts
 

@ricevs  OCD hifi guy said digital amps sound bad, so who am I to believe you or him?

ricevs
1,543 posts
 

Let’s see......he is a salesmen who sells DACs over $20K and amps over $20K and preamps over $20K......If he promoted a $1500 digital amp.....he would not be in business (he makes thousands on every sale).....As you know, no preamp, DAC and normal amp is needed with a digital amp. I told you dealers want NOTHING to do with this game......same with most manufacturers.....this is game interruptus. Dealers and manufacturers are down on their knees right now praying that this digital amp thing goes away.......too bad....its just going to keep spreading.....deal with it.

Let’s see......what do I make by promoting these things?.....a couple hundred dollars once in a while when someone sends an amp to mod?

Who do you trust? You should only trust those that have listened without having money in the game.......and then you only trust their opinion as an opinion and not as fact. The only one you should REALLY ever trust is yourself.....why do you care what others say? VTV has free shipping and 30 day money back........just try the frickin thing.......only THEN will you know something.

 

verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,499 posts
 

I will use two sources depending on system it is attached too.  I am kicking off with a 2Go/2Yu via a wired connection with a Clarus Crimson Coax cable.  I think the cable retails for more than the amp.  This is being served from my Antipodes Oladra. I just dropped that back into the system and don’t feel like swapping in the Nucleus.  I will eventually.  When it moves to that system it will be an Inakustik Coax into the amp.  I am using the Roon volume control. 

invalid
1,178 posts
 

@ricevs  how do you incorporate DSD and vinyl into this? I don't like PCM.

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