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Birthday DAC

Hi all,

I have been asked by a family member to help choose a new DAC as a birthday gift. ( wish my wife was as generous ).  My sister in law is looking for an R2R Dac; preferably tube based.  The only kicker is she wants a smaller size.  Her price range 3-5 thousand dollars. I haven't been down this rabbit hole for a while and wonder if there are any suggestions I could share with her.

Thanks !

rivinyl
vonhelmholtz
911 posts
 

Nice present. Yesterday was my birthday and my wife gave me $1000.00 in cash. After I blew out the two candles she took the money back and said that she would keep it because I lose everything. How can I rebut that one? No, honey.. I haven’t lost my 108 pound integrated amplifier… Nope can’t counter her logic.

Love my May Holo DAC KTE… very musical… Not tube based, but my integrated has a tube preamp and my sound is very much like my analog.

kota1
2,706 posts
 

Sony TA-ZH1ES / solid state

or

Black Ice Audio Glass FX Tube/ tube

vthokie83
944 posts
 

Mpomerantz 

I have no personal experience with them, but Lampizator have quite a few highly thought of tube DACs. I’m sure someone will post more for you

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,202 posts
 

For under $5k the New Denafrips Terminator -2. 12 anniversary 

is a class leading Great R2R dac by any standard at this price point and above.

Ag insider logo xs@2x
kingbarbuda
515 posts
 

Border Patrol. It has a tube. Not sure about the D/A methodology. 

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