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Recommend A New DAC Between $1000 and $2000

I am currently using an older Assemblage DAC 2.0 ( BB1702 R2R dac chip, CS8412 receiver, PMD100 filter) with many upgrade mods.  It sounds surprisingly good, but I am looking for something current and better sounding, with the following characteristics:

- Smooth, spacious, slightly warmish sound

- Smooth, non glaring, non etched higher registers (maybe sounding just a bit    rolled off, as in lacking strident edges)

- Great sound stage and depth

- Excellent resolution

- Generally natural sounding

... and at a price under $ 2000 if possible

Any ideas and / or personal experiences?

Thanks in advance!

 

 

 

fastcat95
lucky53
21 posts
 

Gustard x26 pro with its two toroidal transformers , balanced stereo xlr outputs…

sgreg1
612 posts
 

Gustard R26 search over!

this dac checks all your boxes and then some.

I have had mine for four months and when I tell people how it is in simple form I say it’s musical with huge sound stage. I can listen for hours with zero fatigue and after break in it is like my Vandersteen’s are four time bigger. 
Then throw in a built in streamer, and you can connect up an external clock. In your price range this dac has been compared with $5000 dac’s by reviewers and went toe to toe with them. 

mrclick123
20 posts
 

Denafrips PontusII was very good for me. 

Post removed 
alerrico
29 posts
 

For your budget and checklist: Denafrips Pontus II near the top of the range and Ares II just over the bottom of the range. Warm rich and will show you why R2R DACS rule.

 

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