I know Michael Lavorgna at Twitter Machines site really likes his Total Dac which has a tube in it. I have never heard one but love love my Reimyo solid state DAC that only plays redbook standard
jh
Dark Horse DAC
Doge Dac 7 MKII is probably not on your radar. Maybe it should be.
(52) Doge 7 Tube DAC Review ! The Best DAC Award 🏆 - YouTube
I took a chance and decided to buy it. Not completely broken in, but alreadyÂ
performing way beyond expectations. Check out the Doge website and read/watch the reviews. For me this DAC is a game changer. Comments??
@audioman58Â The Gustard R26 was designed and built in China. |
@johnah5 The OP shared his experience with the Doge for the community's edification, not to receive a lecture on how he's a dupe. FYI there's many who don't care if a tube can only resolve 90 db of dynamic range if the sound is music to their ears. Actually it's ALL about the sound not the "dynamic range" to MOST folk here I'd say. I have DACs like the Topping D90SE that sit on the shelf far more than my other DACs because its magnificent dynamic range fails when it comes to convincing timbre and soundstage dimensions. Even my R26 is far better than the D90SE in those aspects. Measurements like input and output impedence are useful when matching for example tube pres with SS amps - but other measurements like SINAD are much less useful other than for forum fodder for bored keyboard warriors looking to troll. |
The Doge web site states they have only 16 units left to sell, because “management wishes to concentrate on OEM equipment “.  So if interested break out that credit card.   Actually I want my DAC to resolve as much as possible.  I use a tubed preamp so I get my sound stage expansion there, but I want the source to be sending as much information as possible to the amplification |