New DACs High End Munich 2023

Have been very happy with the Benchmark; enough to stop thinking about DACs

Great questions and suggestions. Thank You for that.

As far as improvements are concerned - Oppo is a jack of all. So I am expecting more resolution from a dedicated DAC.

FGPA DACs - I have been eyeing used Hugo TT2 for sometime now.

About the Bryston - heard mixed reviews - but intrigued by AKM chip, though I know that it is the implementation that matters.

Weiss converts everything to 195 PCM and that is not the path I want to go. Will kindly request posters to not bring up PCM Vs DSD discussion here.

Wandla - was not aware of this. So will surely look into this one.

One more DAC that I am eyeing is the Okto DAC. This is one that has high recommendation from both camps.

@milpai, As was suggested above the KEY WORD is "audition risk free in your home (Thanks, @lalitk)". You will never know how a DAC, or any other component, will sound in your system until you try it.

It is the synergy of all the components working together, including the room, that makes an audio system sound great. Have fun listening.

I agree @hgeifman 

And I am completely with you @lalitk. Tubes in preamp is fine with me. I don't want tubes in my DAC.

Slightly above your budget, but take a look at T+A DAC 200. 

In my system, I'm using Aavik which is also a fantastic DAC and far superior to the Denafrips Terminator II dac that it replaced. Aavik DACs don't get a lot of coverage here but based on my experience they offer great performance.