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Does a Tube Dac make sense?


I’m  in the market for a dac since I bought a Musical Paradise MP701MKII Tube Preamp few months back, does it make sense to buy a tube dac? The seller Garry is suggesting to get the Musical Paradise MP D2 MKIII which is a tube dac with a AK4490 but can be upgraded to AK4499 but I’m leaning towards the RME ADI2 which is almost the same price as the MP tube dac. I’m finding it hard to justify a $1k dac but I have read a lot of forums that suggests the RME or the SMSL M400 and Denafrips Ares II but I’m a sucker for vu meters and spectrum analyzers but if the MP tube dac is a good match for my MP tube preamp I’m willing to give it a go.
stibin
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
@pauly

corollary...

...life is short... don’t waste time arguing with nameless strangers you couldn't care less about on the internet who have nothing better to do... 👌
pauly
1,012 posts
 
@jjss49 

That is so true. 

Regards 
macdude
176 posts
 

I would say not only does a tube DAC make sense, it’s probably necessary for digital streaming.

Streaming music can be quite unforgiving in a resolving setup. That’s why audiophiles add switches, network isolators, etc.

I find my modwright CXN (with tube output) so much easier to listen to for streaming than a very musical (and expensive) solid state NOS DAC that I own.

The proof is in the pudding and I spend a lot more time listening to music and exploring new music with the modwright CXN.

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