New DAC! Meitner MA3, Denafrips Terminator Plus, Holo May KTE, Mola Mola Tambaqui

@ja_kub_sz Thank you for a well thought out comparison between the MMT, T200 and Musetec 005.

You have exactly the same priorities as myself, Solid State, dynamic wide presentation and I thought very interesting that you try to get a multi-channel sound from stereo, again excellent points. The only quality I would add is timbre or texture of instruments plus vocal realism - does Jagger really sound like Jagger including his London accent?

Your enthusiasm for DACs is reflected in my love of pre-amps. My very first HI-End gear was Naim, before they became famous. Naim always insisted that the pre-amp is the heart of the system but still adhered to the top to bottom approach of trash in - trash out. So most money should be allocated to the source, closely followed by the pre-amp.

Recently a new school of thought has insisted on the DAC creating the most influence. To this I say I believe it's a combination of the DAC and source that creates a true source.

Are you using the MM Streaming Card with your MMT? Or what's your source?

Regarding clipping it's usually a symptom that your power amp is too small, you're operating it at over 100% of its capacity.

You said the Musetec 005 doesn't cause clipping, these are its specs:
Single-ended RCA output level 2Vrms
Balanced XLR output level 4Vrms

@fastfreight advised to reduce the gain by 2V so I guess this would fall into line with the 005's 4V balanced output.

Good Luck!

@lordmelton your praise of the 005 ultimately pushed me to get it and I thank you.

Innuos Zenith MK3 with Phoenix Reclocker and Ethernet Switch, Wireworld Platinum Starlight USB cable.

My clipping issue is most likely within the SU-R1000 used as a not preamp preamp, but I'm of the opinion that it's ADC does add something that my previous test preamp (Benchmark HPA4) didn't.

My JC1+ aren't being worked too hard, but they're just getting clipping from the SU-R1000 in sure.

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You left the best dac out of the bunch out of the conversation .

we have tested most everything out there , the T+A 200 dac is exceptional 

at $7k a True  bargain , it will meet or beat any dac $15k or under personally

many of us liked it so much  even vs the Chord Dave, and Mola Mola dac 

which  far more  monies. As we speak I am saving for one .

4 others in our audio-get together already own it.

Check out Lampizator’s entry level DAC, new Amber 4 or used Amber 3. They are incredible DACs. The build quality and sound is second to none in this price range. You can search and review the specs and reviews. 

@chauncey , get an Aries Cerat DAC, even at entry level Helene, it beats so many DACs at higher pricing.