Best EXTERNAL DAC suggestions

I’ve watched the audiophile chats here with great interest over the last couple years and have reached the conclusion that the line between snake oil and improved performance is highly subjective. Part of my fun in the hobby is acquire knowledge and apply it to a MidFi budget. I have incredible sound per dollar thanks in large part to knowledge shared here.

My day job for 40 years has been at the steering wheel of a successful boutique ad agency that provides marketing strategy, brand positioning, creative services and placements. IMO no money is wasted if the buyer gets what they wanted, it’s all about marginal utility. I’m thrilled at my $4k system and it is entirely possible that my neighbor gets equal satisfaction out of a theoretical $40k system.

All cables are low pass filters of some sort, and in a high resolution stereo every one will probably sound a bit different at first use. How much that is worth is up to each purchaser.

Hands down beats the Bluesound and under $1k.

Topping D70 Pro Sabre, has to be Pro which is basically the MKII. I have one here at work, a Topping G5, a Mytek Brooklyn; and a T+A DAC 200 at home, as well as a iFi Pro iDSD (MkI, not signature) and this D70 Pro holds its own, very impressive at the price point. Can be used in Preamp mode, missing a headphone amp. 

Not many on this side of the fence care to research. But reading up on Audio Science review you can hear and learn comments from the guys (and gals) who design and build these things...past the pretty boxes. 

@pennfootball71 

The OP has a $1,000 budget and you suggest a Lampizator Baltic 4 which lists for $6,850?

Let them eat cake.

I’ve got a Node and love it paired with my MHDT Orchid DAC that has an output tube. Tube rolling is fun since the sound signature changes accordingly. I also will be buying a Teddy Pardo linear power supply to improve the Node (streaming).

@captelee "Not many on this side of the fence care to research. But reading up on Audio Science review you can hear and learn comments from the guys (and gals) who design and build these things...past the pretty boxes."

Dacs fitting the "warm" description over there (or any of the dacs I’ve liked) usually get panned by them. And the dacs they show having the best specs, did not always sound as good or were as engaging to me. Been there and done that with their advice. I’ve found the only way to know is to try the dacs in your own room, system, and setup.Then listen close, over several weeks to get a better idea of what someone might prefer and enjoy more.