dacs that I have had in my system - a listing


i comment quite a bit on threads about digital/analog converters, as i have tried many since the covid period in early 2020, when i recommitted to my hifi and getting streaming and a truly modern digital front end implemented in my main home system

i have had questions on what dacs i have actually tried -- so last week when i was sleepless on a long transcontinental flight home from a holiday, i made a listing, which i post below

almost all dacs below have been owned, and spent extensive time (at least 2-3 months) in my system, obviously there have been changes in my system over this time, and not all dacs were owned at the same time

i post this here so others can refer to this here - i looked, but i could not find a way to post this on my 'system' page

the asterisk-ed entries are still in hand, currently:

 

2020

topping d90 mqa

ayre codex

mhdt stockholm 

mhdt orchid

mhdt istanbul

denafrips pontus original

musical paradise mpd1

ps audio d link iii modded cullen

bs node 2i

 

2021

denafrips ares 2 

denafrips pontus 2

denafrips terminator 

auris d1d vu

audio mirror tubador 3 se

van alstine fet topp*

van alstine fet hybrid

rme adi 2 (akm)

schiit modius 

schiit gumby

schiit yggy*

sonnet morpheus

border patrol se i

metrum jade

metrum octave

metrum hex

metrum adagio

musical fidelity trivista 21 (modded)*

weiss 501* (now 4ch)

 

2022

chord 2qute 

chord qutest

chord m scaler* hugo tt2*

mhdt orchid modded*

audio note kits dac4 pro

msb analog w powerbase*

denafrips venus 2*

denafrips pontus 12

audio gd master 7

musetec 005

bs node n130

bricasti m1se mdx

doge 7

hegel h90 190 390 590* (internal)

 

2023

gustard r26*

eversolo dmp a6 master*

mhdt toucan

orchard pecan pi*

cambridge audio cxn2 modwright modded tubed*

128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xjjss49

I think you have me mistaken with someone who mentioned 401k. 

I built my system using compromising photos of dealers.

 

 

@jjss49 thanks for all your DAC expertise and advice.  Because of your analysis I picked up a Gustard r26 with an Audio Magic M-1 fuse.  Wow this Dac blew me away.  I am hearing things I have never heard before in a very nice black background.  Very pleased with my purchase and the price is crazy for this performance. Many thanks!

@tksteingraber

Because of your analysis I picked up a Gustard r26 with an Audio Magic M-1 fuse. Wow this Dac blew me away. I am hearing things I have never heard before in a very nice black background. Very pleased with my purchase and the price is crazy for this performance.

glad you are enjoying the gustard 👍... simply an incredible value and wonderful performance in any absolute sense

@stuartk

So when can we expect to dee your detailed comments assessing the sonic attributes/deficiencies of each unit on your list? ;o)

maybe sometime this winter when weather outside is poor and i get really bored 😁... thankfully i have been a reasonably organized note taker over this journey, so it will not be too difficult to remind myself the sonic experiences -- what i have tried to do so far here in this thread is answer specific queries as they arise... that seems to be working okay thus far

Thanks for sharing your dac experiences. What a journey! I’m just ordered another dac, which will be my fourth in the last year. The Cambridge cxn v2 modded by ModWright is so easy to listen to but I feel it lacks some detail. Topping d90 has wonderful detail but can get piercing high up(could be my sensitive ears). I just demoed the Audio Note 1.1. Was very interesting. Better clarity or detail and better dynamics. Hard to pinpoint its sound. Seemed to change from song to song based on the recording I guess. That was a cool surprise. The 2.1 is a future consideration. I just ordered the Rock a Wavedream Edition. Might be awhile before it arrives. Not sure if there’s anyone who can share their experiences with Rockna but would love to hear if there is. 

@earthbound 

Picked up a Rockna Wavelight back in March and am very happy with it. Replaced a Chord Qutest in my main rig.  Nothing wrong with the Qutest, but the Wavelight is just in another league, which given the price differential it should be. Very natural and warm presentation. Soundstage is both wide and deep. Highly resolving. Lots of inner detail, but not in your face. I expect it to be in my main rig for a long time to come.