dacs that I have had in my system - a listing

The Cambridge cxn v2 modded by ModWright is so easy to listen to but I feel it lacks some detail.

i love my modwrighted cxn v2 for its ability to tube roll and thusly materially shape its sonic attributes, as dan uses the 6dj8 pair directly in its analog output gain stage (not just as a buffer) -- i found no lack to detail, even if the tubed nature of the sound steps back the low mid and treble a touch compared to classic solid state output dacs -- to my ears, this unit loves old stock dutch amperexes, hungarian tungsrams and german siemens tubes -- wonderful sheen and great air and openness to the sound that reminds us of what tube magic is all about

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 have not tried a rockna, though by reputation i know they are excellent, very ’analog’ sounding dacs -- i would just remind folks of the two schools of dac sound, and the chord qutest is a prime, excellent example of the clear and crisp school -- vast imaging and precise, wonderful delineation of elements in the image...

also i find the qutest especially benefits from a linear power supply (in spite of rob watts’ insistence that it doesn’t/won’t)

I did add the Amperex as Dan suggested. I love them compared to the Electro Harmonix. It’s a good unit for sure. I’m new to this world of tubes. I had the same ss system for 25 years. I now have a tube dac, preamp and amp. Perhaps my nativety, I think there’s more out there. The Audio Note dac showed me a different presentation and I might equate that to better or that I’m missing something in the CXN or Topping. I hope the Rockna is the last dac I ever have to buy. And btw, the Cambridge is sticking around. It’s worth hanging on to as a nice change of sound. Thanks again for all your imput. Earthbound

Thank you jjss49 for such an informative post.

Im way out of your league in DACs, but happy you use Magi 1.7i s as I do.

You mentioned direct connect to amp if gain control exists. Does anyone know if it is safe to connect my Geshelli J2 DAC with 3 position gain directly to my Odyssey Kismet amp? Ive always used preamp in between. Streamer is BS Node 2i which also has some gain control via it's BluOS app from ipad. 

My full rig is in storage, but if I could just use Node, dac, amp, speakers that would help my audio withdrawl.

After extensive and exhaustive auditioning of multiple DACs over the years, I ultimately selected the Ayre Acoustics QX-5 Twenty Streaming DAC.  The QX-5 Twenty DAC is an absolutely phenomenal DAC, and an excellent streamer, has become my end-game DAC.  There's a sea of great DACs out there on the market these days.