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Let's Talk DAC's

My current DAC, the Chord Chordette Qute HD is getting on with age and I am looking for a new one with superior performance. So far, I have narrowed down my search to five DACs. At the low end is the Denafrips Ares II and the Eversolo DAC Z8. Mid range the RME ADI-2 and at the top end the Chord Qutest and the Denafrips Pontus II.

This is for an all-digital setup in a 12x12 dedicated room. I have a much larger room with a much "bigger" set up, but for this room it is a simple PrimaLuna Prologue Classic integrated, Audiolab 6000 CD transport, ProAc Tablette 10’s, and a REL T/5i Subwoofer. I plan to add a streamer as well, but that is for another discussion.

I am conflicted with the choice between a delta-sigma modulated DAC and an R2R type Dac. I do like the FPGA technology in my current DAC. It has served me well.

I am certainly open to other ideas and welcome comments from those of you that have experience with this equipment.

I forgot to add; I like a wide and deep soundstage and good imaging. I also hate a rolled off high end.

 

 

 

 

desperado915
tvrgeek
299 posts
 

Jeffery, And your point is?

lanx0003
940 posts
 

https://soundnews.net/sources/dacs/a-new-point-of-reference-gustard-r26-discrete-r-2r-ladder-dac-review/

Gustard R26.  This is probably the highest-rated R2R DAC under $2k I've seen, both among reviewers and satisfied customers.  Amazon has a good return policy, though I don't encourage abusing it. Keep in mind that the DAC might require a longer break-in period, around 200 hours (as reported), so consider leaving it running continuously for several days to facilitate the break-in process without exceeding your return window.

 

pennfootball71's avatar
pennfootball71
279 posts
 

Honestly in your budget don’t buy anything and waste your money on something that is barely better if not worse than your current DAC. Unless you can save about 6-7k on a Lampizator Baltic 4 or Chord Hugo TT then later get an MScaler you won’t hear the difference. Your DAC is fine.

riccitone
229 posts
 

I think one that’s not as realized but has come up here before is the Okto Research dac8 stereo. Under $1500 and outstanding reviews (Audiogon included). It has a unique/rethought approach to Sabre chip channel use - don’t really know enough about those details just yet. But also has some other impressive features on the output configuration side of things:

https://www.oktoresearch.com/dac8stereo.htm

 

larryi
4,139 posts
 

There are several other considerations.  Are you looking for something that emphasizes CD level reproduction or does it have to do high-rez as well?  The best sounding DACs for CD resolution playback are often CD only DACs,

Most DAC manufacturers focus on the digital side--DAC chipsets, clocking/re-clocking, exotic filter reconstruction of the signal, etc.  But, there are other manufactures that employ "primitive" and simple digital to digital to analogue conversion and emphasize improvement in the analogue circuit.  The two types of DACs can sound quite different, and it is worth your while to listen to both.  While they measure quite poorly, Audio Note DACs, to me, sound fantastically natural, relaxed and beautiful.  They represent quite the extreme in the emphasis in the analogue side. Some of their cheaper models (still not cheap) have essentially the same digital circuit as their crazy expensive top end DACs--the price difference reflecting the quite exotic exclusive parts they employ in the analogue side. Synthesis Audio and Lector, both Italian companies are other examples of analogue side DAC makers that make really nice sound stuff.  

Because it is talked about so much, it is easy to get caught up in R2R, filter choices, etc., but, it is worth at least trying a different path.  The result might surprise you.  

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