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dCS Bartok Apex vs any similar priced DAC

I’m about to upgrade my system from scratch, the speakers will be ATC SCM50ASL Classic active. I don’t have any records, digital rips only on my Innuos Zen MINI & LPSU. 

The dCS Bartok Apex direct into the active ATC is where I want to go. Any opinions about any better matched DAC / DAC streamer/preamp combo that’s better matched to the ATC ?

 

Thinking WEISS 501, Esoteric N-05 XD, Chord DAVE

 

seadog137
davidrolson's avatar
davidrolson
3 posts
 

Playback Designs MPD-8

vinylshadow
518 posts
 

I've heard that the Mytek Empire has an excellent DAC within it's streamer/DAC....

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,248 posts
 

If you can be ok with just a dac , by a Big margin the T+A 200 dac beats  or competes with anything 2x  it’s price or more. At $7k a steal. I know 3 people personally  and 5 in our multi state north east Audio get together .

I have heard dacs up to $50k  and it depends how deep your pockets are.

innuos or other SS drive streamer combos make a great complement to this .

jahasbun
6 posts
 

I’m super happy with my dCS Bartok Apex, great soundstage, very musical thru my Wilson Alexx V’s.

boostedis
101 posts
 

The best DACs I have heard recently are the Esoteric’s. If you can stretch to the Grandioso it is probably top 3 DACs period. 

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