Advice needed: It's time for a new DAC


Hello People of Audiogon!

I received some help a little while back when I was considering upgrading my speakers so I am looking to the community again for guidance and opinions.  It is time to upgrade my DAC.  

 

My current system is Sasha DAW's driven by a Luxman L-509X.

 

The three DAC's on my short list are:

 

MSB Discrete
Berkeley Alpha V3
Chord DAVE

 

One thing to note is that I am in Canada so many brands are difficult if not impossible to audition.  

My priority is "musicality" or "soul".  What's this?  Well to me, it means feeling.  The Luxman and Sasha's well convey musical emotion and that is important to me.  I don't know how to describe it better beyond that.  They have flow (perhaps PRAT, to use another vague term).  Sounds have meat to them and texture.  The music feels real.  

 

The second priority is three dimensionality.  

 

The third is resolution.

 

My one caveat is no tube DAC's.  Tubes, for me, just don't work well based on my listening style and habits.  I love tubes, I've owned tubes and tubes are wonderful, but as things are now, I just don't want them in a DAC.  Perhaps they will find their way into my system in a pre-amp in the future.

 

I listen primarily to Tidal but MQA is not a priority for me.  I would switch to Qobuz but they were not available in Canada until recently and all my play lists in Roon are with Tidal tracks so I suspect a switch will be a real headache, but I digress. My point is MQA isn't really important and DSD isn't necessary either.  

 

Of the above DAC's, if you have heard them, what are your thoughts/opinion?  

 

Thank you in advance,

-Paul

 

 

bigfatpaulie

I own a TotalDac D1 and a Baetis Revolution streamer streaming Tidal. I think in your price range yiu should 

Take a look at TotalDac

 

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I highly recommend the PS AUDIO Directstream DAC MkII. You can hear Beautiful music through it.. Enough said...

@bigfatpaulie, the Meitner MA3 hits your first two requirements, especially the first one, plus it's made in Canada!    I personally found its resolution very good but not great, compared to a few other DACs I've also owned.   I've owned the Berkeley Alpha V2, a Bricasti, and currently own a Weiss that I think is a bit more resolving than the MA3.   The MA3 though definitely has that "Sounds have meat to them and texture.  The music feels real." quality,  as I replaced a very fine MojoAudio R2R NOS DAC with it and felt like it was a big upgrade.