I simply did not know what I was missing until I stepped up to a r2r. Suggest Pontus
DAC suggestions for a reasonably modest system
I have two systems currently fed by a SMSL SU-9n via Y splitter. It's time to add a new/used DAC and get rid of the Y splitter. New DAC will feed a VTL TL-2.5 + VTL Stereo 90 or a couple of different vintage SS amps (Sony TAN-8250 or Luxman 5M21), and just for fun, maybe a couple of Dyna Mk VI, running Magnepan 3.6R. The SMSL does a great job overall, but seems to be a better fit with the ARC SP3a1 + SET or SEP amp into Altecs. For those of you that have had the SMSL or similar level DACs in a similar system to mine and have moved up the chain, what gave you a nice step change? The Maggies, however imperfect, are delightfully revealing and prior DAC changes were definitely more apparent with them. Budget is $1000-1500, and I have no issue with buying used good quality stuff. None of my system is less than 20 years old except the DACs.
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If you can stretch to $1,850 you can get a new Denafrips Pontus II 12th. If not then you can get a used Pontus II for about $1,300. The Denafrips products all have upgradeable firmware that is released free of charge, so updates are released once or twice a year. The Pontus is one of those rare products that performs way above it's price point. I'm heading into 3 years with mine, and never thought it was the weak link in my system. As Soix mentioned, you can get even more performance from a Pontus (or several other R2R DACs with I2S inputs) by adding a DDC like the Denafrips Iris and going I2S out to the DAC. The Iris can be found used for about $350. A used Pontus II DAC and used Iris DDC is about $1,650 for the pair, and is still a killer combination |
@pickindoug i use the smsl su9 in my most-listened to system and i really like it--i will admit that my buddy's chord hugo 2 (which you can find used for around a grand) was better--i also heard a topping d90 in the same system and it was really good--wholly uncolored and less forward than the smsl. |
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