What the Best Dac have you heard or owned. How could you tell it was that good.

@metaldetektor no problem my man.  It’s cool I understand that. I love the hobby first. I stumbled into working with Infigo. He blew my last Dac out the water after a. Home audition. I like people that push the limits to what’s possible.  I also like people in our hobby that push stuff to get better. So I understand your points.  But I’m an audiophile first. Either way the proof is in the ears and eventually you gotta show and tell through performance.  I’m going to do a second system probably using a 2-3k Vienna acoustics or sonus faber speaker using my old kr audio va900 integrated and a Dac. 

Wadax Reference 105

MSB Select II 100

Ideon Absolute 98

Lampi Horizon 97

Lampi Pacific 90

 

Dave (Farad 3 linear power supply and Mscaler (fed by linear supply) 90

Ideon Ion 89

Wells Audio Cipher Dac II 88

 

After spending one week with Dave modified with Farad 3 power supply, I upgrade its score from 87 to 90.

 

I had listened to Infigo Dac during Pacific Audiofest 2022 and 2023.

 

It is hard to give score due to not optimal show condition.

 

But it sounds smooth and creamy to me.

 

If I give tentative score to Infigo Dac it would be around 93.

 

During recent visit to Mike Lavigne's home, I confirm that Wadax is still shoulder above other Dacs but not within reach of most folks due to high price.

 

Thomas

@calvinj  They explain it far better than my fumbling. In this price zone the differences are subtle and like I keep on about, it's the gear and room that matter the most. 

@shkong78 thanks for the compliment. I like my method 4 because it is smooth but still gets the detail and is still transparent. Because of my listening preferences I listen to a lot of jazz with horns cymbals and pianos 75% of the time.  My method 4 does this in spades and does it with the needed speed because of the music.  Thanks for your input on this. 

@wsrrsw yes.  At the reference level it becomes a personal taste thing.  I like smooth but detailed without being analytical and that’s the best way to describe my dac and personal preferences.