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


I wondered what’s the best sounding dac you have heard or owned. What did it do that the others didn’t. 

calvinj

@calvinj I beg to differ. The DAC is not your source. It converts your digital source to an analog signal. It is in the chain with the source which is your streamer or music files but it doesn't create the music or the type of file that the source comes from. 

Kinda like a turntable isn't source, the vinyl is?

@jetter no one is calling me out on anything. If it’s the best I heard it’s the best I’ve heard. Regardless. Look I’m a hobbyist first. I enjoy this I like learning about audio. Whether it’s Infigo or not.  Look a lot of us are never going to see each other.  A lot of us will never hear each others systems or even hear the equipment that some others have. Look I actually loan cables and equipment out. People here will tell you that. I’ve loaned out stuff to folks here. I do it for the experience.  I’ve had folks give me long demos of cables and equipment. I want to know what others are using or hearing. But anyway to each his or her own. 

@jetter no one is calling me out on anything. If it’s the best I heard it’s the best I’ve heard. Regardless. Look I’m a hobbyist first. I enjoy this I like learning about audio. Whether it’s Infigo or not.  Look a lot of us are never going to see each other.  A lot of us will never hear each others systems or even hear the equipment that some others have. Look I actually loan cables and equipment out. People here will tell you that. I’ve loaned out stuff to folks here. I do it for the experience.  I’ve had folks give me long demos of cables and equipment. I want to know what others are using or hearing. But anyway to each his or her own. 

@everyone we are all in different places audio wise. Wherever you are in this journey. Enjoy it. Listen to all the stuff you can. Gain as much experience as you can. Trust your ears. Get the best gear you can and don’t over extend yourself doing so. Some of us have more disposable income than others. But don’t worry about it. Just get what fits your system. Do it all in moderation. Some people it’s watches. Some people it’s cars. Some it’s audio. That would be us. If anyone is going to Axpona this month hit me up. I would love to see some of you guys face to face. Infigo will be there. I’m not hiding.  Come hear for yourself. Also I would just like to meet fellow audiophiles to out names to face and talk audio.  

I am late to the show on this subjective topic … but here is my 2-cents.  
Best DAC in my system - Wyred4Sound 10th Anniversary DAC.  Why … Best attributes are excellent micro and macro-dynamics, staging width and depth imaging, bass, treble, and most important- timbre.  Very “analogue” even though I do not like that term but I will since all pro reviews used it.  It is competitive to the best I have heard in all of these areas in a head to head comparison.  It gives up a little in detail retrieval, staging and imaging, but not to a degree commensurate with the increased price of the best I have heard.  
 

best I have heard in order of my preference…

Mola Mola Tambaqui.  Why … best dense imaging, space between images, and staging width and depth.  Uncanny three dimensional presentation while excellent in all other SQ attributes. 
Bricasti M1S2.  Why … best timbre while excellent in all other SQ attributes.  
DCS Bartok Appex.  Why … excellent in all SQ attributes and like the Tambaqui three dimensional but less dense images and more laid back presentation not to my personal preference.  Fans of a more laid back presentation  (you Denafrips fans), this is the DAC for you if you have the means. Not my cup of tea.  But I respect it highly. 

So I am trying to save my pennies for a Tambaqui. Until then, the 10th lets me go to musical induced euphoria.