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

@calvinj 

Please do keep us in the loop on your search.  My digital side is pretty much an over site on my system, mainly because the learning curve is steep.  I just use the DAC on my Esoteric K-03XD (a lovely CD transport, mechanically), and a Lumin U1 streamer.  This is actually excellent but room for improvement exists.

FWIW, I’m extremely interested in the Nagra HD DAC X and nearly pulled the trigger just based on my ownership of the Nagra HD preamp, which is shockingly good.  I also did a shoot out between the Nagra HD phono and many other phono preamps and it ended up in the top 3, losing out purely on my subjective taste. Long way of saying, I almost bought the DAC unheard just due to experience with other products.  I also like the idea of tubes on the digital side for reasons I can’t logically explain.

Id be particularly interested if you get one of the MSB products, the Mola mola, or the Weiss.  I will admit I’m not in love with the Weiss chipset.  The MSBs get stupid in price and can cost the same as a mid tier Range Rover, but their middle products seem to have most of their features   So in my musings, the Mola Mola is the leader, but I’ve literally never heard any of them, except the MSB and it was in a friends house during a party and less than ideal listening circumstances.

@jetter I left Audiogon years ago.  I started to post more recently since we got back from pandemic.  I only started on the business side by happenstance. Hans Looman of Infigo flew from Canada to my house 5 years ago after I assisted another company at an audio show.  He told me about this amp he had been developing for the last 7 years. I was dismissive at first so he flew down I invited 15 friends over and it proceeded to blow my the amp in my system to smithereens.  First I was surprised that he flew to Dallas and I thought so much of him I decided to work with him.  That’s how I ended up working with his company.  I did it because I saw he was innovative smart and was a good person.  But more than that I believed in the product and it gave amazing sound.  Man I know so guys come here to sell sell sell. I don’t have to. I have a regular career where I have represented nba players and others etc.  I do this because I’m an audiophile that’s excited about what I’m hearing. That’s all. Thanks for your response brother. 

T+A DAC 200. Probably end game DAC for me given my modest system and my age. I have had lesser units but never at or above its retail price. I’m a used market guy and for what I paid for the 200 was a steal in my mind. I have a pretty good tt and cart which has been the standard for comparing DACs. Besides blowing away the other DACs, the 200 now has me questioning what’s wrong with the tt/cart?! It’s that good on soundstage, voice, bass, etc. System is Hegel 590; Innous Zenith mk3/phoenix usb: Magico A3 (No subs). Tt is VPI/transfiguration cart. 

While I don’t use it anymore the benchmark DAC3 had impressive bass impact. I have yet to find a DAC that seemed as good in the bass. Not the best DAC ever but something special about the bass of the benchmark. 

@jetter Seal Beach…. still IMO a lovely California beach town….. I knew her charms well… put in a few hours there on things that orbit the earth…. Big Fish bait n tackle…. ya man