Best sounding DAC with a Rega Apollo

Rar1

I didn't pay $3500 for the DAC7. I do everything in stages and after much discussion with my dealer, based on what I wanted to spend, my current equipment, and what my weakest link was, the DAC7 was the best option(didn't want to spend 5K on DAC8). In the future I plan on comparing the Apollo to different transports. If I can hear a difference with-in my price range I will sell the Apollo.

I don't know if it's equivalent to a 5K unit, because I haven't compared the two. I know adding the DAC7 more than served its purpose and provided me the flexibility to try PC audio.

I know you may of heard this before
But I would get your speakers off the Roller wheels level and spike your speakers first.
Something better in a Transport /dac may not register
as better with you until this takes place.
Your system set up this way will continue to blur the transients.
By doing this your whole systems clarity will suffer.
Best Johnnyr

Johnnyr

The pictures of my system were taken when I first received the Sophia IIIs. I removed the rollers and spiked them after they were set-up.

I owned the Apollo for about 3 years. Never heard any brightness with it personally. Not that I doubt your ears/findings, just saying mine are/were different. I used a Bryston B60 and Audio Physic Yara Evolution Bookshelves with the Apollo. With that being said...

The DACs you mention are downgrades IMO. The V-DAC can't compete with the Apollo in any way. Then again, it's a $300 DAC compared to a $1k CDP, so it's really not fair to either component to compare them. Haven't heard the M-1, but Musical Fidelity's house sound is pretty far from Rega's IMO.

I haven't heard any of the rest of your system, so I can't speak of synergy nor what may be giving you some brightness. It may also be the room?

If you like what the Apollo is doing but want to take that up a level or two, the Rega DAC is a great choice. It does everything the Apollo does, only a great deal better to my ears. The only thing I had to adjust my ears to was the soundstage became a little more pushed back. It's bigger and deeper, but it's not as close. That may be a good thing in your system. In mine, it was just a change.

The Rega DAC sounds warmer and fuller than my Apollo did. In every way, to my ears the DAC is far better. The sound is on par with the Saturn. Not necessarily better than the Saturn, just a bit different. People have commented it sounds more along the lines of the Jupiter than the Saturn. Haven't heard the Jupiter in z very long time, and haven't heard the Saturn and DAC side by side to give an honest assessment of that statement.

To connect the Apollo to any DAC, UAE the coax (RCA) digital out. Toslink (aka optical) can sound very good if you're using a glass cable, but my experience with the Apollo told my ears that the coax out was a good bit better. That'll probably depend on the DAC as well. I didn't try my Apollo with the Rega DAC, but had auditioned several others (including the V-DAC) with it.

Thank you to all who have responded. The comments and advice are useful. I mentioned the Musical Fidelity V-DAC and the more expensive M-I based on the budget level of the first, and initial very good reviews of the second

Because of a recent splurge of upgrade spending, I am trying to limit the DAC expennse to about $500....used or new?? I don't know the DAC field well enough to refine my search. According to an internet dealer, Peachtree is supposed to introduce a $450 DAC that will outperform the new Rega and MF.....but in the audio business,such claims are like the perennial joke about "fish stories"

I wish someone would manufacturer a simple DAC, without USB or other computer file related features. I don't need them, or would use them, but the audio business too often designs for overkill application. Jim