You are going to get so many answers your head will spin. My advise is to first know what type of sound you prefer. Second is to know why a product/component makes that sound that you prefer. SS to tube for starters. Then understand what company makes one of the products that makes the sound you like. Last understand what makes that product sound the way it does.
One post says R2R tube DAC. While I agree with that statement since my company makes one, we also have made non-R2R DACs that sound excellent but different. Which one you prefer, that is the question. I made a preamp that had 5 different output resistors. Each resistor has its own sound. Which one works in your system hell if I know - but with a turn of a dial you can choose what you like or even better for different recordings you can dial in the sound you prefer. It is like swapping in and out a cable.
I am a source sound person. I have to have the tone of an instrument first and foremost. I need to hear the wood of the piano, the decay of the strings, and the emotion. If the piano does not sound correct to me, then nothing else will. To me, no other component can do that in my system.
Happy Listening.
One post says R2R tube DAC. While I agree with that statement since my company makes one, we also have made non-R2R DACs that sound excellent but different. Which one you prefer, that is the question. I made a preamp that had 5 different output resistors. Each resistor has its own sound. Which one works in your system hell if I know - but with a turn of a dial you can choose what you like or even better for different recordings you can dial in the sound you prefer. It is like swapping in and out a cable.
I am a source sound person. I have to have the tone of an instrument first and foremost. I need to hear the wood of the piano, the decay of the strings, and the emotion. If the piano does not sound correct to me, then nothing else will. To me, no other component can do that in my system.
Happy Listening.