Was going to recommend Goldnote DS10 ($3000) + PSU10 Evo($1400) at your original budget. Simple one-box DAC/streamer with optional power supply. I have this combo in my big rig as a roon endpoint. A few months ago I did a DAC shootout with a friend: my Goldnote vs DCS Bartok (his) vs Okto Research DAC8 Stereo (mine) vs. Mytek Brooklyn (his). I actually preferred the sound of the DS10 over the Bartok - to my ears the Goldnote was a more “musical”, fuller sounding DAC. The Bartok spanked the other two DACs. (And for the record, my friend preferred the Bartok. We were listening in his system, which included a Boulder integrated and Avalon speakers.)
Adding a Dac and Stresmer
Looking for some advice and need you guys to check my thinking…
I have a PrimaLuna Preamp and Amplifier…..need a Dac and streamer….Being I have a preamp to my thinking I don’t need a Dac that has a preamp and volume, am I thinking right? The speakers are Klipsch Heritage so I think I should get a mellow sounding Dac, maybe a Denifrips Pontus with the Auralic Aries G1.1…..would be happy with a $5000 budget…