Advice needed: It's time for a new DAC

Save yourself some $$  the Excellent T+A 200 dac can compete with Anydac up to $15k and compared to the chord Dave much more musical and at $7200 

before discounts and HQ player built in a true Audiophile bargain 

check out all the Great reviews and get a demo unit to try out .

that ones next on my list.

Some good DACs recommended here,don’t exclude the Weiss 501, amazing DAC. See the Steve Hoff review on You tube.

@bigfatpaulie 

@audphile1 makes a bunch of great points. I left out the Cen D³ doesn't have I²S in if that's something that you wanted, and converts all incoming signals to DSD up to 1024 (no MQA).

There might be an upgrade in the future and has a open module slot.

@bigfatpaulie that fuzzy center image is most likely due to first reflection points not being treated. The fireplace has some say in it but it’s negligible. The direction of the sound your Sashas put out is forward with tweeter and midrange dispersion to the sides at a slight angle. I don’t have a fireplace but had exactly the same issue. Cured by treating the first reflection points and installing bass traps to tighten up and refocus the lower registers. Snapped together nicely. 
May be talk your wife into hanging heavy curtains over that window by the right speaker. Mean time, toeing the speakers in to fire directly at your listening position should help with imaging as well.

As to the DACs, you have a nice list. If you use Tidal and don’t need DSD, go with the Berkeley Alpha 3 ( has MQA processing capabilities). However, keep in mind that it has no USB input and you will be using AES with it most likely, which means the clock in your streamer is what you’re going to be relying on. Not sure how good that section of the Lumin is. 
With the DAVE you can use USB (will most likely sound significantly better using that interface with your streamer) but you don’t get MQA. Chord tone is superb though. 
With MSB, you get awesome USB implementation, MQA and DSD capabilities. 
So if I were you, my choice would be the MSB Discrete. 
Just thinking out loud….

@blisshifi I could 100% see how a DAVE owner would love the DAC200, but I’m going to be listing mine now having the Cen D³. The T+A build quality and feature set is just incredible and in my heart of hearts wanted to keep the T+A because I really like how much time, attention and quality craftsmanship went into it, but I feel it’s DSD DAC far outshine it’s Burr Brown DAC chip, which kinda let me down.

It’s resolution and vocal forward presentation would again attract DAVE fans.

I’m really liking the Cen.Grand Deluxe DSD DAC, but hell... I LOVE my Tambaqui. I’d recommend the MMT, but the Cen D³ is excellent, and my biggest praises for it are in comparison with yet another DAC, two Intergarated amplifiers and a power amplifier

Of the three DAC’s you listed I would pick the Berkely V3, since I’ve heard less criticisms about it, but truthfully have heard less overall about it compared to the others.

My Cen D³ bests my T+A DAC200 in sound stage size, depth, and especially transient decay. I swear you can "hear" the air in the room whilst the artist was recording in between notes and at moments of silence. Just a very cool sound, almost to the effect that my Luxman M10x brought to my system when first listening (prior to the Cen D³). Secondly the Cen D³ made the sound presentation for my Technics SU-R1000 almost indistinguishable from my Riviera labs Levante. So the Cen D³ brings a "tube like" sound to a Class AB digital integrated amp that neared the liquidity in sound of an amazing hybrid amp. I was so impressed at how much character the SU-R1000 took on with the Cen D³ (good character at that).

Ultimately my MMT is my favorite, but the Cen D³ with the Levante just makes what I love about both pieces of gear stand out even more, not too mention the Cen D³’s volume control is better then the somewhat finicky Levante and allows me to run the JL subs via RCA out.

All and all I highly recommend the Cen D³.

My only digs are that the company’s reputation is unproven along with product service/support. I’ve ran into customs tearing apart my unit packaging and just throwing everything back into the box. I had a coaxial input issue with this unit and am otherwise am awaiting a second replacement unit. But still would recommend it. I’ve been swapping all my gear in and out with it and it sounds great with pretty much everything I own at all price points.

@bigfatpaulie In all honesty, the T+A DAC 200 should be in that list above considering all of the priorities you list (soul, holography, and resolution). I've said it before but I still think the DAC 200 is the best I've heard under $15K. In full transparency I am a T+A dealer, but I've had more than one customer switch from the DAVE to the DAC 200 because of its improved sound staging ability and soulfulness.

@bigfatpaulie When I want to evaluate DACs I use my headphones (RAAL SR1a or CA-1a) to really hear my gear. When you had your phones which DAC did you like the best? The DAC I own now is what sounded the best on my phones.

Tidal vs Qubuz. I have both and I do not even think about it. Just enjoy the music with which ever has the tune I want.

I grew up in Toronto and there were a lot of good shops then. I still see some of the same stores around and some new ones with even higher priced gear. 

BTW - how long is your speaker cables?

Hello @ghdprentice !

Thank you so much.  I really appreciate your comment as you've owned the Berkeley.  The CD9SE...  WOW!  I really adore AR stuff.  The some of best amps I've heard (save the Boulder 2160) have been AR.  

Thank you for your kind words.  My wife doesn't like carpet, however, when I have a serious listening session, I do put down two thick blankets on the floor.  It's an interesting idea you had about putting absorption in front of the fireplace. I have a bit of a fuzzy center image because of it and I never considered movable panels.

I have 4 5" thick Vicoustic panels on the walls behind the DAW's.  They make a minor difference as-is, but I wonder if they were on a discrete stand with casters that I rolled out (like the blankets on the floor) if that would help...  Very astute observation and thank you for the advice.

Hi @audiotroy 

Thank you for your reply.  To answer your questions:

what are you using currently using?
An RME-ADI2fs

how wil you feed the dac?
A Lumin U1

How does this information help you answer my initial question?

I use AES/EBU right now and I would likely keep it the same, hence why the Berkley made the list.  For context, I have, in the past owned an MSB Analog, a Berkley Alpha V1 and a Chord DAVE.  I owned each, however, when I was in a condo and I was exclusively using headphones.  Now, I exclusively use speakers. 

Berkeley Alpha.

I love my Audio Research Reference CD9SE. I had a Berkeley Alpha Reference 3 in my system for a couple weeks. I found the ARC a tad more musical… my preference, but the Berkeley was ever so much more detailed with nearly all the musicality. It is an outstanding DAC.

Beautiful speakers you have. Have you tried a thick carpet in front of your speakers and you might try making a heavy absorption panel to put in front of the fireplace when listening.

op y ou are not providing enough information

what are you using currently using?

how wil you feed the dac?

we would recomend the Aqua hifi forula it is very musical yret has great resolution plays all high res files.

it is also completely upgradable so if aqua impoves the dac you can grow with the dac

the berkley wouldnt be on my list as you need an additional interface box for usb and most high res sfiles play over usb

the chord dave is very good but it is a touch lean

Daveand troy

audio intelect NJ

aqua and chord dealers

I have a chord DAVE and it will be for sale next week. Great DAC and I still absolutely love it. M-scaler too.

But I decided to try a Lampzator GG3 and it is spectacular. Tremendous soundstage, realism, and sharp-tight-defined from top to bottom.

Big fan of the DHT and I think SE is the way to go (vs balanced). I also ordered with Volume Control and basicly use it as a preamp. really increased "slam" or "punch" and I think that is the DHT acting as a preamp.

Jerry