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Best Bang for your Buck DAC ?

I just realized I’m in the market for a DAC , I don’t want to spend a fortune on a DAC either . I picked up a drangonfly cobalt a while back and am unimpressed  so I moved it to my CPU and sounds really good on my system there which when I bought it figured I would do anyway since it was my first DAC purchase . There are so many DACs I have no clue , how high up on the returns chart can I go at say $1,000 before I run into heavy Diminished returns resistance. I’m open to buying used . I was thinking about a Schitt made in the states ? Anyone’s take on best bang for buck DACs? 
ngiordano
brauser
521 posts
 
The AudioQuest Cobalt USB DAC has 'no right' to sound as good as it does for $300.00. Amazing piece of miniaturization!
dletch2
455 posts
 
$300 buys a lot of parts, and the packaging costs are minimal.
emilm
18 posts
 
I will not be very original as I will also recommend Denafrips Ares 2 Dac.
As close as you can get to analogue sounding dac without tubes.
I am rediscovering my cd collection.
It never sounded so good!
Speaking of value, you have to double the price,750 to get a better sound.
Schiot Bifrost 2
sounds also very good and has 5 years warranty!
But it doesn’t have the creamy smoothness of The Ares 2. Enjoy!


paulcreed
544 posts
 
A lot of good suggestions, I tried the Qutest used and thought it was very nice but sold it. I bought a demo RME  from sweetwater and really like this dac and still have it. It is crystal clear without being sterile, its warm with big bass and does not get blurred or fall apart with complex or busy fast music. It has a lot of adjustments but I run it flat. I did add a Teddy Pardo power supply.

i have the mhdt orchid and added better caps it is a very musical and great dac, it can't hold things together as good as RME during complex music but it has a better sound stage not night and day but it is noticeable. You can't go wrong with either one there both great dac's under $1000 used. 
bcdavid
6 posts
 
@dyson2004 No, I’ve not tried the Iriis.  It might be on the shopping list though, especially if my retirement comes earlier than expected.  What have you experiences or heard? 
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