Best Bang for your Buck DAC ?

duder,  try not to be like me .  you will get tired fast of anything under $2000. You will have 4 DAC,s sitting around with in 5 years. Start Digging or Save up . buy a used $9000 DAC  another idea Not to old .  Good luck,  there i said it 
  mGiordano 

Really, your not serious, I see the need for a quality stand alone DAC and there's so many out there but you have to draw the line somewhere , I think im closer to getting that denafrips , I want to keep it at 1000 or under

You might add the Lake People RS 06 to your list.
It's very clear and neutral, but has a strong and natural feel to the sound.
Here is how I found it:  I started with the dac in my NAD C328 integrated amp into Wharfedale Denton speakers.  I ran coaxial from my Audiolab 6000 cd transport and toslink from my Samsung tv.
After a while, a became a bit dissatisfied with the clarity and staging.  I started my journey, trying the Topping D30, Schiit Modius, Project Pre Box S2 (which died within a week), ifi Zen, and Schiit Bifrost 2.  None of them provided what I was looking for.  The Schiit products and the Zen, although using different technologies, were rather dry for my taste.  The Schiit Bifrost couldn't keep up with the dynamic swings in the classical music recordings I like, creating a muddied picture.  The Topping was nice sounding, but was very cramped in staging.  The Project had a very nice sound, but it was unreliable.
About the same time, I started looking for an external headphone amp. I wanted one with sufficient power to run my Beyerdynamic DT 880 (600 ohm) and DT 1990 (250 ohm) headphones, but preferably a discrete circuit unit for a more natural sound.  I was being turned off of the Schiit units because of my dissatisfaction with their dacs, so I avoided their headphone amps.  After research online, I decided to try the Lake People G111.  And that turned out to be the perfect fit for my headphones: clear, powerful, and natural.  Satisfied with that purchase, I decided to try their RS 06 dac.  It too is very clear, natural, and provides very good soundstage.  I sold off the Bifrost 2 and have been very satisfied with these units ever since.  I listen daily with headphones and several times a week with speakers.  

Another vote for the Denafrips Ares. 

Seems to me you first need to clarify what type of sound you're after. Do you favor resolution? Neutrality? Musicality? I'd suggest you find a way to demo a few different DACs in your system before settling on anything. The differences can be fairly dramatic. 

Jjss49

I appreciated your informative post about the rme and musical paradise DACs.

Can you please share what preamp, amp, and speakers you were using?

Thanks for listening.

Dsper

@dsper

iirc - last spring when i was playing with the rme (before i sold it to a friend and hp listener), my setup was bluesound node 2i or innuos zen mini 3 as streamers, linestages c-j et5 or carver lightstar passive reference into hegel h20 ss or audio research vt100-2 tube amps driving proac response d30r or harbeth shl5+

I am in the market for a dac. I am focused with two. The Schiit Bifrost or the Denafrips Ares as it both conforms to my budget. Any suggestions from experienced folks would be appreciated. I have a Rotel CD14 CD player and even with the wolfson internal dac, it sounds unengaging. I would like to liven it up with no coloration. Just straight up livelier music. I am using the Rotel with a Hegel H90 and Sonus Faber Concertino home speakers. Again, thank you for your valuable suggestions.

A good used Jolida tube dac or a Eastern Electric dac. I had a Jolida dac but now I'm using a Eastern Electric dac. Yes Jolida has two tubes and the Eastern Electric has one or can switch to a soild state output also.

@twoch,
duder, try not to be like me. you will get tired fast of anything under $2000.....

Twoch, I agree with your assessment. There is a whole big world out there with $5,000 and up DACS. Read the end of the thread here: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/dac-choices-5-000-to-7-000?page=4

What may not come through in my review is that the Mystique V3, which is like "old" now, blew away the Soekris in musicality. Just no comparison in this case between $900 new and $3,000 used.

FWIW and thanks for listening,

Dsper, 

I currently own Chord Qutest, Ares II & will get a Bifrost 2 to compare;

very hard to find, but, if you can score a Audio Alchemy DDP-1 (dac/pre) and their PS 5 separate power supply you will be extremely happy for a very long time. I've seen the combo for ~ $1200. See the Absolute Sound review back in March 2016.
I have this combo and love, love, love it, especially if/when you have a transport/player with optical outs, then get a WireWorld optical cable which is only $165
Also, Underwood HiFi has a special on the Audio GD dac/pre, similar price, but new

hth

love my Border Patrol DAC.

just saying.

Earl

+1 Border Patrol SE-i

The Topping D70S is a Giant killer ,and to make it better still buy a small synergistic orange fuse 500 Ma, slow blow  with the writing facing down ,direction of the electrical flow 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bvVxHdLt9Jo&t=362s

BorderPatrol DAC.

If using XLR connections, probably nothing better than schiit Modius DAC for $199. Measures insanely well which is what I look for in a DAC.

Without question not to be overlooked and built like a tank
anyone thinking that powersupplies and filtering in digital isnot that important knows very little about digital ,digital by far is the most sensitive to noise being so low voltage
the Audio GD line are a exceptional line .
this have a Big following in Europe.I lived there and knew about them 10 years ago ,they have progressed dramatically.
the R2R  dac Underwood Wally is selling is a steal at $1195 delivered.
There is nothing in its price class it’s power supply alone weighs
more then most dacs in the $1k range yes better then the Denafrips  Arias 2  dac IMO. I read on other forums several years ago it didnot Measure as good as others  ,well guess what it sounded very natural 
many cheap solidstate items measure great but sound like crap.
a vacuum tube amplifier a perfect example of the press saying  vacuum tube is washed up solid state measures much better 
but  it means nothing ,its design has its own filtering scheme remember that and many different ways to measure a circuit Getting back to Audio GD ,a 2 year warranty shipped and serviced in the U.S .it sounds powerful but natural .their  upper end gear even better still.

@in_shore
Not to really come to his defense (djones51), he and I have disagreed significantly on a few things. One point I think he made in another thread, I must say was a pearl of wisdom - If someone is using a router, powering it with a linear power supply is a better upgrade than buying a highly overpriced "Audiophile network router".
If it wasn't you djones 51, call me out - if it was, great info thanks!

If you're using a network router into the device before a DAC or to a DAC, do try using a linear power supply to it for streaming purposes. 
I haven't, but after considerable research, it's commonly found to be a boost in sonic performance.

I have 3 "audiophile switches" each with their own LPS.  Not sure if any of them are highly overpriced or priced just right, but each as added a benefit.  I have tried removing each and quickly put them back.  I have  absolutely no buyer regret with the purchases.  I have also added an eternal clock to 2 of the switches and that has put them over the top.

I agree adding a LPS removes some of the nasties.  An audiophile switch is going to have some technology to quiet noise and also a better clock to reduce jitter.  Its going to have a much bigger impact than the noise reduction of a LPS and is likely to benefit more from an LPS than a router.  From a cost aspect adding a LPS can be the least expensive move and it will bring benefit.  However, two of my LPS's cost a little more than two of my switches, does that make my LPS's highly overpriced also?

Don't be afraid to pull the trigger on a highly overpriced audiophile switch.  There are trials for the Uptone EtherRegen and English Electric 8Switch.  I kept both.

Audio GD just upgraded their latest which Underwood Wally is the new U.S distributor,service center the R2R1 packs a lot for just over a grand , on AudioGD website  there is last years review from you tube this  new model is vastly improved for 2021 and sonically very natural sounding ,better detailed then Denafrips aries2 dac that was light in punch and dynamics compared with fro other Audiophile in AZ  I spoke with.
https://www.underwoodhifi.com/products/audio-gd

An audiophile recommended MHDT to me, and I recently bought their Orchid DAC.  It sounds very nice, not digital sounding at all.

I think this type of question is wrong. Best bang for the buck will probably always be something very cheap. A $1000 dac is probably not 10x as good as $100 one.

I think it is more important with some rough budget for you. What are you willing to pay for a dac?
Which dac is best for you within that budget?

And, since we don't know your taste or system perfectly,  which dacs do the rest of us think are really good (still within your budget)?

Here it is: the Khadas Tone Board KTB DAC! $90! You add a case and 5 volt DC power supply. Near SOTA specs! Khadas also has the Tone Pro 2 for those not into DIY - $199! I have a KTB in a custom case!

So what sonic qualities is it that you would like to improve over the use of the Cobalt in your main system? 

Would say shop for a used Rega DAC. Had one in my system for several years and thoroughly enjoyed it. Takes the sizzle out of the digital experience and is decidedly British in its presentation. Has several filter settings with the slightest of differences but I enjoyed stretching to hear the differences. Digital signal was bright to begin with and the Rega tamed it exceptionally well. Recently picked up a Line Magnetic 502ca that runs both SS or Tube. It's a VERY nice piece and I'm waiting on a MOON Neo MIND streamer to replace my current piece. Hoping for even improved symmetry. 

There are many references to the Denafrips Ares 2 being available for $750 direct from their US distributor. Their site now lists it for $1000. Am I missing something?

There used to be a Denafrips distributor within the US, but it's now handled by Vinshine Audio. Their site currently shows the Ares 2 available for $764.26 USD. https://www.vinshineaudio.com/shop?currency=USD

Yes, the DAC goes into your cart at $764, but when you actually check out to purchase it the cost changes to $1,028.  Not sure why, exchange rate possibly?

on the vinshine page upper right hand corner denotes currency... can be selected... usd or sgd (sing dollars)

Thanks, I see what you mean, the 1,028 is Singapore Dollars which converts to 764 USD.

I would have to say Shanling top of line 3.2 or the PL, 

I have a Ayre Codex dac. Older and not as current as most mentioned here, but still sounds pretty good.

I have a Ayre Codex dac. Older and not as current as most mentioned here, but still sounds pretty good.

+1

ayre codex stands up just fine to the latest greatest things in its price range

full bodied, musical, detail presented in a natural way, solid bass foundation and excellent rhythm and timing

I am loving this discussion as I am looking for similar $1000 ish price point DAC, and really want to pull the trigger and move on with the listening.... 

Kind of narrowed it down to the below.

Anyone else here had any experience with the Black Ice DAC ( I just bought their F22 tube amp) and/or the Audio GD DAC Audioman 58 mentions above?  Wally carries both, but the Audio GD is more expensive.   Also the "lower" MHDT models in comparison ( I cannot afford the Orchid...).  I was also thinking the Denafrips Ares 2.  

I am sure that I would be happy with any of these, but seem to be sinking in ponderring paralysis quicksand... 

I stream only and listen in an 8x10 ft home office...  Any thoughts from you all to push me over the edge to buy would be greatly appreciated!

I have a Soekris R-2-R Dac coming, I am excited to hear the improvements it may bring.  Very innovative small Danish company.

 Have had Denafrips Ares 2 now for 4 weeks. My TEKTON Pendragons with Reisong A20 SET amp ( $649) have come ALIVE.....Soundstage is soooooo deep and wide. There's a reason ...NO Ares 2 used anywhere available.....They are hands down the best dac that makes music sound LIVE.

My PecanPi DAC achieves 130dB SNR and 125dB dynamic range. For $350 I believe it is an outstanding value.

See all the review here: