I hate a like - hate relationship with the Topping 90se. However, it is the best under $1k DAC I have heard.
For me #2 and #3 are the same DAC, the Schitt Yggi+ OG ($2800).
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The best I’ve used under $1K is, perhaps ironically, the $999 Topping Centaurus, though second to that is the $400 Topping E70 Velvet. I have no recs for $5K DACs because beyond the $1K mark, the diminishing returns in cost/performance make DACs a rather poor investment in most cases. In my systems, the $400 Topping E70V outperformed an Electrocompaniet ECD-2 ($3500 in 2013), and the $2K Chord Qutest. I believe most listeners with speakers below $20K/pair would be wiser to save the difference toward better speakers. Recently I heard a tower of expensive Aurender and DCS products fronting some Boulder amps and $80K Rockport speakers. That system sounded phenomenal, but how can I say that had anything to do with the price of the DAC? My hunch is that 90% of the performance was attributable to the speakers and amplification. |
@lordmelton i just spent 4 days at Axpona with the Lampi Horizon in the same System as our Method 4 and I may be a little biased but I wasn’t impressed with with the Lampi. It has some upper mid range edginess and lacked the air and space I heard in the Method 4. But I may be biased. The other guys in the room agreed with me though. I think Dacs are extremely important they are your source. Some people don’t get that. |
@helomech i think when you have an expensive system like one with maficos the DAC becomes even more important. Just my opinion. |
in recent times i’ve certainly heard plenty of budget dacs and under $5k dacs that i liked at shows. lots of great digital at very reasonable prices. but i don’t have a feel for those dacs to identify the best ones. i’ve focused on more cost no object dacs and of those the best i have ever heard is my Wadax Reference dac, Level 4 version. |
Under $1000, None that sounded good. Under 5K Border Patrol Stupid Mega Bucks The Wadax Level 4 that @mikelavigne referenced and I had the chance to hear it at Supra Hi-Fi here in Dallas. Wish I could afford it, my DAC is a LessLoss Echos End Reference (Under $20K) |
I own 2 low cost dac which none sound digital as thin or agressive or displeasant way... Those who said no low cost dac sound good did not buy the good one...( For sure you dont replace a TOP high end dac in a system with a Hidizs or with the french NOS dac, it will be preposterous proposition ) The French Nos dac TDA 1543 by C. Mariac bought for peanuts drive my speakers computer system and secondary headphone K240 sextett...
I dont know how will sound the Hidizs AP 80 pro dac if not paired with my AKG K340... With them it is perfect synergy because instead of my warmer french NOS dac i need with them a clear ( more analytical ) dac.... I need also an equaliser which is integrated in the Hidizs and i need the tone controls of my Sansui, to optimize the K340, probably one of the best headphone ever designed which trash anything i ever owned (10 headphones).I dislike headphone but now my high quality system for music is headphone, it is not on par with my first dedicated acoustic room for sure but not too far ...
I dont claim that my 2 dac are any other thing than entry level but good... In my system my Sansui alpha which drive the K340 as the sun drive a planet, and the K340 are top audiophile product ...Better gear exist but open your wallet to the max to upgrade them from 500 bucks i paid to many ten thousand bucks )... How many headphone gave natural timbre, deep bass, and "out of the head" soundstage, as if you were there, in good recordings ? Not many at any price...
At low cost synergy between different dacs and your gear matter more... At high end level, things are easier to match because of ultra design high quality...
As my TOP dac if money is not important,I will bet on the dac created by Dr. Choueiri....Because of his acoustics tools integrated in it if i could buy one, over anything else at any price...(i spoke about my needs not all people has the same needs) But most people dont know Choueiri genius yet so much.... Acoustics is underestimated compared to gear design... I do not underestimated acoustics , then my top dac choice even if i never heard it will be Choueiri... I dont need to heard it to understand what it do if you understand basic acoustics... I hope my suggestion will push people to read about it and go to listen to it...Choueiri is in US... I am in Canada...
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1. Topping D90 III $1K 2. Weiss 204 with LPS $3K 3. Denafrips Terminator II $5K 4. Lampizator Baltic 4 $7K 5. Berkeley Audio Design Alpha Series 3 $10K 6. Lumin X1 $15K 7. Linn Klimax DSM $40K I own or have previously owned all these DACs except the Linn, which I have only heard at the main dealer I’ve used to source most of my gear. BTW the Linn makes my current reference DAC, the X1, sound almost pedestrian. IME with digital sources, you really do only get what you pay for 90% of the time. |
Under $1k. $999. I would pick RME adi2. I owned this DAC for a few years and it's hard to beat for the money. Under $5k. $3300 After looking at several DACs between $1500 and $6000 I chose the Lab 12 DAC 1 Reference. I love this DAC. Not feature rich , in fact it's pretty stripped down but sounds great. Can listen for hours without fatigue. The best DAC i have heard in person is the MSB Discrete. I would buy one if I had the means and a system that could exploit it. |
