Best DAC you ever heard list. 1.Budget under 1k 2. Mid Under 5k 3. Cost no Object.

@oddiofyl @jrareform

I agree with selecting the RME ADI-2 (used) under $1,000. Especially if it comes in an AKM chipset variant. What I’ve noticed is that any system improvement is picked up and passed along. Rather uncanny that way.  

With an ordinary USB cable, a significant improvement is available with DSD upsampling. Whether doing so with Audirvana or HQPlayer, it’s a serious sound enhancement. 

I’d love to see this DSD Direct upsampling option compared to others like the Holo May and Denafrips, as I suspect it’s right in the ballpark. Have yet to see such a comparison to date.  

Can’t speak to the 5K plus category as I’ve not had them in my home system. Hearing systems and DACs in other systems isn’t good enough for me to proffer an opinion. 

 

jrareform

45 posts

04-27-2025 at 06:10pm 

Under 1k- used RME

Under 5k- Gustard r26 or RME

Over 5k - T&A D200

I have experience with maybe 30 DACs in my systems at various times so not a ton but enough to have an opinion. That T&A was really special

@jrareform 

Agree 100%, especially T+A D200, which is a remarkable DAC. 

calvinj

Under $1,000 - Denafrips Ares 15th

Under $2,000 - Denafrips Pontus 15th

Under $5,000 - T+A DAC 200 ($5,000 used), Weiss DAC 204 $3,500, Denafrips Terminator 15th (Actually $5,300)

Over $5,000 - T+A DAC 200 $7,500, Weiss DAC 501 $12,000, Berkley Alpha DAC $11,000, Mola Mola Tambaqui $13,000, Mietner MA3 $11,000, DCS Lina DAC $14,500, and whatever Lampizator DAC you can afford

Under 20k: Schiit

Above 20k: Aavik 

[Audiophiles will have plenty of other bottlenecks starting with their ears, room resolution, speakers, etc before any 'cost no object' dac gets justified.]

@calvinj are you in any way affiliated with Infigo? It’s always good to state your financial interest upfront 😊