Best DACs under $7,000.00


I'm tentatively beginning the search for a DAC upgrade.  Currently, I have Innuos Zen MK3 as a streamer connected via USB to a Denafrips Iris DDC that is connected via I2S to a Denafrips Pontus II DAC.  The Pontus II is excellent but I feel it's the one point where I could gain incremental improvement toward that illusive natural, layered, analog end-of-the-rainbow.  I simply can't / won't spend above $5,000.00 - $7,000.00 on the DAC. The rest of my system:  top-of-line Prima Luna Evo 400 Integrated Amp and a set of Harbeth speakers.  Right now, I'm looking at Denafrips Terminator II or Holo Audio May DAC.  I've never seen an a/b comparison of these two, but both stand out and have a following.  Of course, the unsettling thing is DACs have evolved so much and are still in a blooming state technologically, making it a given that whatever we have today will probably be surpassed by better for less later, like electric vehicles. But that's the nature of the beast.  Does anyone have alternative suggestions in this current climate?

gregjacob

Showing 2 responses by niodari

@blisshifi , how would you compare the sonic features of DSD DAC 8 with those of DAC 200? I own DAC 8 and am quite satisfied with it.

Thanks @blisshifi . I understand what you say.

In fact, i like the clean, natural tonality of DAC 8, and am i not sure if i wish some coloring coming out of my DAC. The body and the other features i consider to be the task of amp and preamp mainly. I also use the DAC mostly in the line mode so the built-in preamp quality is not of a superior importance.