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 4 responses by rikkipuu

Using the Terminators clock out will take your Iris to another level.  Look for a used TP and use the savings to upgrade the Power cables, I2S cable and USB cable and Clock cables for the Iris.  

@skinzy 

If you haven't, try the Gaia with the Phoenix on your main system with I2S it is better than USB.  If you use the clock out with the Gaia and TPlus it is even better.

I have a Statement, Iris and TPlus.  The quality of the HDMI, USB and clock cables is important.

@chilehed 

I had a NA ENO Ag filter on the input of my Statement and it was an improvement on whatever I had been using.  I now use a SOtM dCBL-CAT7u.  In my system it was an improvement on the NA ENO Ag.  I moved the NA to my NAS an Antipodes CORE.

@chilehed 

Its been a while since I changed the ENO and SOtm cables.  My recollection is better noise reduction effects like less congestion, better details, better separation of instruments and notes.

Kind of more of what you get when you add the ENO vs a non filtered LAN cable.