Best EXTERNAL DAC suggestions

I really like the sound of low capacitance cable, which is a characteristic of most all Mogami products. Clearer high frequencies and overall higher current. My Heritage Wharfedale Lintons got noticeably louder but lost a little of their sound stage at first, but I figured that my analog preamp gain was too high and I just didn’t hear the higher noise floor until I plugged in the Mogami 3103 cables! They are very musical with just enough bite to not add any obvious warmth. Great value IMO.

Fun thread! Good info. As a resident MidFi guy in the group, I’m lovin’ the Auris Audifi. Versatile WiFi devise with ESS Sabre DAC that connects to many music services through the 4Stream phone app. Under $300 and often sold out. The marketplace speaks :)

The weakest parts of my system are my ears, but I’m living in the golden era of Internet info and luxuriate in a recapped high current throwback rig that blends this group’s knowledge with 40 year old pro-audio power. You folks have tipped me to ways I can burrow under HiFi mark ups to find stuff like Mogami cables, the dynamics of “heritage” baffle step box speakers and strong DAC bits hidden in inexpensive devices.

it pays to lurk here! I’m getting huge returns from an unpowered Schiit Sys pre amp switch with an analog pot in line from the Audifi DAC. The discussions here about gain and interconnects were golden. Digital levels maxed with Canare 75 ohm cable into the Sys, with its analog gain pot very low…magically created an awesome soundstage from Mogami 3103 connected Wharfedale Lintons with a small REL sub. Some really smart poster tipped me to try this, noting that “line level” used to be lower into amps like my 1980s era pro audio Crown amps. Might sound like “Red Green Show” stuff to the high end folks here but it is amazingly musical in the confines of our vintage bungalow LOL

Cable rabbit hole :) These guys serve the recording studio market. https://www.proaudiola.com

I didn’t listen to both but did build a theory that guided me a try Mogami.My Wharfedale Lintons are tweaked by designer Peter Comeau to deliver a rich low end and uses crossover right at their big box baffle step. Love ‘em but they don’t have a natural sparkle to cymbal crashes or acoustic strings through their fabric tweeters.

As I was digging into the specs and reviews on Canare and Mogami, Mogami had lower capacitance, and was sometimes noted as being “less dark.”

These two brands are similar in price and performance…and are very popular in live stage use and recording studios. I’m impressed with the audible improvement I got from Mogami but it was not a side by side choice over Canare and I suspect I would have seen improvement from either brand.

I’ve watched the audiophile chats here with great interest over the last couple years and have reached the conclusion that the line between snake oil and improved performance is highly subjective. Part of my fun in the hobby is acquire knowledge and apply it to a MidFi budget. I have incredible sound per dollar thanks in large part to knowledge shared here.

My day job for 40 years has been at the steering wheel of a successful boutique ad agency that provides marketing strategy, brand positioning, creative services and placements. IMO no money is wasted if the buyer gets what they wanted, it’s all about marginal utility. I’m thrilled at my $4k system and it is entirely possible that my neighbor gets equal satisfaction out of a theoretical $40k system.

All cables are low pass filters of some sort, and in a high resolution stereo every one will probably sound a bit different at first use. How much that is worth is up to each purchaser.