Best tube dac available?

not all tube dacs have the same "flavor" and when considering bang for the buck, much subjective judgment goes into suc an assessment.

as i have said before, wavelength and the original zanden are my favorite dacs. unfortunately, both are expensive.

since all tube dacs have different degrees of "tubeyness", it is wise to be more specific as to your sonic requirements.

i believe audio research makes a tube dac as well as amr. i am not sure of the model names.

regarding the zanden. i prefer the original zanden to the later versions. i find the original version more full bodied and more in keeping with the classic tube sound, but not to the extent of sounding syrupy , veiled or a significant loss of resolution.

hi teejay, does the concert fidelity dac use tubes ??

what is the name of the website, to get information about the dac ??

thanks.

i checked with a dealer of concert fidelity, who described the dac as a component which disappears. if this is so, it represents the modern tube sound.

the original zanden, sounds more like the classic tube sound.

so, unless one specifies a criterion for best, there are probably many fine dacs which sound different from each other, which would be recommended by their owners.

it seems that the question of best raises the fundamental question among audiophiles, namely, to color or try to be colorless, or the modern tube sound vs the sound of tube gear from the 60's.

my favorite 12au7 is the brimar with the yellow lettering.

regarding tube dacs, again.

as has been said many times there is no best of any component.

however, there are two basic approaches for designing tube components. the classic tube sound, of which the zanden is an example, or the concert fidelity,as rhe exemplar of the modern tube sound. i suppose that altering the tubes, affects the sound, but the approaches represent what the designer wants to achieve.

i also like wavelength audio non usb dacs, e.g., an early cosecant.

there is a thread that is running now regarding the amr 777 dac. peerhaps that could be added to your list of candidates.

agian your criteria of sonic excellenece is the salient fcator when considering what is the best sounding dac.

there have been and will be threads which ask the question :

"what is the best ..... ?"

i think such a question is rhetorical and the questioner should consider it as a quest to listen to as many components in one's price range.

if one does not have access to products, then one is being exposed to the risk of disappointment.

well intentioned audiophiles who make "helpful" suggestions do not remove the probability that following one or more of them will lead to disappointment.

there are no guarantees in life.

my personal philosophy is to speak to manufacturers and inquire as to what they think their products sound like or what they intend them to sound like, and go from there.

there is a trade off between personal experience of owners and statements from designers. there are many variables here and no easy answers.