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Better sounding DAC than Cullen mod PS Audio DLIII

Hi,

I am on the market for a digital converter and my reference sound is Cullen Mod (stage III/IV) PS Audio Digital Link III. Can you recommend a few DACs better sounding than this DAC based on your experiences, hopefully actual comparisons? The budget should be $1K~2.5K.

Someone advised VALAB DAC already but I am not familiar with this DAC.

Many thanks in advance...
yoyodyne
magnumpi205
504 posts
 
Cullen is coming out with their own DAC under the Wyred brand.
oldgrey
31 posts
 
Have you tried a Wavelength Audio Brick v2?
hubsand
1 posts
 
Apparently, Rick Cullen thinks his new DAC1 is a better machine than the DLIII: the two boards seem to have a lot in common ( (see pictures here) but the new ESS 9018 chip, and everything Rick learnt from the DLIII should add up to something pretty special.
vovk
1 posts
 
I bought PS Audio DL3 Cullen Mod Stage 3 some year ago. I found the sound on the overbright, harsh side, fatiguing, suppressed mid-base, no warmth. Under the advice of Rick Cullen I sent it back for check, and since then I had nether money nor DAC back. I would avoid this gentlemen and his devices.
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