Chinese DAC's

I have met Eveanna Manley and she is neither stupid nor an "activist."  She is actually one of few companies that successfully straddles cost+ pricing for the Pro Studio segment and the price-to-market philosophy that prevails in hi-end home audio.

To take a generous view of the tariffs, Trump is Keynes’s "visible hand" of government intervening in free-market economics, but in reality represents an injection of chaos rather than serious economic policy.  Keynes justified such economic intervention as a force for stabilization, not chaos.

High-end audio is a luxury niche.  Absent stable pricing and faith in supply/demand, the consumer of luxury goods must decide whether to make a rational purchase decision along traditional lines, or to defer gratification until price stability is re-established.  From the POV of a US manufacture, the dilemma is far more serious along the lines that Manley discusses regarding the need for a stable business plan for a foreseeable future.  For my part, all audio purchases are temporarily on hold unless at pre-tariff prices.  If the general consumer adopts a similar position we will have a recession.    

@muvluv Like I said just okay. Glad it's top shelf stuff for you.

@texasblues1959 thank you, my systems sound great using those dacs you have to hear them before you knock them I also use mainly all pro pa equipment that may be why they sound so good for me and others

Luckily, almost nobody can hear a difference between DACs, so it doesn't really matter.

Recommendations:

1. A ladder DAC under $1200 - Holo Audio Cyan2  (I have a Holo Audio DAC now for over 5 years and it is still better than many and many options for sound signatures. Only one then that could handle DSD1024 and PCM1536 even though there really wasn't any original music sources available). Othen alternative is the LAIV mini - For ~$800, it's gem. Both DACs are extremely well-made/engineered with high quality parts. Holo may not be selling right now but the LAIV importer told me that he has some inventory in the US, so puircahses are not subject to any tarrifs until the US supply is gone.

2. Chip DACs - anything with the AKM4499 - hands down the best sounding chip and engineers' fav to work with.

3. PS Audio Directstream MK1 - The first version that has been in the market for a number of years that retailed for $7000 originally; has been selling for about $1600 with the bridge II ethernet connection. The DAC is a programmable chip designed/made by PS Audio, so there are many firmwares over the past 5years for different sound signatures that will satisfy just about anyone. Great dealand my choice if you can find one for $1600 and under with the bridge.

Well, this my 3rd post in this forum ever. Too many choices out there - I listened to at least 20 DACs before settling on mine, Good luck!!