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DAC recommendation in 5 to 10K range

I recently get to the point that I want to try a new DAC in $5 to $10K range and would like to know if there are recommendations I should try and audition.

 

My current DAC is a Denafrips Terminator, to me, Terminator is an overall fun DAC that provide good clarity, energy, and scale. It has strong macrodynamic focus with good impact and punch, as well as solid resolving power and texture, but I feel drawback is lacking micro dynamic capability, tonality is not organic, neither is presentation, treble is not that refined, and can sometimes get too hot and gritty. What I hope in my next DAC is a balanced DAC that lean a bit more toward the relaxed and slightly sweeter smoother side of things, great organicness, great placement accuracy and depth in overall stage, great coherency and liquidity, as well as having great impact and punch.

elan120
phastm3's avatar
phastm3
88 posts
 

@auroravengeance I tried the wavelight last year. The preamp section is hard to use since you have to use a phone or tablet app to control the volume. The SPL looks interesting.

klh007
621 posts
 

The just released Lumin T3 should be in this mix, it uses Lumin’s latest processing, uses the X-1 analog output stage, and incorporates Leedh volume control so it can be effectively used without a preamp. The Lumin P-1 also fits into this category perhaps equalling the X-1 performance and adding ST Optical input, HDMI, and just receiving a stellar review in TAS.

veloaudio2
3 posts
 

Recommend you demo the Waversa DAC3c. Build quality is great and I it has a built in streamer. I listened to it and it sounded really good in my system. However, I ultimately went with a Emm Labs DAC2X V2 which I found second hand for a good price. Emm Labs sounds better to me but it is also much more expensive (new). 

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