Musetec Audio (LKS Audio) MH-DA005
DAC Under $3000
I am considering the purchase of a new DAC. Budget is no more than $3000. I lean towards clear, detailed sound with good separation. In the past I have had PS Audio Stellar, Benchmark, and Merason Frerot. I thought all were good, but not necessarily "special". Suggestions please. Thanks!
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A used Denafrips Terminator II or a used La Scala MKII. Don't cut corners with the DAC. It's the core that the rest of the system revolves around. You can gradually upgrade the rest of the system later, and you will be rewarded as you use better components that will better reveal the DAC true capabilities. In the future you will also need a DDC to improve the quality and clocking of the input to the DAC. This brings a big lift to sound. Good luck
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I recently experienced an Hegel HD 30 used with Valve Pre-Power Amp's and Klipsch Jubilee Speakers. I have been demo'd a selectin of SS DAC's in systems I am familiar with at a price range that is up to £2500. I have been demo'd DAC's in unfamiliar systems with a value up to £?????, but some I am sure are north of £10K. Out of them all the Hegel is the one that has left for me an indelible memory, as a result of how much of a good impression it made. |
There are many DACs under $3K that outclass the Qutest IME. I owned the Qutest twice (the second time bought it for a great price with the sole purpose of flipping) and while it does have good resolution, it’s relatively 2-dimensional, lean and edgy. That’s only relative to some other good performing DACs, a couple of which cost considerably less than the Qutest: the Marantz HD-DAC1 and Denafrips Ares II. I can imagine a Qutest making for great synergy with a Mac anchored system. So of course, things aren’t always apples-to-apples. |
Of all the DACs I’ve owned the Electrocompaniet ECD-2 best fits that description. To my ears it has the “layering” and lush midrange of an NOS DAC but all the resolution of the measurement kings like Benchmark and Chord. Its measurements are nearly SOTA but it also has just enough color and warmth to keep it from becoming clinical or glassy. It retails for $3K but can occasionally be found pre-owned for much less. |
+1 Lab 12 reference DAC (bought Mint 6 mo used $1800) with 1960 French Phillips (Mazda, RT, Dario Miniwatt) e188cc tubes is fantastic. +1 Also have a Black Ice Audio DSD Glass DAC with 1950 Rca 12AX7 Blackplate It is really good and plays way above its price and doesn’t get a lot of attention. Bought 3 years back $650. |
@macg19 , 60 year old NOS Mullard tubes will make "anything " sound good! |
I did get a the CEC DAC DS5 directly from Japan for $1,500 and it is a superb DAC Plays DSD but not SACD. Note, it is a 110 volts I did get a transformer for it, even though some experts sat it does not matter. Our “120” is seldom 120, right now my power regulator indicates 115 In USA the same CEC DAC goes goes $3,000 and in Europe for more than 3,000 euros! Good luck on your search. |
gnoworyta, For $1,850 a Denafrips Pontus II 12th cannot be beat, but I'd buy it with a Denafrips Iris DDC for $550......$2,400 all in with a nice USB cable. Will allow you to output I2S from the Iris to Pontus II.....an amazingly musical setup and, and what I currently own.....I also personally prefer the Pontus/Iris combination to the Denafrips Venus II DAC. For a bit more money $2,800 (and as Soix recommended) the Musician Aquarius is a step up, and I can guess it too would sing with a DDC outputting I2S to the DAC. I did not have the Iris DDC with me when I borrowed to the Aquarius, but it is a great DAC. |
Well, let me throw in another possibility, kill two birds one stone thing: Marantz Ruby SACD player w DAC... brings everything to DSD. In addition to its CD/SACD functionality, there are inputs for coax, optical, and USB... so just select the input right on the Ruby. I got one "open box" for about $2500... if you can find one. Thus you have a lifetime-build cd player and outstanding DAC, all in one. |
I purchased the $2,399 Benchmark DAC3 HGC. This very small DAC has 4 SABRE 9028PRO chips, 2 per channel, and the signal is summed to reduce the noise and jitter. I am simply amazed at the sound quality of this small DAC.
BTW, I called Benchmark several times and was immediately transferred to their Sales Manager who answered my many questions. Their customer support is excellent. I also had some post sale question and they answered them very quickly.
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Based on your sonic priorities (clear, detailed, separation), look into a Weiss 205 (if you don't need the features of the 204). I would guess the "street" price for a NEW unit would be something like $1300. Based on my extended listening w/the bigger brother (501), the sound may be a touch dry, but it will take you "into the studio" if that perspective appeals to you. |
@gnoworyta I’ve linked below a thread over on WhatBestForum relative to AbbasAudio DACs that may be in your price range and have the sonic quality you are seeking. I haven’t listened to one, but Audiogon & WBF member Charles1dad has one and you can consider reaching out directly to him via Audiogon pm. I find Charles pretty knowledgeable and measured in his assessments. https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/abbas-dac-2-1-se.31754/page-43#post-892277
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Top choices besides the Schiit Yiggy would include: Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE $3,000 Denefrips Venius II 12th $3,100 MUSICIAN Pegasus $3,200 Chord Qutest - it’s been on the market for the longest and has increased in price to over $2K but is available used for $1200 due to it’s time on the market I believe you’d find any of the above DACs to be "special" sounding. I think the Holo Audio Spring 3 may be the best reviewed of all the above. Though the Qutest is probably the biggest seller still after 5 or so years on the market. Unfortunately, the step up from the Qutest is over $5,000. I’ve had the Qutest for 4+ years and think it is super detailed and really special sounding with a huge soundstage and preciese pinpointing of instruments. I’m ready to replace it due to it’s age. But it’s so good it’s difficult to find anything under $5k that tops it. I may try one of the ones I listed above but I’m unsure if they’ll be better or just different.
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Check this one out. Fits your budget and your taste: https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649991133-nuprime-evolution-dac-silver/ |
@hilde45 +1 |
@facten : Thanks for your response. I guess my answer would be that I am hoping to hear a bit more detail and spaciousness. I have seen comments in the past where folks have said their DAC allowed them to hear detail they had not heard before - "it sounded as if the artist was in the room". I have not gotten that with my current/past DACs. I realize you must take the whole system into consideration, but thought I would start by exploring a DAC change. To everyone - thanks for all the feedback thus far! |
TEAC NT-505X is defintely worth consideration. Nice built in streamer. (also preamp and headphone). DAC alone was a bit better to me in my system than my Schiit Yggdrasil A2 wrt detail and space. Yggdrasil a bit better bass and perhaps dynamics. (via iFi Zen Stream with ipower.) Via its built-in Streamer, the NT-505X made a subtle improvement. NT-505X will also accept a 10MHz clock (e.g. the TEAC CG-10M, which I use with my TEAC UD-701N and provides a very nice upgrade.) |
I've just bought a (second hand) Gustard X26 Pro. It sounds fabulous at half your budget - but probably equals or betters DACs up to 3500, maybe 5000. Wide image, incredible bass, dense and open mids, airy treble, great resolution. No ESS glare or "coldness" whatsoever, quite the opposite, in my system it sounds fluid and organic. since it is half the allowed budget, you can even add an external clock since t has a 10MHz clock input. |
Try a brand called space tech. The guys name is Al and I had one of their streamer /DACS it was about $2500 and it sounded amazing. The only problem was I have been running my system without a preamp and this unit required a preamp. We found out because I had a little teeny weenie hum. We figured out that if I would’ve hooked it into a preamp it would’ve been nonexistent. I sent it back reluctantly because I was afraid that I would have a hard time if I sold it later on. I still think about the unit all the time it really sounded wonderful. |
Sony has a proprietary FMGA processor they designed for their TZ-H1A headphone amp/preamp/DAC. It has filters to upconvert to DSD (which the invented with Philips). It is around $2K and if you stream or have non hirez files it is a great way to get DSD on a budget. I manly use it as a DAC in my system but the headphone amp is also great.
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+1 I must agree. I own an Ayre DAC and Auditioned a Yggdrasil and own a Gungnir. I would go for the Ayre. A more natural sounding DAC. When thinking about a component a bit over your price range… I always think about how long I have it and how many hours of use I get. The price becomes a little less important. The sound quality is going to be better every time you listen to it. |
@gnoworyta "In the past I have had PS Audio Stellar, Benchmark, and Merason Frerot. I thought all were good, but not necessarily "special" You might get more helpful responses if you provide context around what you feel was missing from the presentations of the 3 DACs you’ve had; "not necessarily special" can be widely interpreted to mean anything but maybe what you are after sound wise/emotionally engaging
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Ayre QB9 Twenty, in fact any Ayre will outperform your previous Dacs. Schiit Yggy comes a llittle bit below the Ayre, but still very good. If you can score a used unit, then you are well below $3K. I hate to say it, but at $3K you aren't going to get 'special', but very good. Unfortunately, you would need to increase you budget around 3x to get into the 'special' level. Bob |
Buy this and save yourself some $$$ or add a DDC and take advantage of i2S… https://soundnews.net/reviews/sources/dacs/musician-aquarius-r-2r-dac-review/ Best of luck. |
