Is there a DAC ranking list?

There are many DACs out there, ranking is almost impossible, we would never agree on criteria. In the dollar range suggested by the the OP, something like the RME ADI-2 DAC would be a contender, very well regarded. Brands like Schitt, Denafrips and Holo Audio are also in the mix. Chi-fi options from Topping etc definitely worth considering as well.
Now if you want to add streaming, well that opens a whole new can of worms, Bluesound Node is a contender at an entry level, from there you might look at Matrix Audio, Lumin, Auralic Altair G1 is a bit of a Swiss Army knife and worth considering for a few more bucks. My DAC of choice atm is an Auralic Vega G2.1, a great DAC with streaming capability, a bit more cost but not drug money.

@worldwidewholesales   Can you explain / expand upon this recommendation in more detail? Thanks.

I recommend that everybody buys their server/streamer first and then focuses on the DAC.

Shout out for SW1X DACs. I have the DAC III

@jerrybj is right. John Darko still maintains the DAC ranking list. It is available to subscribers of his via Patreon. If I am not mistaken, it is available to those that subscribe to the US$10 tier. Personally, I found it useful. 

I would second Musician Pegasus mentioned here earlier, great modern DAC design by a team who know what they are doing and a solid investment at £1000. I'd say it's a steal compared to some popular DACs. A versatile, robust R2R DAC that punches well above your current system.

You may add their Andromeda headphones amp later and further upgrade the system, and the DAC won't be a weak link by any measure. For just £850 on a used market it is way above the level of you current digital source. 

I am using the Aqua La Voce S3 R2R DAC which is excellent at 4x the price, and can easily recommend it, but I could easily live with the Musician Pegasus also, it's a proper DAC.

Is the Musician Pegasus available in the UK.?

Headphones for the win in that room. No question.

 

05-21-2022 at 01:51pm 

Headphones for the win in that room. No question.

Yes, you are probably right.  My Moondrop Blessings sound great using the iPad Pro.  I noticed that sounds like xylophones and musical sticks often sound very realistic though my speakers.

Thanks for all the responses and input!  I appreciate your taking the time to look at my situation and comment on it.  I’ve ordered a Bluesound NODE.  Given my room and the rest of my equipment, it might be a good match to improve my music with what I have.  It’s about the quality of the sound, and also the interface and access to the music that I like.  If the NODE is a plus, I’ll look for the next step to improve my listening experience and will circle back to this thread to consider more of the suggestions.  I’ll also be working on my room acoustics.

Yeah, your ears.

@audioguy85 he specifically asked for a list.

UPDATE: I bought a Bluesound NODE 3rd gen, and connected it through an AiMesh WiFi repeater dual band 300+867Mpbs.  I started by tuning in to Radio Paradise MOA music.

WOW!!  I was impressed!!  Prior to this, I was pleased hearing a few notes on a few selections that sounded real and present.  With the above, everything sounded that way. I was looking for an upgrade, and I have more than I could have hoped for.  I'm going to sit back and enjoy this for a while!

I have cat5 wiring nearby,  Would using that be an improvement over using the repeater?

Does anyone have a suggested way to access free jazz radio stations on the NODE?  I’ll explore subscriptions after I settle in to how and what I want to listen to.

My background story is that due to work and outdoor play, I had stopped listening to music on my JBL L220 system and sold it.  I do listen to music trough my earphones daily.  Then I ran across a set of B&O BeoLab8000 speakers and decided to get back into listening.  Since then I’ve added 2 subwoofers, new earphones and now the NODE.  Every choice has been a good one so far.

My original post was to find a good value DAC because that had been suggested.  I ended up with a different outcome and it worked well for me.

The NODE is too far away from my chair to use my Moondrop Blessing 2 earphones, but I can plug them into my iPad and go back radio.garden jazz stations when the need arises.

Hello,

Best overall DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS.
Best High & DAC: Cord Electronics Hugo 2.
Best budget less than DAC $ 200: Schiit Modi 3+
Perfect Portable DAC: Audio Quest Dragon Fly Cobalt.
Best DAC / Amp Combo: Cord Electronics Mojo.

Regards: Uninstall The Sims 2

@kirstensegura007 

You join today so you can post that the best dac is a RME?

Congrats, you're at a perfect starting point. Now you can begin listening to a wider variety of music instead of equipment like many do here.

You join today so you can post that the best dac is a RME?

i always follow the advice of people who have 1 post... i ordered all those dacs from amazon just now...

i always follow the advice of people who have 1 post... i ordered all those dacs from amazon just now...

maybe you should just frequent ASR more often than here now that you have those DACs....Lol

hey my system is entirely asr approved

i sit in the other room and enjoy it on my oscilloscope

Love reading the DAC comparisons and sounds, but man...If my wife ever found out I was going to spend $150K on a DAC, she would say to me are you ____________  ____________!  Not saying a $150K DAC isn't good sounding, but will it be 149x better than a $1K DAC.

OP,

Congratulations on your new Bluesound. It is so rewarding when you get a big jump in sound quality with a new piece of equipment. It is what can keep you in the pursuit for a lifetime. 

A 'one post' wonder. You could at least reference your source.

https://www.themasterswitch.com/best-dacs

The sound is AMAZING!  Before I bought this system, I was a daily music listener via earphones, so music has always been an important part of my life.  I listen while I bike ride.  Sometimes when I don’t feel like riding I’ll go anyway just to listen to music.  But this is a whole new experience - here’s what’s good about my new sound:

-  Even a very low levels, the music is still very clear, vibrant, musical, enjoyable

-  The sounds are so realistic, I sometimes look to see if they’re in the room

-  Music I don’t like - such a Mideastern style music - sounds good, enjoyable

-  I stay up very late listening

-  I can’t imagine how it could be improved

I wasn’t optimistic about what I could achieve because if you look at my room description you’ll see that it wasn’t designed for acoustics.  Now, like a lottery winner, I’ll be ready to take another chance on a future upgrade.  Who wouldn’t?

And contrast that with another endeavor in life that I have - roasting, grinding and brewing espresso - where I’ve had exactly  one ‘great’ espresso in 13 years of daily brewing…but I still keep trying anyway.

OP,

Great!

Amazing isn’t it? There is almost no end to the improves possible.

I am going to submit the Theta Genviii s3 to this list as well, ask me or bulldogger as owners

@tcotruvo - Congratulations - great to hear of your successful outcome! I recently went through the same revelation when moving from computer-based to server-based digital. For those who are doubtful of the benefits (as I was), provided your system has good resolve, there is indeed a discernible improvement.