Let's Talk DAC's

There are several other considerations.  Are you looking for something that emphasizes CD level reproduction or does it have to do high-rez as well?  The best sounding DACs for CD resolution playback are often CD only DACs,

Most DAC manufacturers focus on the digital side--DAC chipsets, clocking/re-clocking, exotic filter reconstruction of the signal, etc.  But, there are other manufactures that employ "primitive" and simple digital to digital to analogue conversion and emphasize improvement in the analogue circuit.  The two types of DACs can sound quite different, and it is worth your while to listen to both.  While they measure quite poorly, Audio Note DACs, to me, sound fantastically natural, relaxed and beautiful.  They represent quite the extreme in the emphasis in the analogue side. Some of their cheaper models (still not cheap) have essentially the same digital circuit as their crazy expensive top end DACs--the price difference reflecting the quite exotic exclusive parts they employ in the analogue side. Synthesis Audio and Lector, both Italian companies are other examples of analogue side DAC makers that make really nice sound stuff.  

Because it is talked about so much, it is easy to get caught up in R2R, filter choices, etc., but, it is worth at least trying a different path.  The result might surprise you.  

I think one that’s not as realized but has come up here before is the Okto Research dac8 stereo. Under $1500 and outstanding reviews (Audiogon included). It has a unique/rethought approach to Sabre chip channel use - don’t really know enough about those details just yet. But also has some other impressive features on the output configuration side of things:

https://www.oktoresearch.com/dac8stereo.htm

Honestly in your budget don’t buy anything and waste your money on something that is barely better if not worse than your current DAC. Unless you can save about 6-7k on a Lampizator Baltic 4 or Chord Hugo TT then later get an MScaler you won’t hear the difference. Your DAC is fine.

https://soundnews.net/sources/dacs/a-new-point-of-reference-gustard-r26-discrete-r-2r-ladder-dac-review/

Gustard R26.  This is probably the highest-rated R2R DAC under $2k I've seen, both among reviewers and satisfied customers.  Amazon has a good return policy, though I don't encourage abusing it. Keep in mind that the DAC might require a longer break-in period, around 200 hours (as reported), so consider leaving it running continuously for several days to facilitate the break-in process without exceeding your return window.

Jeffery, And your point is?

Chord Qutest is a solid DAC and should fit the bill. Precise imaging, open sound and very good soundstage.

Another option would be something with a built in network renderer. It will eliminate the need for a separate streamer. Depending on what you plan to spend on a streamer, check out the Bricasti M3 or a PS Audio DSD DAC, used.

If you are only interested in DACs that you can buy from a local source and test drive, then you can ignore both Musician and Denafrips.
 

Can’t speak for Denafrips, but you can buy Musician products through Amazon and I believe you have a return window where you can easily return if it doesn’t work out for you.  That’s why I bought my Pegasus there although I never considered returning it after hearing it.  Worth doublechecking though just in case. 

Check out the HoloAudio Spring 3 DAC, though it might be just outside the price range you're exploring for this particular system.  I believe their base price is just over $2K, but worth giving a listen.

Why bother. 

Emotiva XDA-3,  excellent sounding dac/preamp.

I forgot to mention my current set up for you: BlueSound Node 130 with LHY LPS, Denafrips Iris DDC, Denafrips Pontus II DAC, several amps I can use, and Buchardt Audio S400 MKII speakers. The BlueSound is not long for this world, I'll be upgrading to an Aurender/Lumin/Innuous streamer by the end of the year

Desperado915,

If you are only interested in DACs that you can buy from a local source and test drive, then you can ignore both Musician and Denafrips. They are sold direct without a dealer network (and thus the associated 50% markup)....IMO that would be eliminating some amazing DACs.

Soix mentioned the Musician Pegasus, which is a fine DAC, I've heard it in my system and did like it. I personally prefer the Denafrips Pontus II 12th DAC at $1,850, and then from there the Musician Aquarius DAC at $2,900.

I've compared the Chord Qutest in my system, and found it lacking in all but detail....which it has in spades. I did not find it musical, fun, and could not listen to it for more than a couple of hours without fatigue (others will definitely disagree). BUT boy if you love detail and clarity, it's there.

Soix also mentioned adding a DDC (Digital to Digital Converter), which does several things: Allows I2S from the DDC to the DAC (if it has I2S connections) and that prevents the conversion of the internal I2S signal to another format and then back to I2S, cleans the signal both galvanically and optically, and then re-clocks it with a superior clock before sending to the DAC. I can tell you that the sound improvement is nothing less than terrific with the addition of a DDC.

That being said, adding a DDC depends greatly on what you streamer you plan to buy. If you're going to add low to mid priced $1,000/$1,500 units (think Eversolo, BlueSound, Topping, etc), then the DDC will be a great help. If you're looking more at the Aurender/Lumin/Innuous and their associated much higher cost, then you may find no need for a DDC.

There are hundreds if great reviews of the Pontus II DAC, and many thousands of satisfied customers. Do some reading to see if you like what they say. Best of luck on your search

The Pure Audio Lotus DAC 5 is within my budget. I will look into it. How good is the imaging? I am an imaging junkie and in a small room with the diminutive ProAc's imaging is a priority for me. 

@oddiofyl- Good advice. I definitely want to buy from a retailer that allows returns.

I tried both of the Denafrips mentioned but bought a Pure Audio Lotus DAC 5 as it was clearly superior. Even the Denafrips distributor indicated I would have to go to the Terminator to get the equivalent SQ

I'm hesitant to recommend any DAC.   It is something I would recommend auditioning at home.   I just sold my RME for $675,  a great DAC for the price .   Unlike other DACs it has a built in parametric EQ so it can sound how ever you like.    

Definitely listen to your current DAC and the one you are interested in side by side 

Not at all. A digital-to-digital converter, which initially sounds superfluous, but what it does is both re-clock the data and give you the option of using different inputs on your DAC. So if you feed the DDC a USB input from your streamer you now have the option of using superior AES/EBU or i2S outputs to your DAC. The benefit of this can vary depending on how the DAC’s inputs are designed, but in the case of my Pegasus the improvement of the DDC and going to i2S was substantial, and I’ve heard similar results from others who have the Pontus II. @vthokie83 can maybe attest to and expand on that. Incidentally the reviewer of the Pegasus also reviewed their Draco DAC and found very little difference sonically between it and the Pegasus and only costs $750 (but a current $38 coupon on Amazon knocks it down to only $712), so that and a DDC could be a relative bargain.

https://soundnews.net/sources/dacs/musician-audio-draco-r-2r-ladder-dac-review/

https://www.amazon.com/Musician-Draco-Entry-Level-Decoder-DSD1024/dp/B096S6HBQY/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2R4BYMIO9U0NQ&keywords=musician+draco+r2r+dac&qid=1696194343&sprefix=musician+draco%2Caps%2C701&sr=8-3&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.2b70bf2b-6730-4ccf-ab97-eb60747b8daf

Something worth thinking about is you could have a Draco and either a Pisces or Iris DDC for not much more than a Pegasus alone. Definitely an attractive option.

Too bad the Chord Hugo TT is out of my price range-looks real nice.

@oddiofyl- Which one is an improvement in your opinion? 

 @Soix-That Pegasus is definitely a contender. What is a DDC? Pardon my ignorance

I’d add the Musician Pegasus to your list as it does all the things you’re looking for very well. It comes from the same factory as the Pontus II and shares many of the same parts/technology, but the Pegasus seems to be a little more detailed up top than the Pontus (and probably a lot of other R2R DACs for that matter) that I thought might appeal to you given what you’re looking for. And at $1045 it’s considerably cheaper as well. Here’s a good review, and I own the Pegasus and think his assessment is spot on.

https://soundnews.net/sources/dacs/musician-audio-pegasus-r2r-dac-review/

I should also note you can get a significant performance boost by adding a DDC and utilizing the Pegasus’ i2S input.  I bought a used Iris and was surprised and impressed with how much the sound improved (and this using a $6 HDMI cable from Monoprice).  If it’s in the budget the benefits are such that I’d recommend getting the DDC right away, but if it’s not it’s definitely something to look forward to down the road.  Musician offers the similar Pisces that is likewise cheaper than the Iris.  Hope this helps, and best of luck.

I think you may find several of those mentioned a lateral move.    I had the RME , it's good no doubt but it is probably near the end of production .  I do know that they have no memory left for enhancements and the last Firmware revision is probably the last ...  

Can you stretch for the chord hugo TT?