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Looking for a vinylesk sounding DAC

I cannot say I wasn’t satisfied with my system.

Laptop (Quobuz Studio) - > Schiit Bifrost 2 - > Ocellia Reference RCA - > Werner Acoustics, Selene (active tube preamp using two VT-231 from RCA) - > passive preamp - > Ocellia Reference RCA - > First Watt F6 dual mono custom built - > HEDD Audio’s "Heddphone" / Hifiman HE 4

From the beginning I started to built it I had a quite concrete idea of what it should sound like in the end: vinylesk without using vinyl. It took me a while to get there and now I really thought I got it: Due to the F6 the outcome is brutally powerful and incredibly fast while the tube stage adds lots of body, depth and a rich organic undertone. Finally the RCA’s from Ocellia were adding the fine raffinement and a nice holographic soundstage. Nothing smears, in just every situation everything stays transparent, well controlled/articulated and the separation is just excellent.

BUT when listening to streamed vinyl I still feel the need for action - I just want EVERY track from quobuz to sound like this. Please take just some seconds and listen to this:

https://musicandvinyl.blogspot.com/2020/08/haruomi-hosono-from-aegean-sea.html?m=1

There is just MORE elasticity, MORE tonal density, MORE plankton, MORE concentration to the point, MORE light-footedness and MORE palpability (compared to a "disdainful" quobuz stream). Do you know what I mean?

I still think and hope a new dac could be the nirvana-solution. But which one would manage the job to sound just like vinyl (99% would be ok...)?

Happy to hear your suggestions!
barrista0611

Showing 1 response by nordicnorm

nordicnorm
313 posts
 
To get an analog sounding system, go with all tubes in your chain.

The  Schiit Bifrost 2 is a very decent entry-level DAC. I used to own one. A Lampizator would give you a significant improvement, but also at a significantly increased cost.

The Doge 7 DAC (at ~$1,400 new) would be a good choice that is (cost wise) in between the Schiit and Lampi.

Disclosure: I had owned the Doge 8 preamp at one point and was impressed with its performance, although it is highly susceptible to tube rolling. To improve on it, I ended up replacing it with a Croft RIAA phonostage and a Don Sachs linestage (at 3x the cost).

As for amps, I am partial to tubed monoblocks personally. Tons to choose from, and in every budget range.

Good luck in your search.
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