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Looking for recommendations for a 'warm' sounding DAC

Would anyone know of a warm sounding DAC, budget to £2500/$3000 new or used. My ears don’t like a crisp and clinical sound, I find that Chord/dcs/Topping sound painful if loud. I know many love those crisp leading edges that these deliver but that sound does not synergise with my amp/speakers nor my sensitive ears. I know the easiest way to achieve this would be to switch speakers to a mellow speaker but this option is not available.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
128x128duckworp

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thebingster
27 posts
 
Agree 100% with Jackd. The Aqua La Voce S2 really warmed up my set-up (used it at the time with a Krell SA-400 Integrated into PMC Fact 12 speakers). Bought it used in the US (San Diego area dealer for about $2,700). It did wonders. Later sent it back to Italy through my dealer for a $1,000 upgrade to S3 (which sells for $5,000 last I checked). Since then, I was able to get my hands on a DarTZeel LHC integrated with built in DAC which bested the Aqua S3, but not by much.

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