McIntosh MA7900 DA1 DAC vs. DA2 DAC vs. external


Is it worth upgrading my Mcintosh MA7900's dac from the DA1 to the DA2?

I've kinda been eyeing the Denafrips Pontus and the Chord Qutest. 

Any experience with this?
dtximages

Showing 3 responses by james633

I have not used the qutest but was interested in one at one point based on good experience with the mojo. 
Anyway doing research (reading not listening) I came to the conclusion that the benchmark DAC3 sounds very similar but has more detail. 
Having owned a DAC3 it is still the best dac I have used and I never should have sold it. I see a HPA4 and DAC3 in my future. 
I feel like the DAC3 has great bass. I know that sounds odd about a dac. But benchmark has a 30 day no questions asked return policy. You could try one with zero risk. 
Dtximages,

thanks, for the feed back. Always interested to hear about unknown speakers compared to a speaker I know a bit (Kef). I am not a big kef fan. I feel like they lack dynamics. I can see why people like them though. 
I have spent some time with a older pair of klipsch horns (no mods) that a friend inherited from his Dad. Fun speaker for sure.