Most Extensive State-of-the-Art DAC Survey Ever!

Not saying my vinyl and CDs are lacking but the streamer takes it even higher. BTW, now using bluos with Quobuz since I have given up on Tidal's MQA. All that to say how this streaming journey has reached such incredible levels with such a reasonable setup and in such short time. Used to be that on this site, analog ruled, but it is evident that the tide is changing. And if you haven't yet tried the digital streaming world, you owe it to yourself to do so asap. I once said I wouldn't and I am a living proof of how wrong I was.

@baylinor Good onya for keeping an open mind in giving streaming a fair shot and that you’re now reaping the considerable benefits of doing so.  There’d be many more happy audiophiles out there if they too could manage to get their head outta the sand and give streaming a try.  Also, congrats on ditching Tidal and its invasive and intrusive MQA crap and discovering Qobuz.  I switched a couple years ago and am so happy I did. 

Unless you’ve got FU $$$ and are ok with throwing it out the window, spending $30k+ on a DAC that could be matched or surpassed in performance in 5 years by a $2000 DAC is insane to me.  Assuming that timeframe you would’ve spent $6000+ per year to own one of these DACS and then it’s a highly-depreciated audio boat anchor.  No thanks.  A more mature technology like turntables, yeah I can get more behind that, but in this rapidly evolving era of DAC/electronics technological innovations — no thanks. 

Nice brief synopsis of DACs I will never own.  Think I could live happily ever after with a Terminator + or maybe even a Gustard R26 while having a lightly-used Porsche Cayman or 911 in my garage for the same price as some of these DACs, but I’m kinda silly that way.