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Most organic / real / analogue sounding DAC (ideally with Volume Control) for $1500??????

I’d say I’m completely jaded with digital Hifi.   All sounds so thin & clinical.

I people raving about Benchmark DACs & Chord Mojos etc. They sound like hell to me.   Nothing at all like real live voices & instruments.

I’ve been reading about R2R Ladders & NOS.   The descriptions match what I’m looking for.   I want natural sound that makes me forget about Hifi & just listen to the music.
like Reel to Reel without the faff.

Lifelike is my aim, but I certainly prefer a warm, dark sound over clinical.

Don't need a load of inputs.  Only need 2 or 3.
I don’t have any analog sources, so prefer the DAC to have Volume Control to eliminate the need for a Pre Amp.   However, if the best sounding DACs don’t have Volume Control & there are clear sonic benefits to having a Preamp, then I could be persuaded.

I’m in UK btw, so need brands that ship to UK.


Suggestions please?


Thanks

singintheblues

Showing 3 responses by fleschler

fleschler
1,922 posts
 
@jtcf Exactly. Maybe most of my well remastered CDs aren’t exactly analog-like in open, spacious sound, but they are intensely musical sounding. As to my historic (and 1000s of acoustic) 78s on CD, wow, they are better than I could have achieved using my 78 analog front end (VPI 19-4/Ultracraft/Grado 78 e/Marantz 7C).  I don't have the time to adjust speed/pitch and stylus size for each of those records.
fleschler
1,922 posts
 
@justmetoo  Very nice analog and comparable to what I hear from a VPI TNT VI, modified SME IV and Benz Ruby 3.  
fleschler
1,922 posts
 
I enjoyed the analog like sound of the EAR Acute for 14 years.  I recently replaced it with the COS Engineering D-2 DAC.  I already have an all tube audio system and I relish the added detail, dimension and dynamics of the COS and it isn't cheap.  Wonderful stepped resistor volume control and anti-jitter one second delay feature for music only, no delay for video.  I have 7,000 CDs, many great remastering with 25,000 LPs and usually not as well mastered.  I love analog when it's good but most of my CDs sound good to great as well.  So many mediocre LPs with great performances, many never to be transferred to digital CD or streaming.
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