Rank the top reference DACs you've heard


Usually the battle goes between DCS Vivaldi set and MSB Select II.

However, since Swiss/Japanese (boutique level) DACs are usually out of reach, we rarely read about ultra high end DACs and where they fit with the rest of the league ($5000-$100,000) price range. 

There are other topologies and SOTA designs floating around, what comes to mind:
- new DCS (above Vivaldi) flagship to be announced
- Wadax Atlantis Reference
- Esoteric Grandioso D1X (Dual Mono)
- TotalDAC Twelve Mk2
- Lampizator Golden Gate 2
- Chord Dave+mscaler
- CH Precision C1+X1 (Dual Mono) 
- Soulution 760
- Aries Cerat Kassandra Ref
- Aqua La Scala mkII Optologic
- EMM Labs DV2/DA2

I mentioned flagship DACs only since the list will be bigger and we will lose focus of the subject. It is interesting to know some of us "lurkers" or who has reached audio nirvana with his choice of DAC and what did he it compare with. The more input we get, the clearer the big picture will be. 

Let's go!
128x128emerald

Showing 1 response by vinocour

Another Playback Designs fan here.The Dream Dac is out of my reach now, at my age the income is just no longer there. My current dac, the Playback Designs Merlot is my 4th dac and for now a keeper. Just the right balance of revealing details, harmonics, timbre, dynamic subtlety without being analytic or bright.

It was when I got the Merlot that I started forgetting to listen to my system because the music was so naturally present and engaging it kept "distracting" me. If it has a drawback, it is that poor recordings became so much more evident. I like the selection of inputs. I use usb from cashing server for best SQ, and usb from MacbookPro  to usb to spdif converter through digital coax to Merlot when you tube or other online sources call.