Relaxed/Analog sounding DAC for under $10k (used or new)

Thanks for the suggestions so far!

@chayro - I will look into that thread, thank you!

@veroguy - interesting, I have not heard of those. Will take a look!

@sls883 - I did get to hear the new LTA DAC at SWAF a few months ago. Sounded pretty nice and was pretty shocked at the low price point. BUT hard to fully critically evaluate a DAC at a hotel show setting.

@zlone - Will look into them. The DAC1 looks interesting.

@soix - Lampizator is great at the high end - I really like the Poseidon DAC but it's quite beyond my means! The 'lower end' Lampi model I have heard - the Baltic 4 - left things to be desired. I suppose, hearing the Poseidon first and then the Baltic, it's easy to just compare the two and just notice the shortfalls of the much cheaper model haha. Good to know about the LTA trial.

@glennewdick - the chord dave is a DAC I've seen mentioned a lot, but I admit I have not looked much into them. Will need to give it a look!

@larsman - The holo may has seen a lot of hype in the review landscape, but I can't say I've ever seen one on demo, though my show experiences are limited.

@benzman - yeah, that is what I've read about the T+A - it is best suited with DSD, where it can outperform more expensive DACs. I don't really have any intentions in trying to build a DSD library, since my digital chain is exclusively for streaming, so I'd rather have something that is tuned specifically to provide its 'best experience' with USB/PCM. It would feel a bit odd to buy a DAC at this price point and then use the lesser configuration, at least to me.

If you're looking for an analog-sounding type of DAC, Chord may not be the best fit for you. They are excellent DAC's, for sure, but not many will accuse them of having a relaxed, analog type of sound. I've had a Hugo II and I've had a DAVE, with and without an M-Scaler, and sold them both because I was looking for a more analog-y sound, too. But by all means give their gear a listen if you're able to audition it.  

Musical Fidelity M6X Dac. Not expensive. I like it better than the T+A Dac 200 I had. It's also the only Dac that uses the Sabre chip that I've really liked. You can get find it online with a return policy from Safe & Sound. Comes in black or silver. 

I would recommend listening to an Audio Research Reference DAC9. Be aware it does not do dsd. I was really shocked when I first heard it and have yet to hear a better sounding DAC although I have had better in my system. It is extraordinarily musical without losing detail.

I also have a DAC that does DSD and my current thinking, especially with streaming, is the overall sound of your system is by far the most important determinant of the sound… second is the mastering, third is the format, and finally trailing behind is the connection type.

So, I listen to a a lot of different albums. Sometimes I am struck by how great an album sounds. So I look, thinking, that must be a high def recording… seldom is it… it is just a well recorded red book resolution stream. My digital leg sounds the same as my really good analog leg, so the same observations apply.

Now the point of my system is to be musical and natural, image really well, naturally reproduce great bass, and be detailed. It is not to be detailed at all costs… strip away the midrange and enhance the treble to enhance the ability to hear detail. In this context… which sounds like your aim, consider a ARC Ref 9. You can buy used to get well below $10K.

Having owned several good dacs and hearing many great dacs at our multi state 

audio club ,having the Denafrips Terminator 2 ,hearing the Brand New 

Terminator 15 was very eye opening it easily surpassed the old model 

and on par or slightly better their their current plus .it sounds very accurate 

but with a Analog detailed but smooth nature and very articulate deep Bass for $6k 

a class leading product. https://www.denafrips.com/terminator