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Sub $1000 DAC with AKM chip

Hi 

I don’t wish to start a heated debate but I’m looking for a DAC for my daughters system. Does anyone have a recommendation for an under $1000 DAC that uses an AKM chip? I have a Topping D90 with AKM that I like. It’s not my endgame DAC but it is substantially better than many I have tried before. I know that many like ESS, Burr Brown, Wolfson etc, but I would prefer to just hear opinions about AKM and I’d also like to stay away from a discussion about streamers (I’m also considering a Bluesound Node)…Hell, I might even get her an Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt since she is so iPhone-centric. She recently voiced her dissatisfaction with low fidelity and wants to hear music from better equipment so I’m giving her one of my integrated tube amps and a set of speakers. I don’t want to go nuts on this since she may ultimately find that hifi is not really as appealing as she imagined.

thanks all for your replies 

ccogopher

Showing 1 response by raam

raam
73 posts
 

I am a big fan of AKM and R2R DACs, my current DAC is the Topping E70 Velvet which uses two of the top line AKM chips and is a bit between the higher end ESS and most other in AKM DACs in a bit more I guess I could say lively sounding. I like horns and now building some OB speakers and will see how I like either one with the E70 V,  and tube, D and SS amps. I know I loved the horns with tubes and a good ESS DAC I used to run as well.

I think it good advice to look into a decent ESS DAC, find one used if you can, maybe find a used AKM, ESS and or R2R to compare, keep the  best, more fun and get to introduce your daughter to the hobby in a more engaging way:)

 

Rick

 

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