DAC technology keeps moving in leaps and bounds.
I, too, love Steve's work, but I think the DAC stuff isn't as much his specialty.
One of the best DAC's for the money, IMHO, is the Ayre Codex, which you can find used for around $1K.
The other would be the Schiit Gungnir or Yggy. A bit harder to find used (with current upgrades), but worth the money.
Like Ayre, Schiit provides upgrades to their equipment when they find it makes a significant difference.
Bob
I, too, love Steve's work, but I think the DAC stuff isn't as much his specialty.
One of the best DAC's for the money, IMHO, is the Ayre Codex, which you can find used for around $1K.
The other would be the Schiit Gungnir or Yggy. A bit harder to find used (with current upgrades), but worth the money.
Like Ayre, Schiit provides upgrades to their equipment when they find it makes a significant difference.
Bob