I can't speak for your system, but I've heard two different tube DACs in my system. [My preamp and amp are both made by Don Sachs. My speakers are Daedalus Audio Apollos.] The two DACs were a Lampizator Atlantic with volume control and my SW1X Audio Design DAC III STD. CD quality music from an Oppo 103 and/or streamed via TIDAL was used to compare them, so no DSD or high res music.
Both DACs reproduced music beautifully. There was no brightness; no overly warm midrange, acoustic instruments had that delicious 'in the room' sound that seems so hard to attain with lesser DACs.
Neither of these DACs hindered or colored the music as far as the listeners could tell. Oh. I ought to mention we compared them during a couple G2Gs, so it wasn't just my biased ears declaring MY DAC IS BEST! LOL! That said, I felt that the SW1X DAC III beat out the much more expensive Atlantic by a few hairs. The Atlantic owner preferred his over mine. [Both of us felt the Atlantic benefited from having my D Sachs Model 2 connected rather than relying on the Atlantic's volume control.] The other listeners were split more or less evenly between the two. Everyone was delighted.
Finally, my SW1X DAC replaced a dB Audio Labs Tranquility SE NOS DAC that I had been quite content with. The Tranquility sounds a little flat if I add it back in to compare against the SW1X DAC. It's taken up residence in my headphone system (to my delight).
I have no clue how either of these DACs might sound in your system. I concur with the other poster who suggested trying different tube DACs in your system in order to best determine which is the best fit for your ears and your wallet.
Good luck; enjoy the journey.
Michael
Both DACs reproduced music beautifully. There was no brightness; no overly warm midrange, acoustic instruments had that delicious 'in the room' sound that seems so hard to attain with lesser DACs.
Neither of these DACs hindered or colored the music as far as the listeners could tell. Oh. I ought to mention we compared them during a couple G2Gs, so it wasn't just my biased ears declaring MY DAC IS BEST! LOL! That said, I felt that the SW1X DAC III beat out the much more expensive Atlantic by a few hairs. The Atlantic owner preferred his over mine. [Both of us felt the Atlantic benefited from having my D Sachs Model 2 connected rather than relying on the Atlantic's volume control.] The other listeners were split more or less evenly between the two. Everyone was delighted.
Finally, my SW1X DAC replaced a dB Audio Labs Tranquility SE NOS DAC that I had been quite content with. The Tranquility sounds a little flat if I add it back in to compare against the SW1X DAC. It's taken up residence in my headphone system (to my delight).
I have no clue how either of these DACs might sound in your system. I concur with the other poster who suggested trying different tube DACs in your system in order to best determine which is the best fit for your ears and your wallet.
Good luck; enjoy the journey.
Michael