What does your DAC sound like


I’m in the market for a newly used DAC, based on reviews I’m considering the playback designs Merlot, Vermeer, Grimm mu2. I prefer a well balanced sound more analog like. I hoping that user experiences with these dacs OR others that might fit the bill will respond 

 

cheers 

dvdgreco

I still have a Denafrips Pontus ll.  It’s been everything I’ve wanted in a DAC. R2R for this guy.

Maybe someday I’ll move up the line.

Hello dvdgreco!  Emotiva makes a remarkable deck for the $$. Very smooth and musical. I'm a musician and know how instruments really sound. I've bought and listened extensively to Sony, a couple of  those bug named thumb drive sized plug ins, SMSLs, Meridian, Pre Box, and quite a few others. I really liked the Sony, but when I tried the Emotiva (there is only one model) -  wow, clear winner! I use a homebrew passive preamp, Starke Sound power amp (highly recommended) and Magnepan LRS (and LRS+) with crossovers from GRS labs and DIY subs. Super transparent. On the Messiah recording from the Belgian orchestra with four German soloists, you can tell the wall behind the orchestra is made of bricks. That's transparent! If you can spend thou$ands on DACs, spend it on cruise tickets to places where you can hear lots of live music. Keep smiling!

I got the Denafrips Venus2 12th (R2R) which i got a couple of years ago, is still my got to DAC. It sounds analog like to me as compared to my previous Chord  QuTest and I find it better to my taste as compared to the Holo Dac KTE.

The Holo Dac is very good, but just a matter of taste. either one is a winner.

I dunno, it sounds like it sounds I guess.  It's the DA2 in my McIntosh C2800.  I like it.

Grimm MU2 here.  - it’s hard to isolate the DAC specifically since it’s a combination of streamer, DAC, Preamp, but it’s clearly a step or two above my prior combination id separates, which I absolutely loved, that included a Sonnet Pasithea DAC. And for reference, I had no desire to upgrade my DAC. I love the Pasithea. My move was made to get a preamp that accepted analog inputs and simplify in the process. I didn’t expect the upgrade SQ I got. 

The MU2 It is very musical, transparent, and analog sounding.