2. digital
  3. 188020-162022

What’s the best DAC < 6k (system specific)

I have a decent DAC built into my SS integrated amp but think I can do better with a stand-alone. I’m looking for accuracy, definition and sound stage. Emphasis on sound stage. I have few vinyl albums and find that the ones that sound really good are quite expensive. So, trying to improve the streaming to it brings or approximates that magical HQ vinyl sound. Maybe I’m chasing a red herring but, from what I read, there are some boxes out there that can come darn close. Has anyone compared the Holo May KTE with the T+A DAC 200 or similarly priced products? I know the T+A is a little more but I don’t mind used too. I went from Border Patrol SEi to Ayre Codex to Ayre QB9 Twenty. When I changed my Pass Int 60 amp to one with built in DAC, I thought it sounded better than the QB 9. Actually the QB 9 had more detail than the amp DAC. However, Using the new amp’s (Hegel 590) DAC bypass, to my ear, the QB9 is somewhat fatiguing during extended sessions so, I’m using the smoother, marginally less detailed Hegel built in DAC. There are no places to demo equipment near me so, I have heretofore depended on forums such as this for decisions, of wihich have been very satisfactory thus far. I love pure jazz sounds like the guitar plucked from the fingers of Bill Frisell and John Schofield; the edgy sound of a tenor saxophone; the sultry female voices of Melody Gardot, Chantal Chamberlain and others. Enjoy classic rock as well.

My system:

Hegel 590 Integrated Amp+DAC

digital streamer pis Innuos Zenith MK3 with Innous Phoenix reclocker (strmg Qobuz)

analog is VPI Classic/Transfiguration Axia cart into Parasound JC3+
Magico A3 spkrs w/Audio Sensibility Statement cables.

I was using Audio Sensibility Statement silver interconnects for the QB 9 which I still have to use with a stand-alone.

I know that good sound is more often a matter of taste. However, I am still interested in the opinions of others in this forum and welcome yours if you have one.

Thanks in advance.

hysteve

Showing 4 responses by audioman58

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,866 posts
 

Without any doubt I have heard most everything out there 

and Ithe T+A 200 dac buying a demo,or decent discount you can buy one 

I have not found Any dac even at 2x the price that is better i a currently saving for one but have 2 friends that own one ,it is special ,it is very natural and nothing 

in your face and plenty of depth of 8mage and texture , check out the reviews in print and you tube tthe closest in price the Holosprings may KTE,and Denafrips terminator + 12th , but are not on this level. 

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,866 posts
 

Yes in fact I am buying the T+A 200 after taxes ,our multi state audio club 

we have had compared 6 dacs upto $15k 8nclud8ng the mola mola 

and chord David ,Denafrips terminator 12+, holomay KTE 

Lascala top dac and new Meitner  Briscati21

the T+A had not only the most natural balance but built in HQ player and several settings for it which is a powerful program if you want to learn it to tune your system  even better and built into the back end of Roon , and has a separate R2R for DSD 

Also the separate preamp section is a excellent if you wanted to use it pure class A and totally descreet circuit ,the whole unit is galvanically isolated, internally I have never seen a dac this high tech totally different then the competition and uses 8-BB dac chips to lower the noise floor further similar in that sence to the great Accuphase in think#78 it’s not real big only around 14 pounds ,the dual meters too are useful and have 3 settings it’s a steal and ifyou shop around you can get15% off ,upscale audio  had a demo unit  for $6200 just last week we had a 2 day event .that’s what’s cool about hav8ng the time and don’t mind driving state to state,

I have heard some excellent systems way out out of my paygrade but Audio is fun.

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,866 posts
 

I pin my multi state audio get togethers it’s been unanimous the T+A 200 dac-preamp by a large amount is better then Not only Anything  in its price class 

but betters most anything  at 2x it’s price ,find a dealer where you can audition one .I am currently saving for one and over 11 people that have listened to it bought it

and that’s against Anything under $12k  just in the north east that has heard it ,that is saying a lot no BS or hype even the preamp section  is excellent !!

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,866 posts
 

The HQ player for the T&A 200 dac is a true statement 

it has several algorithms built in ,as an option to use if you want to incorporate HQ player to Taylor the sound to your taste ,and it’s built into the back end of Roon

even Innuos now except it , my friend owns one There fore what I am stated is true.

It is  a built in Option, Your choice ,and the program is around $200 and you have to have extra HD space and minimum 8 mgs of ram 16 preferred.

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