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
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,920 posts
 

That’s a good price range for a DAC.
To me the A3 are slightly dark sounding. Used Chord DAVE should be nice with these speakers. So are the the DACs recommended by @ghdprentice above. Check the ARC DAC for compatible with your streamer if you’re planning on using USB.
Bricasti M1SE or M1SE2 used are very good DACs. 
But I really think the DAVE will be a nice match with the Magico A3 as it will bring out a bit more detail and breath more life into the presentation. 

soix
9,456 posts
 

Everything you’re saying would seem to point to a tubed DAC. The ARC mentioned above would be a solid choice, add I’ll add that Lampizator would be another brand to check out along with Holo. Best of luck.

sc53
719 posts
 

Look at a used Aqua Acoustics R2R DAC. I have the La Voce mk2 which was about $3200 a few years ago and it remains in my LR system. It is one of the best sounding DACs I have ever heard. R2R DACS=analogue sound

lnitm
143 posts
 

Mytek Manhattan makes a great dac with mqa in that price range and is Stereophile class A 

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,134 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.

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