What the Best Dac have you heard or owned. How could you tell it was that good.


I wondered what’s the best sounding dac you have heard or owned. What did it do that the others didn’t. 

calvinj

+1 phantom_av.  I find the Aeries Cerat Hele’ne captivating.  It’s not just the wonderful sound and large soundstage but the Hele’ne has rhythm and pace like analog.  I have not heard a lot of DACs in my home; but when I put the Hele’ne in my system I knew it was a keeper.

@tomic601 

A boat is just a tool for chasing fish

Agree 100%, grew up a couple of miles from Seal Beach, CA and spent every available minute fishing and surfing off Seal Beach and Huntington Beach piers.  Now freshwater.

@carlsbad2 

@jetter Not sure why you disagree with me and then provide your own evidence why it is in the ditch.

Not intentional, my bad phrasing.  Incidentally, I spent latter years working for largest power company in VT.  We built VYNPC, now long decommissioned. 

@mahgister 

Sorry it is stronger than me, i am retired and my job was to coach students readings...

Take it well for my book advice i was very good at my job...A not very high job in the "pecking order"... But I miss it ...

Honestly, I'm sure you have had a huge, positive impact on people's lives in their formulative years and beyond and are very proud of it as you should be.  I am stunned at your memory.  

@calvinj 

I am one who thinks having manufacturers, dealers and retailers post here is a positive thing with the caveat that they clearly identify as such.  I was just surprised that you were one as I had admittedly skimmed over a lot of your posts and never quite noticed. 

@kairosman 

Let's not agree to disagree.

 

@calvinj 

Please do keep us in the loop on your search.  My digital side is pretty much an over site on my system, mainly because the learning curve is steep.  I just use the DAC on my Esoteric K-03XD (a lovely CD transport, mechanically), and a Lumin U1 streamer.  This is actually excellent but room for improvement exists.

FWIW, I’m extremely interested in the Nagra HD DAC X and nearly pulled the trigger just based on my ownership of the Nagra HD preamp, which is shockingly good.  I also did a shoot out between the Nagra HD phono and many other phono preamps and it ended up in the top 3, losing out purely on my subjective taste. Long way of saying, I almost bought the DAC unheard just due to experience with other products.  I also like the idea of tubes on the digital side for reasons I can’t logically explain.

Id be particularly interested if you get one of the MSB products, the Mola mola, or the Weiss.  I will admit I’m not in love with the Weiss chipset.  The MSBs get stupid in price and can cost the same as a mid tier Range Rover, but their middle products seem to have most of their features   So in my musings, the Mola Mola is the leader, but I’ve literally never heard any of them, except the MSB and it was in a friends house during a party and less than ideal listening circumstances.

@jetter I left Audiogon years ago.  I started to post more recently since we got back from pandemic.  I only started on the business side by happenstance. Hans Looman of Infigo flew from Canada to my house 5 years ago after I assisted another company at an audio show.  He told me about this amp he had been developing for the last 7 years. I was dismissive at first so he flew down I invited 15 friends over and it proceeded to blow my the amp in my system to smithereens.  First I was surprised that he flew to Dallas and I thought so much of him I decided to work with him.  That’s how I ended up working with his company.  I did it because I saw he was innovative smart and was a good person.  But more than that I believed in the product and it gave amazing sound.  Man I know so guys come here to sell sell sell. I don’t have to. I have a regular career where I have represented nba players and others etc.  I do this because I’m an audiophile that’s excited about what I’m hearing. That’s all. Thanks for your response brother. 

T+A DAC 200. Probably end game DAC for me given my modest system and my age. I have had lesser units but never at or above its retail price. I’m a used market guy and for what I paid for the 200 was a steal in my mind. I have a pretty good tt and cart which has been the standard for comparing DACs. Besides blowing away the other DACs, the 200 now has me questioning what’s wrong with the tt/cart?! It’s that good on soundstage, voice, bass, etc. System is Hegel 590; Innous Zenith mk3/phoenix usb: Magico A3 (No subs). Tt is VPI/transfiguration cart.