The best I've heard is the Wadax Reference in Mike Lavigne's system, and prior to that, the MSB Select 2.
In my System, the Rockna Wavedream Signature was a huge step up from all DACs I had heard previously.
Both Mike's digital and mine make me feel that from a sound quality standpoint, I could easily live without vinyl. I don't think I'll ever step away from vinyl though, as for me it is a much more involving experience.
I was frankly quite anxious about hearing the Wavedream for the first time as I thought my digital was already really good and I really stretched my budget to acquire it. I was afraid there wouldn't be much difference.
Thankfully, the differences were immediately and dramatically noticeable. Dynamics in particular were in another league, the music was so much fuller and vibrant, but things like detail, neutrality, and soundstage also improved noticeably.
Some people post stuff they have never heard. I actually let people demo our cables at Infigo. There are 5 people demoing as we speak. So I let you try before you buy. You be the judge in your own system. BOBBY BOOSHAY SHOULDNT BE TELLING YOU WHAT TO BUY OR NOT BUY TRY FOR YOURSELF AND TRUST YOUR OWN EARS.
@wsrrswyes. At the reference level it becomes a personal taste thing. I like smooth but detailed without being analytical and that’s the best way to describe my dac and personal preferences.
@shkong78thanks for the compliment. I like my method 4 because it is smooth but still gets the detail and is still transparent. Because of my listening preferences I listen to a lot of jazz with horns cymbals and pianos 75% of the time. My method 4 does this in spades and does it with the needed speed because of the music. Thanks for your input on this.
Dave (Farad 3 linear power supply and Mscaler (fed by linear supply) 90
Ideon Ion 89
Wells Audio Cipher Dac II 88
After spending one week with Dave modified with Farad 3 power supply, I upgrade its score from 87 to 90.
I had listened to Infigo Dac during Pacific Audiofest 2022 and 2023.
It is hard to give score due to not optimal show condition.
But it sounds smooth and creamy to me.
If I give tentative score to Infigo Dac it would be around 93.
During recent visit to Mike Lavigne's home, I confirm that Wadax is still shoulder above other Dacs but not within reach of most folks due to high price.
@metaldetektorno problem my man. It’s cool I understand that. I love the hobby first. I stumbled into working with Infigo. He blew my last Dac out the water after a. Home audition. I like people that push the limits to what’s possible. I also like people in our hobby that push stuff to get better. So I understand your points. But I’m an audiophile first. Either way the proof is in the ears and eventually you gotta show and tell through performance. I’m going to do a second system probably using a 2-3k Vienna acoustics or sonus faber speaker using my old kr audio va900 integrated and a Dac.
@wootsthanks funny thing you said about the Netherlands. The Infigo Dac designer Hans Looman is from the Netherlands. I will try to get my ear on a Nagra as a reference point. I’ve heard good stuff about them.
OP - understood, apologies if I came off as harsh. I believe in full disclosure and that those with a professional interest can and should comment but should always disclose their industry interests.
On your question, best I’ve owned is the Nagra Tube Dac. It’s a case study in implementation - you can get newer digital but it’s hard to find better implemented power supplies / analog output stage...that stuff does not get old. It does deserve a proper preamp and good server / transport.
I own the Grimm MU1as my streamer and who is also a Nagra dealer. You may actually want to demo the new MU2 which is a dac/streamer/roon endpoint all in one. I run Roon through my whole house via the MU! and it is flawless. Having worked at Phillips in my prior life, the guys from the Netherlands were some of the original team that worked with Sony on the cd player originally. So, these guys really "get it". There was a recent article/review on the MU2 that was outstanding so it is worth a look it. I'm not sure if Grimm is going to be at Axpona but I'm sure one of their dealers will be. Keep me posted on your progress and let me know what you decide to get.
@mahler123 my current dac is going to glory with me. It gets to a point after 20 years where I’m gonna sit and listen. Enjoying the music is most important to me. Any upgrade at this point probably not worth it for me. I have 55k front end and 25k in speakers and subs. My stuff has great synergy. Time to sit back and enjoy. However, some of us are forever curious!
Tbh I haven’t auditioned a new DAC for a couple of years except at Axpona last year, and I find it hard t make conclusions about anything in a show environment. Is it possible that given the nature of trickle down technology, it is possible now that a $2K DAC might be equal to a $10 K DAC from a few years ago? The chips are bound to be less expensive as newer ones come out. For $2K the designer can still do a decent power supply and other quality aspects of implementation. Just wondering
Also everyone depending on your system you don’t have to spend a whole lot of money on a dac to be happy. For some folks it’s going to synergy. Some of the companies have really put out some great stuff at lower price points. Also we are at all different places in this hobby. Growth and Finances and on what we are willing to spend. There are also trade offs in our systems
@mapmani had a buddy that borrowed a dcs for a long audition and in his system he didn’t like it. He currently owns a chord Dave. I think it might me a preference or a system thing. Sometimes it’s synergy as well as what you listen to and for in some peoples systems.
@wootsthe Nagra is also on my lists of dacs I want hear in an extended listening session just for a reference to see how it sounds into comparison to what I own. I’m going to try to see if anyone at Axpona will be using to see if I can check it out even though we will be showing there I would love to hear how it sounds.
@kairosman@vthokie83i want to hear that lampizator as well. I’m going to see if I can check one out at Axpona or the Capitol Audiofest if someone brings one I would love to hear it. I used to be a tube guy. I’m going to hear a dcs in a home listening room environment in July.
@wsrrswseems interesting. The Infigo method 4 has about 6 or 7 filters. It uses the ess 9038 Sabre dac chip. Our designer used to work for the sister company of the brother that invented the chip. I usually listen with the apodizing filter which takes limits the pre and post ringing of notes that can cause ear fatigue. The dac does detail extremely well without sounding analytical. I haven’t had a chance to hear a Weiss dac. Sounds interesting though.
@magnumanim not going to argue with you. You have been coming on these threads for years with the same ofc junk wire talk and 999999 talk saying you know how to design cables. We actually let people demo cables to see for themselves before they buy. This thread isn’t about cables it’s about dacs. Please don’t fire bomb this thread too. I would appreciate if you would stay on topic. You are part of the reason I left Audiogon. Just trolling. Move on plaease. Let’s get back on topic.
@calvinjThe Weiss is feature rich (with presets) including a vinyl filter that I have feathered in just a bit. Skipping all the usual superlative verbage excepting it punches above it’s price using it along with the Grimm MU1 doesn’t make me wish for anything more.
The AES/EBU connection is key between DAC & Streamer. As I said above there are many variables in the whole system/room making DAC judgement preference not the be all and end all y’all.
@vthokie83sold my Terminator II for a Lampizator Baltic 4, for me in my system it is more accurate for tone/timber/pitch and more resolution, bigger soundstage. Tube rolling and cable swapping can tweak the sonics substantially, for better or worse of course lol.
Best DAC I've ever heard is either Denafrips Terminator Plus, both in my system and in a friend's system I know really well. Would love to hear a Lampizator though
@audioman58i was using Ansuz cables. They make a great cable. Very clear and clean. I have my infigo cables all through. Even in my streamer power supply connection. Everything matters once you get to a certain level. Sounds like he has an expensive system. Believe me it doesn’t take much to spend a lot of dough on stuff
The DCS Rossini Apex is a slid step up from the older model yes it is worth the upgrade considering he received $20 k on the 2 year old one it just brings out Everything in the recording ,and does it with amazing naturalness .
I do want to mention cables do matter .he is using Ansuz cables Ethernet switch And D series line conditioner and A $5k switch and cables. And AAvic 580 integrated Amp,and 280 streamer.above my pay grade , but a revelation to me .
his New Borrensen X series Cryo floorstanders just dissapear into the room .
Sadly I am just working on upgrades but never to his $$ standards.
@dwest1023i understand I thought I was done 5 years ago then I went dine the rabbit hole for the last time. I’m done at this point. My audio is worse than a car hobby for some people.
@maghister. I been blessed to be able to get the stuff I have. It’s not for everyone. Music is my hobby and my joy listening to it at its finest is the pursuit I’ve taken on. For some I spent too much but for me my Friday Saturday and Sunday nights are filled with hours of musical joy the way I wanna hear it. When I started 20 years ago I thought I would never pay X amount for anything. Well I have worked hard. I have a great career in my outside audio life and I’m going enjoy it while I’m still an amongst the living. You don’t have to spend what I spent to be happy. I just want everyone to enjoy what they have and experience hearing as much as you can at all levels take care.
First good dac I have had and have kept the longest, was the schitt Yggy. I have owned all the Denafrips DACs up to the terminator 12th. I purchased the Holo. Springs May KTE. Done. Added a aurender N20 streamer, done. Better seems to never stop so I’m stopping.
@magnumani left. Audiogon a few years ago. But if I’m correct I think you have changed your name several times. I’m not sure but you seem to be the odd copper 99.99999 guy who responds like that all the time and talks cables all the time. If I’m wrong then I apologize. But I recognize the way you talk and the things you say. Part of the reason I didn’t post on Audiogon anymore because of the constant following and posting on stuff that I would post and pretty soon there would be about 20-30 responses by you alone. If you are not that guy then I apologize but the language you use is similar. Anyway. Anyone who wants to meet me and discuss anything in person. I will be at Axpona in April. Dallas in June and at the Capitol Audiofest in November. Yes I do sell cables so I’m not hiding that. But I would love to meet any of you to learn about equipment music etc. this hobby is fun for me not trying to argue with folks about this and that.
Anyone who is in the Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana areas. We will be at THE LONE STAR AUDIO FEST IN DALLAS TEXAS JUNE 7-9. Come out and listen to some music and meet me. The lone Star Audiofest is more of a hobbyist show but I will have my home system there. I love to talk audio and find out about new music. What equipment you are running and your journey in Audio. Please come out. Would love to listen to some tunes and learn more about other people’s systems. I have some Gato Speakers no affiliation to them. Infigo audio Method 6 amp. Method 4 Dac. I’m affiliated with them. I use a little homemade server with a power supply. Come check us out and bring some tunes you wanna hear.
@metaldetektorit just is so I answered the question. I’m going to be going out to hear a DCS stack in July. I mainly do the cable side of Infigo. I just wondered how people thought about the dacs they owned. I just heard the esoteric N01XD I thought it sounded great. I’m a hobbyist first. I been doing this 20 years. I’ve heard a lot of stuff so I’m allowed to give my opinion. Most of the guys here know I work with Infigo. So it is what it is. I get to hear a lot of stuff because of the shows and my audiophile friends. Just because I do work don’t mean I can’t comment etc. I enjoy talking to fellow audiophiles. I’m also going to build a second less expensive system using my Kr audio va 900 as the tube intergrated. I’m looking for a cheaper dac to possibly pair with it and a pair of Vienna acoustics speakers. Try to find something in the 2-5k range that’s really good.
An inexpensive Topping E30 is the only separate DAC I’ve ever owned. I hooked it up to a nearly 30 year old Denon CD player, and it simply sounded clearer to me compared to the built in DAC in the Denon. Along with clarity comes a host of other descriptors. I can say that it’s not at the level of my vinyl setup overall, but it’s good and that’s partially recording dependent. Now I’m curious what the next DAC step up might sound like. 😎
I used to want a tube dac. But there is always tube noise. My infigo method 4 has a low noise floor. Great detail soundstage and image placement. It’s expensive but delivers. I went from a Resonessence Mirus pro to a soulutions 540 to the Infigo Method 4. It’s a 35k Dac. Went up against the dcs -Weiss - msb- lampizator etc. It does the trick for me. I’m basically done. So full disclosure. I do work for them. I started after I heard the dac. I was sold on it. So I started working for them. SO BEFORE ANYONE SAYS ANYTHING. I have my own business I do audio as an additional hobby/ business. I’m a hobbyist first. I been blessed. I have worked for other companies and it has allowed me to try a lot of stuff near a lot of dacs and Amps and speakers. I recently had along demo of the Esoteric N01xd I was impressed with it as well. I owned the LUMIN s1 it was good but too warm for my taste. It didn’t get up in the air enough. I will be going out to hear a DCS stack in July and I’m excited to see how that is going to go.
I’ve had a few DACs over the years. My latest, a Mola Mola Tambaqui is my end game in terms of quality vs price. A great sounding DAC that involves you in the music.
but I have heard their 3 box$100k setup which is great but Waay over priced.
to be totally honest the T+A 200 dac $7200 retail ,I still am saving for ,having built a addition to the house and now have to do many upgrades and landscaping has destroyed my plan by over a year,being married sometimes many compromises at times.The T+A 200 dac Per value and sonics by many The best dac under $15k I stand behind this .
please note to obtain these results you need a quality LPS from the router
linear tube audio by far the Best Buy at $700 with excellent DC cable to router,
then 2 quality Ethernet cables the most important cable without question is at the end point. In between a solid Ethernet switch . I only spent $600 the lhy sw8 bar none gives the most value vs anything under $1k , a $3k Ansuz is far better still.
best Ethernet cable bargain as good or better then my $1300 AQ Diamond in many areas
Sablon $400 and nothing in that class better at this price. Everything in the Chain counts .I still have a system to go but the quests continues.I am hoping to upgrade my entire system within the next year. Having owned a Audio store I have made lots of contacts and go to many audio clubs and get togethers getting more and paying much less $$ is now paramount being older and hopefully wiser. For $50k I can can now build a very good system that 5years ago would be over $100 k.
to me That is progress. The Denmark audio group has fantastic products.
the Borrensen X line is exceptional .the x3 Loudspeaker is on my very short list
their X1 monitor for $5500 exceptional by any standard. Their new budget Axxiss line for $5500 dac,streamer 100wpc integrated and up to a 2T SS hd astounding much better then it should for its price point.. Class D technologies have come a long way. AAviv is their upper line.theI280 integrated is the sweet spot in their line up I hope this helps others looking for not only digital but the other factors needed to getting digital to sound at it’s best.
I owned many Ayre products -Codex, QB 9 Twenty, as well as much of the Schiit line. I got very lucky and scored a Brinkmann Nyquist II used.
The QB9 is plenty good, but the Brinkmann is just has that little bit of clear sparkle. I honestly didn't want to spend that much, but got tired of just making little jumps up in fidelity. Now I have my grail DAC.
OP, you work for Infigo Audio. Bit disingenuous (but par for the course here I suppose) for you to ask your question and then answer with the brand you work for.
The Weiss Dac 501 is excellent. So are all their products. The minute it was on was a wow. (The 501 is also a Roon endpoint.) That's how I knew.. or was the streamer or something else?
The Grimm MU2 (I have not heard yet) looks to be an excellent one box solution.
For the kind of money needed to acquire upper DAC's and streamers for a fraction of the cost room treatment and vibration control would be more revealing. Then the DAC, streamer or sound would make yah quake.
After years with the built-in DAC in our tube Jolida JD100 CD player and decades with our Quad amp/pre-amp, we bought an Audio Note Cobra tube integrated and started using its DAC with the same Jolida tube player. Light years in difference in detail! We then splurged and purchased an AudioNote CD 3.1x/II player with its built in DAC. Again, light years ahead of the DAC in the Audio Note integrated amp, and got bonuses of tighter bass, specific sound stage placements of instruments, and amazing sound at low volume. We could A/B every stage with our Quad ESL-57s, and the differences were dramatic. We are now set. I can't imagine any better.
I have the WYRED4sound 10th anniversary DAC I bought it because one of the reviewers put it up against his VPI turntable with a $5,000 Japanese cartridge and he said the 10th anniversary DAC was every bit as analog, on that review I bought it and I wholeheartedly agree this is the most analog DAC I've had in my system, one of the other reviewers put it up against his$9,000 COS1 DAC and he said the 10th anniversary DAC was better and then he put it up against Bricasti, chord and other more expensive d a c s and he said the 10th anniversary DAC was better, and they also give you a 30-day trial period if you don't like it send it back and get your money back can't beat that, after you hear this one you won't be needing $30,000 DACS.
I haven’t spent a ton of money on DAC’s. So I know there’s really good ones above my price point. But I bought a Black Ice tube DAC at $900. Replaced the power chord with a Pine Tree iso-braid power cable, and the game changer for me was purchasing 2 NOS Amperex Bugle Boys (12ax7) for the output tubes. I’ve got the magic of tubes along with many other superlatives. I’m good for now!
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