2. digital
  3. 137101-99773

DAC Selection

I listen to vinyl mostly, but with my recent speakers upgrade I found digital sounding quite good and have been thinking to invest in a better DAC. I use tube gear - tube preamp, SET mono blocks, etc. I am using big full range 3-way speakers, highly efficient, very dynamic, going almost flat down to 20Hz. Most of the gear I use is either DIY or highly upgraded commercial products with exotic parts. The DIY products are all built by me, either from kits or from well-known simple and good sounding schematics. Listen to all kind of music but mostly jazz and blues. 

Looking to get the best DAC I can for my system. My budget is $6K. I can try building one myself, buy a kit, or get a commercial product. Besides building one myself, three DACs have caught my eye:

  • PS Audio DirectStream DAC
  • Schiit Audio Yggdrasil 
  • Audio Note Kits DAC 5.1

I have listened to several DACs and found the Analogue Devices chips to sound more musical in my system than the newer Sabre chips. But that could be due to the DAC implementation rather than the chip itself... Never heard an FPGA DAC like the one from PS Audio. The Audio Note Kit looks great in terms of design, components, and quality, but I would never know how it sounds until I build it, so can’t really audition and return if I don’t like it like I can do with the other products on my list. 

Another idea going through my head is to try building one myself - get the cleanest regulated power, the best digital section I can find, and a high-quality analog section with the best components available. And I might end up with a very high-end DAC. But again, you invest a lot of money, not knowing what the end result would be.

Some days I wish I could not solder. With all the choices we have, it is already so difficult to make decisions, and when you add DIY in the picture you make the decision making process a lot worse. And when you open a commercial product that costs $5,000 and find parts for $450, that makes you think really hard if you spent your hard-earned money the best possible way. But let’s not go there… I am happy to spend $6K for a PS Audio DirectStream DAC if I am convinced that’s my best option. And I will certainly audition that 


Any comments, suggestions, recommendations? 


nenon
melm
1,057 posts
 
"What I learned here is that there are as many opinions as people."

Why should DACs be any different than any other component?

What you write suggests that the Terminator may have QC problems, or that it may not not interact well with certain other components in front or in back of it.

I am an analog guy who never before found a satisfactory DAC at a price I wanted to pay. I was willing to buy my DAC, without an audition, after reading all that I could about it, because it is a rather conventional design--just up-engineered (in China) beyond what domestic manufacturers are doing. So I had a very definite idea of what I would hear; I believe in power supply and discrete analog.  And, oh yes,the price.
mdiaz
58 posts
 
Please try to evaluate the PSAudio Directstream DAC. You will not be disappointed. Read a little about it before you try it somewhere. 
spenrock
24 posts
 
I suggest you have a listen to the Resonessence Mirus Pro, retail list is right at your budget max of US$6000.  It uses the Sabre chipset, but the design team have come from Sabre itself.  

I have a lower model, the Concero HP, and have found it very good at the price point. I auditioned the mid-level unit, the Veritas (US$2800), but didn't hear a difference to justify the extra dollars.  Then, out of curiosity, I auditioned the Mirus Pro, which completely blew me away.  Extremely detailed, but without any cold digital signature.  The bass is quick and full; the timbre was spot on.  I know some people hate the word 'musical' when describing sound, but that's what it was.

I have some favourite audition tracks that I typically use.  Instead of listening to the critical passages, I got stuck enjoying entire songs. I found I just had to enjoy each track to the end.  

The only reason I didn't buy is it because it is far beyond my budget. However, I'm looking at selling all my secondary components to see if I can afford.  

I haven't had a chance for extended comparisons to the PS Audio, Schitt Yggy, Chord Hugo/2, Mytek Brooklyn/+, or Spring Kitsune DACs, which also seem worth considering.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

I would recommend looking at Resonessence, Chord, TotalDAC, Aqua HIFI.  Chord does some unique things in their D/A that delivers excellent HF imaging.  Make sure you get the bass though.  Read the reviews on audiostream.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

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