2. digital
  3. 162469-78719

DAC finalist please help

Hi all,
hope everyone is doing well this holiday season.
I’m back on the DAC hunt and I have narrowed down to these different but compelling DAC’s.
Unlike a lot of you guys on Audiogon I’m not a millionaire : (  My budget is only 1,500 bucks but I think there are some good choices in that range.
If any of you folks have experience with any of these pieces I would greatly appreciate your thoughts.

I’m replacing a McCormack DAC-1 that I have owned since new.
I still listen and continue to buy Redbook CD’s so something that would be kind to those is important.
I’m trying to make the determination on overall what would work and sound the best.
NOS with tubes is intriguing as is R2R as is just a good chip set.
I’m looking at a Aragon D2A used $600 for redbook playback and maybe teaming it up with a Xiangsheng 05B to handle modern formats DSD etc, less than 500 bucks the two together would be just north of a grand.
On the NOS front the Audio Mirror Tubadour III NOS w/tubes, new $1,500.

The Denafrips Ares II R2R used about 800 bucks, or the Musician - Pegasus, new around $1,100.
And then there is the Line Magnetic 502CA tube, used 700-800 dollars.
I love the look of the LM and it's got a great tube stage, I definitely have a bit of a crush on this one.

I realize I’m a little bit all over the Map here, but again if anyone has thoughts or has /had one of these DAC’s I’m all ears...Many thanks and Happy Holidays!HG
grossman616
classdstreamer's avatar
classdstreamer
161 posts
 
+1 on the British audiophile youtube channel

Also, I recently found this channel, and I believe that the following video is one of the best DAC shoot-off reviews I've heard: https://youtu.be/sCP63G8MYOI

First time listening to this youtube channel. He does a great job talking about the differences in these DACs. I once heard someone describe audio gear as a spider graph. Sometimes you can get improvements across the board, like when moving up in price point, and other times you give up some some traits for other traits, like when deciding between competing gear at the same price point. I haven't heard such precise descriptions for the trade-offs in DACs as I have in the above video. See what you think!
classdstreamer's avatar
classdstreamer
161 posts
 
Like you, I'm all over the place in my search. Chip based DACs have been great so far, but I think the future of DACs will move toward FPGA units and R2R arrays. 
nsm1979
14 posts
 
You could do a whole lot worse than that MHDT Atlantis post on USAudioMart.  
mickeyb
540 posts
 
Chord cutest. 1500. Lights out awesome. 
Fpga will never need updating. Such a full, analog sounding dac. Love mine. 
bkeske's avatar
bkeske
5,596 posts
 
I have a Denafrips Aries II, and surprised by some having a sibilance issue. I had heard rumors of this being a possible issue, but I do not have that problem, and have tested it with many recordings. Perhaps my cables, or something else in the chain.

For the money, I think the Aries is tough to beat. Really improved the music from my digital sources. 

That said, yes, the Pontus, I’m sure, would be even better, but at twice the cost of the Aries. No regrets with the Aries here.

And to the OP, you should be able to get a new Aries for right around $760 US. $800 for used seems a bit high.
More to discover