Recommend a dac that contributes to system for tight bass


I am not a bass fiend just would like a dac that has pleasing tight moderately deep bass.  I have pass labs monoblocks so amp not an issue....don't really want tube dac....

I know room and acoustics and system synergy play crucial role but have found some dacs excel at transparency like chord and other sound a bit flat like oppo....marantz is slightly warm exc prat but bass is bit light....

Thanks in advance.....


128x128karmapolice
I own a Chord Qutest on my second system. It replaced a Pro-Ject S series DAC which itself replaced the DAC in a Chromecast Audio. The biggest difference each time I made a change was the increase in bass weight. The Qutest has a really full and solid and tight sounding bass. When I plugged it in I was really taken aback by the increased weight of bass. No doubt in my mind that a dac affects the bass. However I can’t imagine anything with more bass presence than the Qutest as it is almost overpowering at times. So I wonder if your vinyl is giving you more bass than any DAC will do, for whatever reason? Just a thought.
I adjusted my oppo transport by putting it on a solid base and using stillpoints and the bass is fine now....upgraded to lifeatec toslink from bluejean toslink

I still prefer the slightly warmer sound of the playback designs mps5 but it cost 5x as much so the qutest is a great bargain especially for a second system...

For those of you who think qutest has too much bass at times I suggest you fine tune the voltage setting for the qutest when you power it on..

while it depends on your other equipment for me 2v is just right but 1v definitely sounds more open but leaner in midrange and bass.
I chose WADIA and later MSB especially because I found other DACs shy of bass.  btw which Pass Labs amp and which speakers do you have ?
Before you drop more coin on another dac look at the signal you are feeding it. For the past year I have been using the WiFi on may MacBook Pro usb to Schiit bifrost dac. Sound was great on quobuz hi res or so I thought. I purchased an external Belkin usb c dock so I could hard wire with cat6e either net. The change in sound blew me away. The difference I would have to say is one of the biggest changes my ears have heard in a while. Now to your point dropping the wireless and moving to hardwired brought the bass to life. Tight fast and the vibration from the kick drum I could now feel in my chest. My next move will be to try the fiber line solution from little green computer company. When you think of it the cleaner faster and more 1’s and 0’s you can get to your dac can only help it breath better. My suggestion is start with the simple logic down stream and move through the chain. If you start at the end you are still forcing any dac to work with an inferior signal.
happy listening enjoy the music