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What DAC upgrade made you say “DAMN, that sounds SO MUCH better than my last DAC”?

As the title suggests, what was your overall system and DAC at the point where you bought only a new DAC and said “DAMN, that sounds SO MUCH better than my last DAC”?

I’m a novice and so many people talk about improvements from new equipment as if they were only listening to varying degrees of static until they bought more and more new equipment which added up to them finally being presented with music. It’s like Salome and the seven veils. But when does the last veil get peeled away? 

So what system did you have and what DAC did you swap in that made you say “DAMN!!!!”?

I guess I’m looking for night and day differences, not gradual progressions……


pip_helix
gmercer
193 posts
 
I went from a Meridian Media Source 600, which was an awesome DAC that I have only good things to say about, to a Brinkmann Nyquist, which is the last DAC I’ll own. My first mode of listening is analog, and the Nyquist does a fine job of making digital enjoyable. 
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Just don't build a lot of systems with your favorite. You don't want to pop the bubble. 


thelostdutchman's avatar
thelostdutchman
41 posts
 
I've a DCS Bartok, which is a great piece of gear.  Just auditioned the new Linn Klimax DSM.  Holy mother of god what a difference.  I was just blown away.  It sounds like a LP12, so natural and authentic.  No idea where I'm going to scrounge up the cash for one, but it is going to happen.
wdguru's avatar
wdguru
12 posts
 
I've had the Holo May Kitsune dac for about seven months and very satisfied. Everything that I input including a streamer, OPPO 203 (even SACD) and tv optical perform great. They haven't skimped on anything and the ability to trim the resistors on the fly is a great idea. 
itsjustme
681 posts
 
If i may make two comments to @mattmiller:
1. Actually, while one can spend a lot on a system and get poor results it is quite relevant if a user has a highly resolving system vs. less so. And $10k in a system by high end standards is -- choke -- not a lot. Some of these DACs cost that. and all systems are links in a chain.

2. I too have an old MSB gold nelson that i got from Mark 20 odd years ago. Its a pretty solid DAC even today. Mine has both re-designed and vastly better power supplies (my own) and a USB interface with isolation, independent power, and re-clocking (also my own). This steps it up several notches. yet it is still not the equal of my other, mostly newer DACs. but that is a story that i don’t have time to type at the moment.

But yea, Mark was way ahead for the money back then. His new R2R stuff, OTOH i believe starts at around $20k. Gulp.

and to @joey_v (apparently i got that wrong): I agree the EMM is excellent. I recently heard it in one of the best systems I’ve every heard. One of those systems that just vanished. No drama, not "impressive". I just listened to music. As i recall not cheap.
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