2. digital
  3. 170434-165082

A Newcomer to Digital Looking to Upgrade My Dac, Tubes? Ideas?

Being a relative newcomer to digital downloads and playback, I love the convenience when I am looking for a short music session and don't feel like going through my vinyl. I find the digital quality pretty good, but looking to upgrade my dac to get some additional warmth into my playback, I'm thinking maybe a tube dac, not sure what I should spend but cost wise was thinking of $ 2,000.00 as a budget. Not sure if such a dac exists, or if you have suggestions. I have built up a pretty good collection of both PCM and DSD HD music, mostly copies of what I have on vinyl but the vinyl has seen better days. Currently I am using a TEAC UD-501, tube preamp- (Schiit Mjolnir 2), Amp.- (Adcom 555se), Balanced throughout usually through my PC but I also use my portable through the coax to the dac. Speakers are Wilson Benesch Square 2. Unfortunately I have an L shaped listening room, which seconds as our living room, typical of what you find in a condo, volume levels are generally low to medium, to spare the neighbours, and I split my time between the speakers and headphones.
128x128pooch2
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5
1,913 posts
 
Why pay more?

Because good  quality is important to obtaining good sound. But it usually costs more.
mrklas
441 posts
 
I encourage you listen to a few DACs

Several have headphone amp and DAC capabilities if that’s of value.

In my experience a higher end DAC makes a difference - the details and specifically the separation of delicate sounds when music is dynamic is quite revealing. Bells, bass guitar resonance and other sounds become more distinct within the music.

I have a Moon 280D it was a significant upgrade from the Node 2i and the Moon interface is excellent if you are a big user of Tidal, Quboz and music on a server. It’s $3k new and I’m sure you can find a used 1 at $2k.

Since you are using a tube preamp I would focus on the DAC that performs to your sensibilities.
jaferd
44 posts
 
I find digital harshness to be the biggest problem with digital and I'm using a schiit Loki equalizer to reduce some of the brightness and add some lower end to make it more analog. It can be an inexpensive mod to try first. Just my 2 cents. 
sns
3,003 posts
 
R2R dac would likely be your best choice, something from Denafrips, Holo, Border Patrol would be a few right off the top. But don't limit yourself to these, many others may be good choice as well.
willgolf
933 posts
 
If you are a music lover a $2k DAC will not give you the sound quality you are used to with Vinyl.  Now if you just want music in the background then any inexpensive DAC will work.  I have had 4 Lumin DAC's ...U-1 mini, D-2, A-1 and X-1.  Each one was a step above and the sound level improved in each stage.  I now have a Lampi Pacific, which now exceeds the X-1.  Check out the Lumin Line for SS and there are some Lower end Lampizators that would shine.
More to discover