DAC recommendation in 5 to 10K range
I recently get to the point that I want to try a new DAC in $5 to $10K range and would like to know if there are recommendations I should try and audition.
My current DAC is a Denafrips Terminator, to me, Terminator is an overall fun DAC that provide good clarity, energy, and scale. It has strong macrodynamic focus with good impact and punch, as well as solid resolving power and texture, but I feel drawback is lacking micro dynamic capability, tonality is not organic, neither is presentation, treble is not that refined, and can sometimes get too hot and gritty. What I hope in my next DAC is a balanced DAC that lean a bit more toward the relaxed and slightly sweeter smoother side of things, great organicness, great placement accuracy and depth in overall stage, great coherency and liquidity, as well as having great impact and punch.
This is an interesting direction I have been thinking for a short while by getting a network capable DAC instead, and I may head in this way at some point. Do you have any experience with this DAC having ethernet input from router/switch instead of server? |
I have a MA3. Music is on a NAS or Tidal, inexpensive switch (I think MA3 forces ethernet to 100mbps for lower receiver noise). Check emmlabs.com for a list of reviews under "news". |
Given what you’re looking for I’d take a serious look at a Mojo Mystique DAC. It’s also an R2R DAC but possibly with a more organic kinda sound you might really like. Here’s a relatively recent review of one of their most recent models, but you can read others on past models to get a better idea of the overall sound characteristics of these DACs. Audio Note may be another make that might appeal to you as well. Of course there are tube DACs too that probably lean more your way, but not sure if you’re open to going that direction. My bias is to use tubes further down the chain if desired, but that’s just me. Just another couple options FWIW, and best of luck. |
I can highly recommend an Audio Research DAC 9. I have been a Audio Research fan for preamps and phonostages for decades. As my purchase ability increased I got better versions. But I never thought of them as a digital company although their DACs were top rated. My dealer brought over a REF 160s amp for me to try (I was in the amp market)… he also brought over ARC DAC without me asking. I had an $18K DAC… and was not in the market. After demoing the amp… I realized, that although I really did not want to, out of respect for him… I needed to haul out the ARC DAC and try it. Literally, in less than 30 seconds I was typing a message to him to order me one. Never have I had an easier decision. Even though I had no idea where I was going to get the money… I am retired.
The ARC DAC is incredibly natural sounding and highly detailed. It puts out music… the sound that creates an emotional connection. It’s great having all these DACs that are highly detailed and “natural”… but this one connects directly with the heart. My dealer brought over a Berkeley Alpfa Reference DAC ($22K)… I prepared myself to just say yes and later figure out where to get the money. Surprisingly after a couple weeks of comparing them, I actually preferred the ARC… although they were so similar that I doubt most folks could tell the difference in a couple days of comparing. The ARC was subtly more natural sounding and very similar in detail. |
