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.

elan120

if you can get a used lumin x1 i would highly recommend in that price range

If your only interested in buying new, the Holo Audio May KTE is excellent 

Mearson DAC 1. Love my Mearson and I am quite impressed with my neighbors Simaudio 280D. 

Aqua la Scala would be a good choice, that would match your expectations.

Worth giving it a try.

I am very happy with the PS Audio DirectStream DAC.  I took advantage of the try-at-home time to evaluate it against some other DACs like the Benchmark DAC 3 and pro-ject DAC which I was previously using.  I did not compare it to the May or terminator DACs since there was no local dealer or way to try those out.  I was looking for a new DAC instead of a used DAC to get the latest technology.  I like the ability to get software updates to change/improve the DAC in the future.