Which DACs are known to be sweet/rich/relaxed?


Problem
System is nicely transparant and detailed, but tends to get bright and harsh with certain (rock) recordings and at higher volume levels.

Objective
Nudge the system towards a sweeter, richer, more relaxed presentation.

Proposed solution / first step
Upgrade to a (tube based) DAC, budget $25-40k.

Current chain

  • ROON Nucleus
  • Mola Mola Tambaqui
  • Gryphon Essence pre amp
  • Gryphon Essence monoblocks
  • Focal Stella Utopia EVO
  • Full loom of Triode Wire Labs cables
  • Dedicated power line straight into Puritan PSM156 mains filter
  • System resides in the living room with some diffusors but no absorption other than sofas, chairs, and some rugs.


On my radar
Lampizator Pacific (or Golden Gate 2 since I heard it's more "tube-like")
Aries Cerat Kassandra 2 Ref or Sig

— What other DACs should I consider?
— Do you think upgrading to another (tube based) DAC will achieve that sweeter, richer, more relaxed presentation?

robert1976

I have a Roon Nucleus Plus, with an Ayre Acoustics QX-5 Twenty DAC, Pakedge switch, top end shunyata ethernet cables, Audioquest power cables, JPS Labs speaker cables, Revel Salon 2 speakers, powered by an Hegel H390 integrated and an Audioquest Niagra 3000 line conditioner/ surge protector.  The sound quality I'm getting via #1, Qobuz, Tidal and from my internal hard drive is extraordinary!!!  But, the greatest and most crucial contributor to the stunning sound quality I'm getting out of my system come from my Reference level Ayre Acoustics DAC.  All associated equipment that makes up a top notch streaming system in order to achieve the best sound must be...."Top Notch."    Roon Nucleus  included.  No more cd's or vinyl for me.  Just me and my lovely iPad.  Ain't life grand!!!    

I forgot to mention that my Ayre Acoustics QX-5 Twenty DAC is a streaming DAC.  I use the DAC as a  streamer  My DAC along with my Roon Nucleus Plus renders amazing and marvelous results.  I am overwhelmingly pleased with this combination.  Before opting for the Roon Nucleus Plus, I went through an extensive auditioning process that included most of the high end brands servers, streamers, in various combos there of.  After hearing the Roon and a stand alone DAC in a system at one of my High End Audio dealers, and after being absolutely floored by what I heard out of that system, base on that, I decided to configure my system in the same manner.  So, the Roon was the right solution for me and what I desired to accomplish in my own system and I've been very, very happy with the results.  Well, to each his own.  So glad I was able to find my little slice of audio heaven.  Happy listening.         

+1 @chayro 

I used to think an awesome stereo would make everything sound...awesome. Wasn't the case for me, sometimes the music just isn't that good and no amount of lipstick is going to change that pig. 

How are you connecting the Roon to your dac, hdmi or usb?

 

@treynolds155 - I just spin CD’s with a transport. I’m sure streaming is fine, but I don’t feel like dealing with it.  I think that many people are so influenced by what they read that they don’t want to admit to themselves what they really like to actually listen to. All these complaints of harshness are caused by people chasing detail, which can become very tiresome when you want to listen long term. Don’t buy a Ferrari when you really want a Bentley. 

Chasing details and slam can be a side trip. My system allows all but the worst recordings sound as good as they can. It took me a long time (35 years) to get off the details - slam path to realize this was not the route to fidelity and real sonic enjoyment.

On the other hand achieving outstanding musical sound can be done with vinyl, CD, file streaming and internet streaming. You can have one or all. The choice is yours… it takes effort and commitment. Happily I have achieved great musical reproduction in vinyl, CD, streaming on my main system and in my headphone system… it can be done. But I agree with @chayro that chasing details is not the way to get there. You have to prioritize the music… rhythm and pace, as well as balance and appropriate emphasis of details.