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Best DACs under $7,000.00

I'm tentatively beginning the search for a DAC upgrade.  Currently, I have Innuos Zen MK3 as a streamer connected via USB to a Denafrips Iris DDC that is connected via I2S to a Denafrips Pontus II DAC.  The Pontus II is excellent but I feel it's the one point where I could gain incremental improvement toward that illusive natural, layered, analog end-of-the-rainbow.  I simply can't / won't spend above $5,000.00 - $7,000.00 on the DAC. The rest of my system:  top-of-line Prima Luna Evo 400 Integrated Amp and a set of Harbeth speakers.  Right now, I'm looking at Denafrips Terminator II or Holo Audio May DAC.  I've never seen an a/b comparison of these two, but both stand out and have a following.  Of course, the unsettling thing is DACs have evolved so much and are still in a blooming state technologically, making it a given that whatever we have today will probably be surpassed by better for less later, like electric vehicles. But that's the nature of the beast.  Does anyone have alternative suggestions in this current climate?

gregjacob
gkr7007's avatar
gkr7007
139 posts
 

gregjacob

If the Atlantic hasn't shipped yet have Lampizator put in an I2s input.  I have a Golden Gate 2 that they pit in the I2s and it beats the other inputs by a good amount.

jon2020's avatar
jon2020
985 posts
 

For a read out of curiosity, the Stereophile review of the Audio-GD is now out on their website. Provides insights on other dac’s.

 

 

gregjacob OP
102 posts
 

I requested it from Lampizator and they said that the units no longer come with custom input options. They come standard with 4 inputs. No I2S option. 

chilehed's avatar
chilehed
198 posts
 

@anzaanimalclinic, thanks for that info, and yes, would like to know more about the audible difference between SOtM and ENO. To complicate things even further I noticed NA has a newer product called "muon".

@gregjacob, my B3 got me to the point where I am much more focused on listening to music rather than upgrading. When it came to the Phoenix, it became expendable. I'm hoping your A3 delivers the same (and more) for you.

gregjacob OP
102 posts
 
chilehed   Thanks.  I did contact Lampizator but they are not currently offering I2S input options.  Their answer:  "Problem with i2s is there's no universal standard. So unless we know the specs you're trying to match, it won't be compatible."  Which, unfortunately, is true.  The only sure compatibility is if, like in the case of Denafrips, the I2S is used within the same brand.  The general opinion is that any additional processing to try and improve upon declocking / reclocking is probably redundant at best.  Some who have tried testing it on higher-end equipment have discarded outside declocking altogether.
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