Best DACs under $7,000.00

@w123ale Some words of caution.

Ask yourself: do DAC designers build DACs with the express purpose to deliver small soundstages, poor dynamics, and high glare?

The divergent results you’ve shared suggest you pull up and reflect on your entire system and the elements that may be behind what you are reporting.

It’s understandable and reasonable to want a unit of one to solve our ’problems’ or deliver what we want. You’ll get much further by addressing the larger picture.

Wishing you success.

Any recommendations for a DAC with a big soundstage, good dynamics, but low on glare? I have a Mc DAC that has the first two of my requirements but can have an edge and glare. Just trying out a PS Audio Directstream, which I’m returning because it is too closed and lacks dynamics—no glare at all though.

@jon2020 ,

I did that review and it sounds like the Audio-GD is a great value. Wonder if anyone has heard that DAC. The reviewer was raving so much about it. But again - I do not know the relationship between the distributor and the rag. It might be a genuine opinion, but of late I have been looking at everything very cautiously.

I am using Holo May, when I want to use it simply, I use USB input, the sound is already quite good.
When I want to hear better sound than USB input, I use Hydra HUB as DDC and transmit I2S signal to May.
(It can be fully compatible with the I2S pin between May and Hydra HUB)
I think May is a very good DAC with enough potential to make it sound better.
I must say here that being able to use I2S is a huge benefit, actually tested it does bring better sound than other type of inputs.

Dear blisshifi

The T+A 200 DAC is one that I am seriously interested in, but only if I can use it as a DAC/preamp. I would run it straight to my power amp. 
CAN YOU tell me about the preamp section, and how good it is for use like that? I had been interested in the Meitner MA3 DAC, which has volume control, and though it is said to be excellent, I want something with a headphone stage (which T+A200 has ... yay!) and a true preamp section.

• The alternative and my still #1 choice for a preamp is the LTA MZ preamp (tube) combined with a DAC (not sure which one).

THANKS!

Hey @patrickdowns - Perhaps this is a convo that is better suited through PM or call, so I’ll follow up to get in touch. That said, I’ll also answer your inquiry for anyone else interested on the thread.

The T+A DAC has a very good preamp section for its price point compared to other DACs that are in its price range (e.g. much better than the PS Audio DirectStream DAC’s preamp section is, or even the Mola Mola Tambaqui’s volume control direct to amp, for instance). The one caveat I would share is that in my personal experience, T+A’s preamps are very linear - it is not the component where one will enjoy added bloom or harmonics. This is true even with their HV series, where more of the harmonics come from the DAC and A 3000 HV amps. The HV preamp is exceptional in its own way for delivering sonics, and though it is not colored, but it does have exceptional harmonics. If I were to compare the HV preamp, it would be a step above the ARC REF 6 SE, but in the same sonic character. The same is true for the 200 series, where the DAC stage has more of the harmonics, the preamp within the DAC 200 is linear, and if paired with the A 200 amp, the amp is also very, very linear (despite the amp having a warmer setting by adjusting the damping factor).

What does this mean? If you are wanting to run a digital-only system, you should have no issues using the DAC 200 going straight into an amplifier. If you have an analog source going into it, however, you will want to ensure that the sonics are to your liking, as it will not add the color or harmonics a tube preamp will. But I have no hesitation to use the DAC 200 as a preamp straight to amp for many systems and have typically had this concern/challenge with just about any other DAC I've used to go straight into an amp. The DAC 200 has a true preamp stage.

Hope this helps!