2. digital
  3. 185703-13747

dacs that I have had in my system - a listing

i comment quite a bit on threads about digital/analog converters, as i have tried many since the covid period in early 2020, when i recommitted to my hifi and getting streaming and a truly modern digital front end implemented in my main home system

i have had questions on what dacs i have actually tried -- so last week when i was sleepless on a long transcontinental flight home from a holiday, i made a listing, which i post below

almost all dacs below have been owned, and spent extensive time (at least 2-3 months) in my system, obviously there have been changes in my system over this time, and not all dacs were owned at the same time

i post this here so others can refer to this here - i looked, but i could not find a way to post this on my 'system' page

the asterisk-ed entries are still in hand, currently:

 

2020

topping d90 mqa

ayre codex

mhdt stockholm 

mhdt orchid

mhdt istanbul

denafrips pontus original

musical paradise mpd1

ps audio d link iii modded cullen

bs node 2i

 

2021

denafrips ares 2 

denafrips pontus 2

denafrips terminator 

auris d1d vu

audio mirror tubador 3 se

van alstine fet topp*

van alstine fet hybrid

rme adi 2 (akm)

schiit modius 

schiit gumby

schiit yggy*

sonnet morpheus

border patrol se i

metrum jade

metrum octave

metrum hex

metrum adagio

musical fidelity trivista 21 (modded)*

weiss 501* (now 4ch)

 

2022

chord 2qute 

chord qutest

chord m scaler* hugo tt2*

mhdt orchid modded*

audio note kits dac4 pro

msb analog w powerbase*

denafrips venus 2*

denafrips pontus 12

audio gd master 7

musetec 005

bs node n130

bricasti m1se mdx

doge 7

hegel h90 190 390 590* (internal)

 

2023

gustard r26*

eversolo dmp a6 master*

mhdt toucan

orchard pecan pi*

cambridge audio cxn2 modwright modded tubed*

128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xjjss49
Post removed 
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
12,622 posts
 

I am astounded ...

😊

Your expertise will be useful for people who will have hard choices ...

 

Myself i listen my Hidizs 200 bucks dac... I cannot fault it anyway... It is basic ... I throw off my very good French NOS dac tda 1543 , because i needed a more clean source...If i borrow your comparison the Hidizs is more denafrips and the French dac more metrum... But i borrowed your terms here i never listened to them... 😉

I will not say more about dac...

With more money i will buy the Dr. Choueri BAACH dac... a completely different kind of dac...

😁

 

 
 

 

 

troidelover1499
253 posts
 

@jjss49 I appreciate the help you have given to me when I have asked you on DM, and I do recall you have said on past postings that you have tried some 30-40 Dacs over time, but still to see them listed like this is bewildering. I recall those times when we were all so fearful and locked in our homes not going out at all just being couch potatoes for months on end. Congrats on what you did in that time, making some great hifi lemonade out of the bushels of lemons that were sent to all of us in that period of time!  I am envious of the enjoyment and knowledge you gained in experiencing these.

grinnell
1,075 posts
 

Hi jjss49

What are your thoughts on the MHDTs you had in your system.  I got a Stockholm v.2 about 2 years ago first DAC and really love it.  my system is tube amp'd

onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,141 posts
 

A few questions -- did you ever listen for enjoyment or were you always in critical listening mode?  To what extent did you optimize the setup of each D/A?  I ask because there are volumes of threads about how critical power cords, digital interconnect, analog interconnects and vibration controls are for each component.  If you did try to experiment with any of these variable for each D/A, then it goes back to my first question.  To rephrase, was changing all this equipment so frequently enjoyable?

More to discover