dCS Bartok Apex vs any similar priced DAC

The best DACs I have heard recently are the Esoteric’s. If you can stretch to the Grandioso it is probably top 3 DACs period. 

The Playback MPD-8 lacks the on-board streamer.  That said, I had a customer do a direct compare (in-home demo) of the Bartok Apex vs the MPD-6 from Playback and he opted for the Playback.  His perspective was that detail was a push but the staging on the Playback was superior.  The MPD-6 has a streamer option you can add for $3k.  MPD-6 with Stream-X is $18k.
 

I would look at the Weiss Helios, not the 501.  The Helios is better in just about every way and is right in the same range as the Bartok in terms of price at $21,995.  Incredibly detailed and some of the best instrument separation I have heard in any DAC.    
 

I love the Chord but it is 10 years into its life cycle.  Depending on how long you plan to keep it, or how upset you get about new gear coming out, this could be N issue.  That said, I think Chord is one of the very best DACs direct into a power amp or powered speakers.  The volume control/preamp stage is great but does not have a streamer built in.  
 

@seadog137 I used to own the DCS Bartok Apex and as some people love it for me it was to clinical and you need to work around a lot to about brightness 

I switch to Lampizator Pac2 and I am the happiest ever. Amazing DAC way more analog, it’s not as detail but you can always work around with the right streamer to make it sounds more detail if that’s what you want. 
 

Lampizator is more forgiving also and open the possibility to use SS or tubes on the front side 

my 2 cents hope it’s helps 

good luck 

you should also try the Wyred4Sound 10th anniversary dac it's about $4,500 US, one of the reviewers put it up against his VPI turntable with a $5,000 Japanese cartridge and he said that the 10th anniversary DAC sounded just as analog and it also comes with a 30-day trial period, on that review I decided to try it and I totally agree this is one of the most analog sounding DACs I've had in my system, no need to spend $21,000 or $80,000 on a DAC, that's ridiculous.

Several folks I know and myself drive ATC SCM50ASL(T) speakers directly with the Weiss DAC501. Most find the many DSP features useful. As far as I know, none of us are planning any further upgrades. One auditioned the T&A 200 and preferred the Weiss. Most folks out there that have made the comparison with Dave, prefer the Weiss.

If you are considering something as expensive as the Bartok Apex, also audition the new Weiss Helios which is in the same price range.