*DAC
I am down to the last piece of the puzzle. I am very happy with the sound of my system at this point, so I’m not sure if the DAC needs to be improved on. What I am looking for is to hear those background subtleties in the music a little more pronounced. The strum of a guitar, the stroke of the piano keys, the clicks, ticks & tingles that accompany the music. I do here that now, I just wondered if there is a way to elaborate on those background sounds (details) a bit more.
Is it the DAC that will make this happen? If it is, they say my Gustard R26 is as good as a $5K DAC, how far over that $5K do you think I have to go?
Thank you for your help and suggestions and the best to you all over the holiday season and beyond!
PS: I listen mostly to Jazz
Denafrips Terminator or Kitsune Hifi May-KTE would be good upgrade choices. Stretch some more for the Lampizator Baltic 4 (tube, can tube roll for taste) or T+A DAC200, both which sonically punches above their price points. Other choices are Wired4Sound DAC-2v2SE, Audio-GD R7HE MK2, Bel Canto Ex1 DAC (Transparent) - all had positive reviews |
@dekay - OK, I posted some pictures of my GIK panels. The one that's sitting on top of the curtain rod will be gone as soon as my very time-oriented wife finds a clock for that spot. Then I don't know where it will go, probably down on the floor beside the couch. It's going to get dirty! I even tried a couple of these panels behind the speakers, but it didn't sound good at all. @jastralfu - Hey, thanks! Coda stuff is awesome. I used to own their CSiB integrated in the same configuration. Loved it! @gdnrbob "In my not very scientific opinion, you have to spend around $10K to get the detail you are looking for" UGH, that's depressing, I better start saving up then. Glad you found the sound that you were looking for. @kennyc Thanks for the list, I've read somewhere that the May-KTE is a bit overrated, but I haven't heard it myself. I used to have the W4S model you suggested. Paid $4K for it and sold it for $1K due to financial problems during Covid, so now rebuilding. Wish I still had it but I don't want to spend $4K again just to try it. I am on the HiFi Shark wait list for a 10th Anniversary should one come along just to try. |
Hearing more subtleties in your system could mean lowering your noise floor with something like CAD unit. You could also demo some different types of cables and power cords as well. Your equipment may be perfectly fine but to get that extra 10-15% improvement may require looking at the foundation of your set up. Good luck and let us know how you make out. |
The Gustard is not even close to any quality even $3k dac I owned the 26 with upgraded power cord and synergistic purple fuse , look up the T+A 200 dac- preamp it is around $7k less with discounts ,in our audio get together I have heard most Everythjng out there, I am purchasing this dac, I own a Denafrips Terminator2 which is about $4600 and is night and day better then the Gustard on Every level very realistic sounding, the T+A 200 dac takes it to another level still it competes or beats with Any dac up to $15k .see some you tube reviews then get a Demo this would be your Reference end game dac . |
