Sub $1000 DAC with AKM chip


Hi 

I don’t wish to start a heated debate but I’m looking for a DAC for my daughters system. Does anyone have a recommendation for an under $1000 DAC that uses an AKM chip? I have a Topping D90 with AKM that I like. It’s not my endgame DAC but it is substantially better than many I have tried before. I know that many like ESS, Burr Brown, Wolfson etc, but I would prefer to just hear opinions about AKM and I’d also like to stay away from a discussion about streamers (I’m also considering a Bluesound Node)…Hell, I might even get her an Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt since she is so iPhone-centric. She recently voiced her dissatisfaction with low fidelity and wants to hear music from better equipment so I’m giving her one of my integrated tube amps and a set of speakers. I don’t want to go nuts on this since she may ultimately find that hifi is not really as appealing as she imagined.

thanks all for your replies 

ccogopher

The same DAC chip will operate and sound very different depending on implementation.
Here’s a good explanation as to how other factors, such as input and output stages, are equally important to the chip.

 

Orchard Audio’s PecanPi+ streamer/DAC uses the latest AKM chipset and can be ordered as DAC only device.  I own the original model and it sounds great in streamer mode.
 

https://orchardaudio.com/shop/pecanpi-pls-streamer/

Sorry was away for a few days.. than you everyone who took part in this discussion