Denafrips Terminator II. Upgraded from their Venus II. Also using Iris DDC for USB. I know it is good since it resolves details I haven't been able to distinguish before. Particularly in low regions. I can clear hear bass player taking several different notes in fast succession rather than just one pick or several smeared one over another. |
@calvinj I finally gotten around to this thread. I have enjoyed the many post that have focused on your original question, which to me did not seem structured to a price point. The best DAC that i have heard is the one I currently have in my system, an Audio Mirror Tubadour III. It provides a smooth, detailed, harmonically rich presentation at a price point commensurate to my system.
|
@mesch I did this so that many people would read it and depending on what price point you can afford they would all get suggestions. My system is pretty much on the higher end. So I typically go towards certain ones because of where my system is at but I will soon do a smaller back up system. So lower price points will be in that one but I still want good performance. |
to properly judge a dac, you need to also consider the server feeding it. and the quality of the A/C power grid, and even the power supplies of the dac and the server. it all matters when you are chasing ultimate performance. the best dac i have heard is my Wadax Reference dac. that includes the Wadax Reference server. 30 months ago they arrived and i compared it directly in my system to my 4 year reference, the MSB Select II + the Taiko Extreme server. here. https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/wadax-reference-dac-and-server-arrive.34173/ 2 months ago i added the Wadax Reference server power supply which boosted the performance further. and a month ago i auditioned 3 Wadax Akasa DC power supply cables (1 between the server and separate power supply, and 2 between the two dac power supplies and the dac) which took things to another level beyond. very spendy. i very reluctantly returned the demo Akasa cables to my dealer, and i ordered the cables two weeks ago and should recieve them mid May. Wadax calls adding these cables "Level 4". here is an interview with Javier from Wadax about ’Level 4’ and other Wadax details. comments on the Akasa DC cables and "Level 4" starts at 11:39 time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Q0Z1aamWaQE the performance of the Wadax is remarkable, and the only thing i can compare it to is my vinyl and tape performance which is at a high level.....not any other dac or server. i do listen to 70% digital and look forward to "Level 3 Wadax.......soon to be level 4" every day. |
