Auralic Vega DAC: How's it compare in 2020?


I have a Dennafrips on order but no one is sure when it will get here so I'm thinking of buying another DAC to feed my audio habit while I wait. My research has led me to believe that the Auralic Vega DAC may be one that I would enjoy and is available at a reasonable price. What I question is how good is it compared to the newer designs with the much newer DAC chips?  After all, the Vega, apparently superb for its day, is based on the ES9018. 

The Vega would replace a Sabaj D5 ES9038Pro based DAC.  You probably have not heard a D5, but it is very good and much better than the DAC in the Node 2i.  I do not use a preamp.

I stream TIDAL Premier through a Node 2i.  The amp is a Classe AMP2, class D, into B&W 705S2.  

What do you think?  
chinook9

Showing 1 response by chinook9

Thank you for the input.  I found that the PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC is about the same price so I'm checking them out also.