dCS Bartok Apex vs any similar priced DAC

Have you considered the Mola Mola Tambaqui?

I tried the Mola Mola Tambaqui in my system. In my system I prefer the soundstage,and tonality of the Chord Dave. The Dave's bass is significantly better than the Tambaqui...at least in my system. 

I haven’t considered the Mola Mola. I’d prob just go with the Makua and add the optional DAC/Streamer board if I went that way.

You may want to look into The Premiere DAC by MSB Technology.  I believe it’s in the same price range as the Bartok.  MSB Technology is a California based audio company with highly regarded DAC’s. I have their Discrete DAC after 2 years of owning a Lumin X1 and I strongly prefer the MSB DAC. I’m not familiar with your speakers and how they’d match up with this DAC.  Regardless, try to find a dealer that will let you demo any of these DAC’s at home. I found A/B testing in my home the best way to compare components. Good luck. 

Playback Designs MPD-8

I've heard that the Mytek Empire has an excellent DAC within it's streamer/DAC....

If you can be ok with just a dac , by a Big margin the T+A 200 dac beats  or competes with anything 2x  it’s price or more. At $7k a steal. I know 3 people personally  and 5 in our multi state north east Audio get together .

I have heard dacs up to $50k  and it depends how deep your pockets are.

innuos or other SS drive streamer combos make a great complement to this .

I’m super happy with my dCS Bartok Apex, great soundstage, very musical thru my Wilson Alexx V’s.

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.

My Dream system 

your speakers and Playback Design MPS-8

Honestly, if you're just running an ATC, I don't see why there's a need for a top flight DAC

Is the Esoteric N-05XD worth a look too ?

The matching Esoteric G-05 Master Clock Generator can be used as an upgrade later on. That combo should be a killer ?

Aries Cerat Helene, 40 Kg of sonic nirvana. I was only able to compare to non-Apex DCS. FWIW, DCS was very clinical and digital sounding. The AC Helene sounds like a $50K analog rig—two DACs at the opposite ends of the spectrum. 

Hello @seadog137,  I have directly compared the Dave to my Tambaqui and easily chose the Tambaqui. but it does improve with a great preamp, and I agree wholeheartedly on the Makua w onboard Tambaqui.  The volume control on the Tambaqui alone is not the best (digital).  This makes the T+A 200 or the one above it interesting if I were starting again.  I am not familiar with the Bartok Apex direct to amps.  Also, the Tambaqui benefits from a good streamer, I have the Grimm MU1, and it is great with the stand alone Tambaqui or the Makua w Tambaqui.  I do not know if the Bartok Apex needs a separate streamer to excel.

I have the Dcs Bartok apex and have been very satisfied 

I upgraded my Bartok to Apex version and found the improvement significant 

I have Sonus Faber Il Cremonese speakers and the Bartok East Apex has been a very satisfying match

there are undoubtedly a lot of great choices in this price range- hard to go wrong -but I think you will be very satisfied with the Bartok Apex 

@OP, the N-05XD is really better used into a preamp. It is an absolutely top notch DAC and it is significantly improved by its matching clock.

The Apex Bartok is much better than the previous version and is a good choice in the application you are considering.

Personally, I would favour it over the CHORD and I am familiar with all three.