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Non Analytical Sounding DAC Upgrade- Budget $1,500 or less

After upgrading my speakers and turntable over the last 3 years it's time to get rid of my nearly 7-year old Beresford DAC. I originally started with a budget of $750 or less, but after researching possible options it seems like $1,500 might be more realistic. This will be in my dedicated 2 channel system. 80% listening through speakers and the rest through headphones. Analog is about 50% of listening, the 50% that is digital is mostly standard res streaming (via Roon/Tidal) or physical CD (using Oppo player as transport) with some higher res stuff tossed in. Music is mostly classic rock, prog, jazz, classical.

Downstream is NAD326 Integrated and Tekton Enzo XL speakers. I'll probably upgrade the amp in the next year. The speakers are long-term keepers.

I want something that gives a nice detailed sound-stage. Being a fan of good vinyl playback I'm not looking for an overly analytical sound. Because of that it seems like a R2R dac might be a better fit. I know there's lots of choices so hoping you can help to narrow the list down to a manageable number. Here's what's on the list so far:

  1. MHDT Orchid or Pagoda
  2. Denafrips Ares 2
  3. Musical Paradise MP-D2
  4. Soekris dac1541
I'm definitely open to other suggestions.

Thanks in advance!
ruleof72
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,783 posts
 
@letch I'd be interested to hear about your experiments. Perhaps start a thread called "Tube-rolling with the MHDT Orchid DAC"? It's a popular enough product that we might find some interesting contributions which detail how different tubes and associated equipment combine to create different sonic outcomes. 
One person relayed the following to me:
Brighter: GE 5670 5-star (stock tube); a good tube.
Softer: Tesla 6cc42; great midpoint tube.
Extra soft: Western Electric 2C51
djones51
4,947 posts
 
@ruleof72

You said " I’m definitely open to other suggestions." so I’m going out on a limb here with another suggestion. I am not disparaging anyone’s choice on a DAC this is addressed to the OP. You mention non analytical DAC then describe your system having a NAD integrated. The NAD is fairly analytical which to me means it reproduces what is fed to it as accurately as possible. If you decide to keep a fairly precise SS amp then the products mentioned so far would probably meet your expectations. On the other hand if you move to a tube system the idea of adding a tube DAC or other tube sounding DAC just adds more coloration to the tube amps. In my opinion in order to get the "flavor" of your tube preamps or amps it makes more sense to go with as neutral a DAC as possible. The more precise the DAC at conveying the signal without adding or taking away in other words analytical would give you a much better idea at what the tubes offer in your tube components. So far I have seen 1 DAC mentioned the Benchmark and it is a pretty neutral DAC. There are others that would qualify as neutral pretty much any modern Delta Sigma DAC.
ddude003
161 posts
 
I would generally agree with djones51 above... I have always felt the best place to add warmth or color, if its wanted or needed, is in the PreAmp stage... And PreAmp tubes seem to last much longer then tubes in a Power Amp... Horses for courses and we all have different ears/brains...  In my case its a Chord Qutest DAC -> PremaLuna Tubed PreAmp -> McIntosh SS Power Amp -> MartinLogan ESL speakers...
letch
105 posts
 
@hilde45 
This thread already exists:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/mhdt-orchid-tube-rolling

My amplifier is out for repair (Sonic Frontiers Power 2se) and I've been told that I can expect 10-14 weeks for turnaround. Ugh. What will be interesting it that I'm going to be placing my transport/DAC into my friend's "revealing" system since his is vinyl only. This will an opportunity to get my unit burned in and also to tube roll in this system. The sad part is that I won't get to listen to it at home. I am considering getting a cheap amp to do duty while I await repair. 
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,783 posts
 
@letch Sorry to miss that! I appreciate you directing me to it. As Emily Litella said (all you oldies know where I'm going): "never mind."
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