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  3. 162029-21

DAC Choices - $5,000 to $7,000

What are the current top DAC choices in the approximately $5-$7K price range (new or used) that I should look at as possible upgrades to my current Metrum Adagio?  Having an on-board volume control is not a factor as I can operate my system either way.   If I wanted to spend more I would look at Totaldac, Rockna Wavedream Signature, or one of the other top-end contenders, but I selected the price range to achieve a sound quality that is consistent with the rest of my system and because I don't want to spend more due to the still evolving nature of digital technology.  I do like the more natural sound (to my ears) of NOS R2R DACs.  So far, I have considered the three below, but none seem to be a slam-dunk upgrade from the Adagio, which still sounds pretty good in my system.  The decision is complicated by having to "buy to try" so that I can hear one in my system.  Maybe now is not the time for an upgrade.  Any thoughts?

  • Denafrips Terminator w/DSP board - Reportedly has the full body/dense tone type of sound I like, but also has a high'ish output impedance 
  • Holo May KTE - Reportedly measures great for an R2R DAC and has strong reviews 
  • Rockna Wavelight - Some reviewers like it but others put it in the middle of the pack for the price
mitch2
johnss
564 posts
 
until you get above that price point, think there is only one..the denafrips terminator.
dgarretson
2,592 posts
 
The Mojo Mystique Evo Pro sure looks interesting, but with 500+ burned SACDs and DSD128 vinyl rips, I just can’t face the notion of being limited to PCM. I suppose Roon could be used to downsample DSD to 24/196, but that seems like a step backward. On the other hand, Terminator+ with GAIA and clocklink is thoroughly up to date. Has anybody compared these top current versions from Mojo and Denafrips? They are similarly priced at $11-13K.
mitch2 OP
3,696 posts
 
@johnss 
until you get above that price point, think there is only one..the denafrips terminator.
I am curious what other contenders in the price range you compared with the Terminator - did you try the R2R Holo May KTE or the Bricasti M3 that have been discussed in this thread?  
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,438 posts
 
@dgarretson.   I get your statement. I thought the same having come off the DSD Lampizator Amber 3 with upgrades/mods.  Never thought about it again once I heard how much better all my rips and streaming sounded with the Evo.  Don’t miss DSD and upsampling in the least. On the Mojo it all sounds better.  I am now solidly in the camp that NOS dacs, when done right, simply sound more real, natural and musical.  
dgarretson
2,592 posts
 
@grannyring So interesting, after so many recent innovations in formats and multiples of sampling rates, to be drawn back to an non-oversampling R2R DAC. I’m looking at this from the perspective of an Esoteric K-01X, which has a fine DAC section at a higher price point, but I no longer spin discs. Never been a Lampi fan, which IMO always sounded syrupy. Apart from great sound, the K-01X is heroically built to a fit and finish well above Mojo--except that Mojo, in addition to its vintage NOS chip, dangles intriguing cottage industry cues like Lundahl amorphous trannies, graphene, ERS, 2575 nude resistors, etc. I’ve learned through DIY that these do make a difference, and you won’t find them in TOTL mainstream offers, probably owing to cost of goods. They do beckon. BTW, from the PCB photos it looks like the Mojo is not a fully balanced design, and uses a SE-to-balanced converter. Not a deal killer, but a compromise.
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