A Newcomer to Digital Looking to Upgrade My Dac, Tubes? Ideas?


Being a relative newcomer to digital downloads and playback, I love the convenience when I am looking for a short music session and don't feel like going through my vinyl. I find the digital quality pretty good, but looking to upgrade my dac to get some additional warmth into my playback, I'm thinking maybe a tube dac, not sure what I should spend but cost wise was thinking of $ 2,000.00 as a budget. Not sure if such a dac exists, or if you have suggestions. I have built up a pretty good collection of both PCM and DSD HD music, mostly copies of what I have on vinyl but the vinyl has seen better days. Currently I am using a TEAC UD-501, tube preamp- (Schiit Mjolnir 2), Amp.- (Adcom 555se), Balanced throughout usually through my PC but I also use my portable through the coax to the dac. Speakers are Wilson Benesch Square 2. Unfortunately I have an L shaped listening room, which seconds as our living room, typical of what you find in a condo, volume levels are generally low to medium, to spare the neighbours, and I split my time between the speakers and headphones.
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You can definitely find a DAC which offers good SQ for $2000. If you go the used route, it could take you to a higher level Dac, I bought a used Audio Note.
There are many positive user reviews about MHDT and Border Patrol which use a tube stage. A lot of good buzz about Topping and Exogal.

Browse the classifieds to see the wide variety of Dacs.


If you already have tubes in the sequence more tubes may not be a best solution.  I use Denafrips Ares2 in a hybrid pre / power setup. Tried many DAC's including Chord Qutest, Burston Conductor and others. Didn't see my system improve with more expensive DACs.
+1 for Yggdrasil, far better than vinyl for equivalent price in my experience