8 Reasons why you should buy an $50,000 DAC

I wanna hear from those who actually own 50 k plus DAc.

A $50,000 DAC is an investment?

l have never considered hi-fi equipment as an investment.

Every time l make a monetary investment l normally see in the small print…

Disclaimer….. 

Your investment can go up or down.

l would expect in this case a new item $50K DAC “investment” can only go down.

One good financial reason why not to buy at full retail. Now a $25K one second hand may be a sound financial reason why to, and a different story.

A DAC is a poor investment. Next year there will be something better and cheaper.

I am going to eat my words now. I said that I have not heard any DAC substantially better than my under $3k Schitt Yggi+ OG (discontinued). I have compared it to 3 other DACs at $10k, $15k, $20k. I always chose the OG with price being a factor.

Yesterday my friend let me take home a DAC he reps. It is a tube DAC with an ESS chip made in the East. Now I am not a stickler for tubes or ESS DACs, though I have no issue with where a DAC is made. There are geniuses everywhere. My friend is such an audio genius, and I learned today that he was a consultant in the design of the DAC I had in my home.

By all audio measures this new DAC was substantially better than my incredible Schitt Yggi+ OG. The DAC cost a ridiculous $24k and I only took it home because my friend said it was the best DAC he had heard. I have so much respect for his audio acumen that I go with his opinion without asking questions.

The price is not affordable, but I am now going to save up for this DAC.

BTW - If you are in Los Angeles. The DAC I have now will be returned so that it can be played at CanJam Los Angeles this upcoming weekend.

Schiit DACs are good for the money. But that is all. I own one, a friend of my owns one (I’ve heard in my system). They are substantially bested by DACs of higher quality...  depending on your taste almost any DAC over $5K. I have heard Linn, dCs, Audio Research, Berkely, Boulder, etc. Of course you have to pick one aligned with your desired taste and have an appropriate resolving system. Weiss, Chord and some others are relentlessly detailed and analytical, PS Audio are forgiving and warmer, Audio Research and Berkeley are detailed, natural and musical.