Not sure how much realism or "sense of acoustic space" is important to you, but if it is, I second the opinion on the T+A DAC200. It's an insane piece of machinery. One that will probably have you making cable tweaks etc bc it will reveal any flaws in your upstream components. I recommend maybe trying two or three DACs if possible because it is such a personal choice! I loved the T+A but knew I'd have to probably swap a lot of upstream gear for it to blend perfectly and didn't want to go down that rabbit hole. But man it made live performances sound like I was in the room!
DAC recommendations under $7K
OK, my R11’s were destroyed by FedEx on the way to their new owners, and the check is OTW from FedEx in payment, so I am ready to buy a new DAC.
My digital equipment:
Simaudio Moon 330A
PSaudio BHK pre with Tele Medical tubes (also have Brimar & Sieman’s NOS tubes)
KEF Reference 3’s
Aurender N150
Chord Qutest with Sbooster + Ultra LPS
Transparent + Gen 5 speaker cables
Cardas Clear USB
Mogami 2549 interconnects
I am looking to spend less than $7K new or used. Size of the DAC is important, as I don’t have room for a standard width (17’) DAC and height is also a potential issue, so the PSaudio, Holo May, etc are out. I ’thought’ I wanted warmer, but after reading the excellent "If warmth is distortion... " post, I think I want a W2W DAC, front row or conductor seat sound.
Perhaps best described as my Qutest, only better. Better imaging, soundstage, no digital haze, no digital etching... clearer, cleaner. BTW, I never experience fatigue with my Qutest, filter set on incisive with HF rolloff. I wear very good hearing aids, but as a result, my HF hearing above 9khz is non existent.
My N150 is USB output only & I listen exclusively to Qobuz PCM, so I need a DAC with excellent USB capability & DSD, Roon etc is not important. I want it to be only a DAC as I plan to keep my N150 & BHK. I don’t want a tube DAC.
My next upgrade is probably my interconnects with OCC copper.
My current #1 contender is the Bricasti M3, perfect size, nice industrial design, great USB implementation, W2W sound, great reviews, everything I think I need, very little I don’t.
ChatGPT describes the M3 as follows...
What the M3 sounds like vs your Qutest:
Imagine your Qutest but—
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cleaner
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smoother
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more open
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less grain
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more precise
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more neutral
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more “grown-up” sounding
Not warmer. Not colder. Not more aggressive. Just… higher-end execution of the same overall philosophy.
I know several of you don’t like chatGPT, but keep your replies to disputing it’s findings, not it’s use. For me, it is a part of a 3 leg stool, together with other research & input from this forum.
Other DAC’s that were/are in contention are the Holo Spring 3 KTE, Mystique X, Weiss 501, Chord Dave & Chord TT2. As I said, the PSaudio, Holo May etc are too large. I am sure there are more DAC’s to consider.
Before I pull the trigger on the M3, please provide your thoughts & recommendations. I want to make a very well informed purchase. Thank you!
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A Laiv Harmony DAC (+/- the addition of their DDC - I have that also) is a very precise and accurate device that does not distort at all. I think it punches above its weight class personally. The micro-DDC does not add much to the size of the setup and its' reclocking might reduce jitter and give an even more clean/precise digital signal from the Aurender streamer. I am very happy with mine (signal from an Innuos streamer). |
Hi Signa. Your system is really coming along. I bet it sounds amazing. You and I have some overlap in our systems. I also use an N150 and the BHK preamp, and like you I was DAC shopping. I was using the Benchmark DAC, which I really enjoyed, but I wanted to try a different DAC approach, such as an R2R topology. Like you, I looked and looked and read and read - that is part of the fun. Some DACs were too much one way or the other with detail and warmth, accuracy and measurements. I ended up getting a Denefrips Venus 15 to try, knowing that I could sell it if I did not like it. It is well reviewed and is for the most part the prior year Terminator, which was well reviewed. So far, I am really enjoying the voicing of the Venus. I plan on keeping the Benchmark for my headphone system because it is amazing, plus, nice to have the option to swap it back in. Todd and TEK Audio Specialist was very helpful and great to work with. The Venus is full sized, so does not meet that requirement. However, I believe they have smaller options and 2) in the past I adjusted my set up to fit in a piece I want. I will swap out or add a rack to improve the sound before I would force myself into a form factor that is not my first choice. In fact, I have to do a re-arrange of my current system due to the larger size of the Venus. Please keep us updated. |
I've had my LTA Aero now for about 3 months and could not be happier. My system was sounding great with just using the built in Bluesound DAC, but instantly grew the soundstage and textures with the Aero in place. Great company, they offered to send me these Tung-sol Black Glass Round Plate tubes for me to try over the standard tubes they offer and WOW! So smooth and good. I find myself never wanting to turn the music off. My kids have had to tell me it's time for them to sleep several times - so a new room is in the cards added to the back of the house. Enjoy, I can't imagine the 30 day return policy will be used by you. They might even get it to you sooner than you expect, mine came about a week and a half earlier than what they were predicting. |
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