DAC recommendations under $7K

ChatGPT is great for audio since it’s knowledge about audio is mostly from the online audio forums. A nice way to get an aggregation of information on some audio topic.

With regards to DACs, I am partial to the Schiit Yggi+ DACs. They are the best bang for the buck DACs. Saying all of that I sold my Yggi+ OG DAC (amazing DAC) and will put my not yet delivered Byggy DAC up for sale because my new DAC, the Imersiv D-1 is just heads and shoulders better than the Yggi’s. 

I would take the Yggi’s over most of the DAC’s mentioned so far, unfortunately the form factor is very large. 

wire to wire

There is no DAC that will output as much detail (music) as the D-1. The Imersiv DAC is designed using what Imersiv calls multi-path. I am assuming other DAC companies will start licensing this technology. I have been listening to this DAC for a month now and it is one of a kind (at any price).

From what I read online, Imersiv is lining up for a $100M IPO in the future.

@yyzsantabarbara  What is wire-to-wire? I’ve heard of point-to-point wiring, which provides direct connections using discrete wiring between stages instead of PCBs, but I’ve never heard the term wire-to-wire. The D-1 uses a fairly advanced PCB-based architecture, not point-to-point wiring.

@zlone Sorry, just reread your posts and see you replaced your Merason recently with the M3. Would still like your impressions of the M3 beyond liking it. The key thing I am looking for is clarity without digital haze & etching I am sometimes experiencing with my Qutest & Ref 3’s. Thanks 

Another vote for the T+A DAC 200.   I have one and love it.   To my ears it matches well with what you described you are looking for.

@signaforce, lucky you getting to play some December golf. I live on the fourth and thirteenth tees of our small islands golf course. Unfortunately it’s on Madeline Island on Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin, so no golf here for another few months. At least the ceilings are 20ft high so I çan swing my Miura’s in the living room. 
 

 When I was putting my system together we were living in a tiny townhouse waiting for the pandemic to quit. So those being the circumstances, I purchased a Chord Qutest that packed a lot of DAC into a deceptively small package. I was totally thrilled and delighted until I was at my longtime audio gear dealers and I started demoing different hp’s using their floor model Chord TT2. I immediately drove home, packed up the new Qutest, and exchanged it for the TT2, with the provision that when a new black TT2 came available I could trade the floor model for the new one. 
 

 The TT2 gave me the sound signature that I was looking for, plus its small footprint and functionality were just what the doctor ordered. I feed my m scaler from my music server/streamer using an AudioWise SRC DX USB to BNC converter between an AQ Diamond USB and a single WAVE High Fidelity Storm BNC cable, and then two WAVE Storm BNC’s between the m scaler and TT2. Before the m scaler and boutique BNC cables found their way into my setup, I really enjoyed just using the TT2 on my nightstand, plus it’s small enough that I took it on a couple of extended business trips in my briefcase because I wanted my music with me. 
 

 My TT2 is powered at home by an Sbooster 15-16v LPS. Having the cleanest power possible running through your system is crucial. 

 If you like the Chord sound signature then I’d say the TT2 is a great way to go. I’ve tried almost every DAC mentioned here, with the Chord DAVE being pretty close to the top of my list because of its incredible soundstage and its revealing presentation in almost every genre of music I listen to. I did find that its sound didn’t seem as full bodied as the TT2 with the speakers and hp’s that I have, but the imaging and instrument separation are phenomenal. 

 The Mola Mola Tambaqui is also a superb DAC that has a relatively small footprint.  

The dCS Bartok sounded kinda bloated and forced like it was adding an extra layer of filtering for people with poor hearing. Don’t know cuz I spent a week with it. The higher end dCS DAC’s are on another planet when it comes to my budget. 

 With the Weiss DAC’s you simply have to listen to one first. Great build quality with good ergonomics and a nice neutral and clean music presentation. 

 Whatever you do, take you time.