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—
cleaner
smoother
more open
less grain
more precise
more neutral
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!
@milpai You are correct. Qobuz via USB from my N150. The N150 is USB output only & I believe Qobuz is only PCM. I do have a CD player but almost never use it. Unfortunately the May (double stack) is too large, so my only Holo alternative is the Spring 3 KTE. |
The fact that you only play PCM does NOT make the DAC 200 less attractive. I sometimes use the Bezier II filter wit PCM data and it sounds fantastic. But I am bummed that I cannot recommend you to use HQ Player to convert PCM to DSD, since you are not interested in that. The size of this DAC is also what you are looking for. Since you are in NY, you probably have a lot of dealers around. Check with them if they have a second-hand that you are interested in purchasing. That way you can listen to it and then make a decision. Good luck in your search and hope you land with a DAC that will satisfy all your needs. |
@adasdad i just reread your post & am very intrigued. You found a very interesting work around for USB to your m scaler. I currently don’t have room for both an m scaler and DAC. That may change but not short term. Would you recommend the TT2 without it? I understand the Dave when combined with the m scaler is magical. Did you try the Dave with your m scaler or standalone? So price independent you prefer the TT2? |
@milpai I am in NC, with limited access to various dealers. My local dealer Audio Advise sells both Chord & T+A but not installed in their showrooms for listening. |
Did you manage to peruse Verdant's review on many of these DAC's you are considering? https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/dac-shootout-starts-this-weekend?page=2 These two DACs are like comparing BMW and Lexus. Both are exceptional at what they have chosen to do but are opposites in terms of style. If I was to sit down and listen to Prokofiev’s Lt Kije Suite or Beethoven’s 9th, I would choose the TT2 without question in this system. If I was to listen to Black Sabbath’s Volume 4 or Peter Gabriel’s So, the M3 would be my choice.
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