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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!

signaforce
rikkipuu's avatar
rikkipuu
354 posts
 

@zlone made comments about "leaving the USB space" and using Ethernet over USB that I agree with.  I am prefer Ethernet from an Innuos Statement with a DDC for S/PDIF to a Lampizator Goldengate3 over a direct USB input.

I haven't hear the Tambaqui but would choose it based on the numerous recommendations, reviews and importantly it has Ethernet input.

It seems to me after a DAC upgrade of this level you will be wanting to upgrade your Aurender sooner than later and the Tambaqui will give you options to leave the USB space without needing a DDC.

rsf507
2,577 posts
 

As stated earlier, I love my Bricasti M3, which can be used via USB or Ethernet. I find Ethernet sounds better to my ears, plus I can control everything from either my phone or iPad, including volume. So simple. 

USB Input

  • Supports up to 384 kHz PCM and DSD256 (native or DoP) over USB.

  • Asynchronous USB with electrical isolation for noise reduction.

  • Works directly from a computer or USB audio transport (Mac/Linux without driver; PC with Bricasti driver).

  • High-res streaming via USB from local source devices. 

Ethernet (Network/DLNA/UPnP)

  • Optional RJ45 network interface.

  • Also supports up to 384 kHz PCM and DSD (typically up to DSD128) over the network.

  • Functions as a network player/renderer (e.g., Roon, DLNA apps).

  • Media server sends audio over your LAN to the M3.

mclinnguy's avatar
mclinnguy
1,080 posts
 

I would like to invite just the last half dozen posters in this thread along with myself to go on 10 or so forums each, and post "Chord Dave vs. Bricasti M3 shootout- Dave was warm and mushy and the M3 was clinical and analytical" And @signaforce can run his ChatGPT results again next week and let's see how different the results are. 

helomech
2,011 posts
 

Sorry, wire to wire. A DAC that presents what comes in with no changes.
 

Nearly any modern Topping or SMSL 🫣

abd1
203 posts
 

Great options here. I would add to the recommendation of the Laiv Harmony w/DDC if you want that natural analog R2R sound. If you want something more detailed, dynamic and open I’d recommend the Tambaqui or Aavik D280. 
 

I’ve owned the following dacs in my system:

Grimm MU2

SW1X Level 3 special

Holo May KTE

Denafrips Terminator

Directstream

Lampizator Atlantic SE

Aavik D280

Laiv Harmony w/DDC

various others… also listened to the Tambaqui a few times and was impressed. It is very similar, IMO, to the Aavik D280. Dynamic, transparent and detailed. Great bass and defined leading edges of notes. Every detail on display but not harsh or fatiguing. I currently have the Laiv combo and the Aavik hooked up to my system simultaneously and can A/B then by switching inputs on my LTA Zotl pre 3. The Aavik is clearly “better” in all objective measures than the Laiv, as it should be at about 3-4x in price. But the Laiv is so easy to listen to and you don’t really miss anything that I am so happy with it. I keep trying to “upgrade” the dac but while as few have been “better” (Grimm MU2, Holo May, Aavik D280, SW1x) I can’t say I’ve enjoyed the music more than when listening to the Laiv built. It’s scary how well built and packaged they are for the money. They make most of midrange lampi dacs look like they came out of a garage hobbyists lab, and I’m a lampi fan! The sound of the Laiv is very similar to the Holo May but it’s a little denser and the soundstage is a touch narrower. But when I added the Laiv DDC I found the soundstage to open up to be just as wide as the May and a bit more dynamic. The Grimm is stellar but I couldn’t justify the cost difference and I actually think the star of the show in the Grimm is the preamp. I tested it separately and it was superb. The dac is excellent too but the sound I’m getting from the LTA + Laiv is just so hard to beat without spending thousands more I just keep coming back to it. 
 

Now if you want all that detail and openness and a more dynamic sound the Aavik is fantastic. The D280 wasn’t on my radar but saw a used one and took a chance mainly out of curiosity. I’ve wondered if Aavik is all talk as they don’t give a lot of details on the dac other than talk about Tesla coils and stuff which sounds like a lot of marketing mumbo jumbo to me…. but it’s legit. When switching from the Laiv in realtime to the Aavik it’s like everything woke up! It’s so transparent. Much like the Tambaqui’s I’ve heard. But I prefer the relaxed R2R sound probably for the same reason I like tube amps. I’ll probably put the D280 back up for sale for the same reason I sold the Grimm, May, etc. It’s better than the Laiv for sure but I just get everything I need from the Laiv combo. 

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