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 The pre-MDx model stopped being manufactured by 2020. The What Hi-Fi review is dated 2022. Plus, if you look at its face-off image in the review, the network card is clearly visible. It is still a good deal if you get the one with the remote, even if it is a bit subpar in its dynamic expression in highest standard. I don't think you will have any problem to resell it... |
@lanx0003 Unfortunate. I have a hard time understanding how an internal $1k network card from a non streamer company can outperform an almost $4k streamer from arguably the best streamer company. It’s like saying an integrated amp is superior to separates. I might be wrong but, I don’t believe so. For what it is worth, chatGPT agrees, as did @audphile1 in a post when he owned the M3 & the N200… Regardless, that is my decision. Thanks |
Just my thoughts but my M3 with Ethernet card sounds amazing, even if @signaforce you don't use it having it will make it easier to resell if by chance you don’t like it although I would think not. Also it allows one less box one less cable and one less ac cord and the M3 does benefit from a better ac cord. |
@signaforce the What HiFi review of M3 was overall positive except they noted a Hugo TT2 may be more musically engaging. As it happens I’ve owned the TT2 and to me it sounded cooler and less musically engaging than the M3. That’s when I sold the Chord and picked up an M3, again, but this time without the network card as, as you correctly remember, the n200 was superior as a streamer. The TT2 was also finicky with USB and required periodic reboots. |
@audphile1 Thanks, the zavfino cables I ordered are XLR. I ended up buying the network card model from US audio mart. The seller for the remote model had no pictures of his DAC on the site & refused to pull his DAC from his rack to take any pictures demonstrating excellent condition without payment… a non starter, so moved on. The nice thing is I can potentially test the network card sound for myself. Merry Christmas to everyone! Thanks! |
