DAC to pair with Eversolo DMP-A6

I was using the DMP-A6 Master with a DENAFRIPS Pontus 12th. Loved that sound. I then added a DENAFRIPS Hermes DDC and the jump in performance across the board was amazing. In all my years of tweaking and upgrading adding the Hermes DDC was one of the best upgrades I have ever purchased. For under 3K you can add DENAFRIPS Pontus and Hermes...

DAC’s have different sound qualities.  The R2R ladder hardware DACs tend to sound more analog/musical and the Delta Sigma chipped ones tend to be more resolving/clinical.  I personally run an Eversolo A6 with a Denafrips Pontus 15th ($2K) and love the pairing.  You’ll want to decide which your ears prefer. I play a lot of records when not streaming and the Pontus leans towards that sound.

I have been running the Holo Audio Cyan 2 for over a year. 1. It is an R2R DAC which was my defining feature if I was going to add a DAC, and 2. The physical size fits perfectly with the A6 (I have the Master Edition with the power supply upgrade installed)(PS upgrade took about 30 minutes)

I bought an ES DMP A-6 last February, played around with various settings on it, then added a Centaurus R2R DAC.

My two cents? It made a YUGE difference. I bought a Denafrips Pontus 15th and the seller never sent the unit, meanwhile there were “supply chain issues” and I bought the Centaurus on a try/return option.

Chain is: DMP - Centaurus - Tektron TK2 2A3 (pre-WW2 single plate RCA tubes) into a pair of Schmidt Audio Ubiquitous V2.x (I upgraded speakers and tweeters a bit for higher gain, about 97 dB/watt now - measured). Sounds awesome, spacious, deep, well-resolved. I run old R2R tape through a REVOX PR99 MkIII into an APT-Holman preamp with Schmidt’s SUBiquitous and it feels like front row orchestra with the right tapes.  LPs are just as good.  Again, all through the Centaurus.

Still wonder what I’d gain with the Denafrips at $1k more, but for now it’s good enough. 

As “they” say (they know who they are) YMMV.

Based on your icon, I am a serious Dead fan myself, I would lean towards the R2R DAC’s. I have had a Gungnir Multibit and a Merason Reuss, both good. The Pontus  is likely a good choice, though I have not heard it.

And yes, I think it is likely a separate DAC will improve your system. Be sure to include budget for a good cable, I have had good results with WW Platinum for USB.