2k DAC that gives me what I want like my vintage LP12
I have zero experience in rotating DACs through my system. My Analog chain gives me exactly what I want as a listener. It is based on a vintage LP12 with a few upgrades to power supply, tonearm, cartridge, phono stage, and setup. Detailed, warm, deep silent background, and effortless delivery.
I have an Eversolo A6 and an S.M.S.L CD transport. I decided to purchase a Toppings D70 Pro Octo to feed my streamer and transport into. I was not really disappointed, but certainly not what I was looking for. I want the same or similar level of satisfaction that I feel when I listen to my Analog chain. I also want to stay at or under $2k.. I realize that the dollars in my turntable, arm, cartridge, and phono stage is more than twice that amount, but I was able to assemble it over time.
I want to start with the DAC. I can change Streamer, Server, CD Transport over time if need be. I assume that a good DAC should be able to clock other digital inputs to mitigate many of their shortcomings.
Yes the streamer matters its not just about clocking a dac can’t correct for a corrupted signal the better the data stream the better the soundcwill be we have sold most brands of streamers including innous,aurender, 432 evo sotm baetis and a few others and they all affected the sound quality coming out of the dac. Dave and Troy Audio Intellect Nj |
@maam522a AHA a fellow music lover trying to replicate or beat the LP12 sound. Back in the day It was LP12, Ittok and an assortment of cartridges. LP12 under the stairs to stop feedback from the TDL Monitors I was using at the time. Both myself and my brother had the TDL Monitors and noticed how my modern speakers just didn’t quite make the grade. It’s been a long road of discovery but eventually I think I’ve got the solution. Well for me anyway. I’ve settled on the PMC Twenty5.26 speakers as PMC started where TDL left off. Very detailed speakers with the Transmission line sound I used to love. The amplifier’s are Hypex Nilai 500W Monoblocks. Neutral with unbelievable control. Sorting out a DAC was one of the hardest things. I have a Qutest FPGA, uDAC R2R and Topping D90SE. The Qutest is very detailed and analytical. The D90SE is extremely detailed especially in the bass if a little sterile. The uDAC is detailed but provides a lovely sound stage which is very musical and very satisfying to listen to. Not quite so detailed in the bass but the treble and mid range are superb. It’s always a compromise. Now I needed a purely digital domain streamer that supports Roon. All the controlling will be done by the Roon app so there is no need for any fancy display. In fact it can be out of sight. To this end after much experimenting I was demoed a Diretta link. This is consisted of two boxes one a host with Roon Bridge on it and the other the Target with USB out. The boxes are connected by Ethernet cable. This system sounded absolutely astounding. I’m not really interested as to why but it was simply unbelievable. It beat the top end streamers I had previously auditioned. So there you have it. My brother thinks it’s actually better than my LP12 used to be. Very detailed. You hear more from the tracks. Sound stage almost surrounds you. Bass the LP12 could only dream of due to the limitations of records. I’m very pleased with the outcome to be honest. One last point with Qobuz I no longer need a spare room to store the records. Hope this helped. One mans Journey :) |
I think its going to take a bigger budget to be your LP12 assuming its dialed in. The Eversolo A6 is actually pretty good on its own. The A8 for about $2k is better and pretty hard to beat without spending multiples of its price.
I dont know what your other electronics are, but you described as "mid-fi." So, perhaps your sonic bottleneck is somewhere else in your setup.
If I were you, I'd look at used perhaps a DAC that sold new for $10k+ that selled today for much less. I propose patience because spending $2j may be at best a sideways move and at worst a step backwards. |
