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Recommendations on a Warm Sounding DAC under $1100.00

Currently I have a Black Ice Glass FX Tube DAC that sounds great, it’s just that I purchased a Matrix TT-1 Streamer Transport, that sounds amazing and appears is not compatible with the Black Ice via USB due to the clocking circuitry in the TT-1.It works great via Coaxial but I’m really interested in trying the I2S input as well as USB. 
My set up tends to be on the forward side and not looking for “The DAC of The Week” that so often is promoted on Youtube, so any thoughts on a warm sounding DAC  that anyone has experience with in my price range would be greatly appreciated. 

skiznfliz
skiznfliz OP
70 posts
 

Thank you so far for the responses..

@lanx0003 I’m not locked into a tube DAC as an option, really looking for something just not so forward.I’d really like something that is warm sounding if at all possible. For laughs I tried a FIIO BR15 R2R just to hear what an R2R is like without breaking the bank. It’s ok, returned it though being I would get static on anything streamed on 48kHz. 
Thinking about the new Musician Pegasus III or Laiv uDac as possible options.  

bigshutterbug
395 posts
 

Try the Holo Audio Cyan II R2R DAC. I've enjoyed mine for 2 years, and never found it to be a weak point in my system.  Sounds fantastic using the I2S input. 

jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,926 posts
 

used pontus

mhdt dac

used van alstine tubed dac

used metrum

all the above should outperform the glass ice/jolida fx, based on my experience

 

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,625 posts
 

Holo springs don’t know the model very good feedback and reviews.

bobbyloans
101 posts
 

Gustatd was my first DAC. I loved it for the money 

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