Boutique DACs

Aqua Acoustics LaScala. 

McIntosh MDA200

@kray 

I would NOT consider these brands boutique, just my opinion. Examples

Yamaha, Marantz, Technics, Rega, Cambridge, NAD, McIntosh, or anything made in China, etc....

All of these companies in and of themselves are very small, Yamaha, Marantz, Technics may be subsidiaries of much larger conglomerates but other than using them for R&D capitol they operate as private entities.

McIntosh has been using other small companies larger than itself to procure R&D capitol for decades and for the recent few it's been partnering with private equity companies for the same reason and don't be surprised that it's current affiliation with Bose ends sometime in the foreseeable future.

Rega and Cambridge audio are small privately held independent manufactures and NAD is a property of the Lenbrook Group of Pickering, Ontario, Canada who are active as part of the music supply chain in the Canadian electronics industry.

You should know your facts!

@faustuss LOL.. chill. this has nothing to do with facts. how many times to I have to state it's just my opinion. carry on

Merason dac1 mk2      Very analog Swiss dac a great dac and under $9 k

a true bargain 

How about the dCS Varèse.  Not a stand alone DAC, but deserves to be mentioned at the stratospheric level.

Then there is the Wadax Atlantis Reference

Whew!  Has anybody actually heard these?  I certainly haven't.