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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
mksun
866 posts
 

I have had my Denafrips Pontus II DAC 5 years and it sounds superb using the I2S connection to my Jay’s Audio transport. You may be able to find a used Pontus in your price range. A new Denafrips Ares 15 sells for $1199 if you can stretch your budget a bit. Both are R2R ladder DACS which tend to sound warmer and smoother compared to delta-sigma DACS, and both have I2S connections. That said, I2S compatibility is a crapshoot and I would check with Denafrips prior to making a purchase.

tpt's avatar
tpt
18 posts
 

Google this: 

why the HHB CDR830 makes such a good choice for a DAC unit. 

verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,563 posts
 

I had a Doge in on trade a while back that I sold for around that price point I think.  It sounded great and was super easy to listen to.  

Alternatively, a used PS Audio or Denafrips will do wonderfully.  

russbutton's avatar
russbutton
515 posts
 

You guys with money to burn kill me.  Pick up a used Peachtree DAC iTx off of EBay for about $250 or so.  Spend the rest on concert tickets.

seanheis1
643 posts
 

Denafrips Ares II with the original firmware. It has a proper power supply (no wall wart).

i have owned the black ice/Jolida tube DAC…i didn’t like it…it was too soft sounding and the volume knob felt cheap….Ares II was a big step up for me.

 

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