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End Game Dac reccomendations

Hello all! The following is my current audio system, I think my DAC is the weakest link, the rest of it I am fairly confident is reference grade. Would love some opinions on what DACS would voice well with my system, thanks!.

 

From router: Lumin N1 -> Lumin U2X (clocks synched) -> Denafrips Gaia -> Denafrips Terminator Plus (clocks synched) -> ARC REF 10 -> ARC REF 160S -> Focal Scala Utopia Evo and Rel 31. Power conditioning with Niagara 7000, Furutech NCFR  wall outlet, isoacoustics isopucks under all componenets and gaia 1 neo underneath speakers. Thunderbird power cables and bi-wire speaker cables, AQ Diamond USB from U2X to Gaia, Dragon 48 from gaia to terminator plus, thunderbird xlr as interconnects.

My short list of DACs I think would be a great fit are Lampizator poseidon, horizon, or genya, Allnic Audio D10000/D15000, or some variation of an MSB discreet. Please give me your thoughts though. I would love peace of mind knowing my DAC is up to the class of components of the rest of my system.

I would love to upgrade my dac to improve soundstage size and holography without reducing the micro detail and blackness from my current denafrips stack. Would love to hear your opininions! open to trades and offers for sales if you have something that would fit my bill to, cheers!

tp802
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,934 posts
 

from my personal experience lampizators are the best sounding units, significantly more musical and involving than the best denafrips (and other top tier solid state units out there like weiss, msb, bricasti, chord, emm, dcs and so on, as good as they are)  ... though unless you truly have $$$$ burning a big hole in your pocket, going right to lampi’s $20k+ and up models is unnecessary to get the essential, wonderful musical experience these dacs provide

feel free to refer to my system as a point of reference, good luck, have fun

kirkwallace's avatar
kirkwallace
425 posts
 

@jjss49 have you, by any chance, been able to compare any of the Lampizators models to the Aries Cerat Helene or Kassandra II? (I have not been able to hear any Lampies nor any of the A-Cs, but am keen to!)

12many
366 posts
 

Nice system !!    I think your DAC is top shelf - you can spend more but the one you have sure sounds good.  Not the input you are seeking but have you tried using the AES connection between your streamer and DAC instead of USB?  I prefer AES. Might you also consider a Shunyata power conditioner or their grounding system, and room treatment before a DAC.   I heard your Utopias with your amp, and it was super nice.    

tp802 OP
7 posts
 

@jjss49 I enjoy planning out ahead into the future, and unless you see any other holes in my system, the Gaia and T+ combo definitley seems to be 1 rung below all my other components. Between the Poseidon, Genya, and Horizon, do you have any opinions? I like the idea of the Genya due to no unnecessary tech involved. I am sure all would sound beautiful, but do not really have the opportunity to audition any of the models. Genya and Poseidon are also more quickly attainable. Would the lesser Lampi models sacrifice some of the blackness and microdetail that my current setup provides? Thanks!

tp802 OP
7 posts
 

@12many No doubt, many consider the stack reference grade or "world class", but when considering my other components I am unsure this remains true, the lampizators for instance seem to reliably be rated more favorably then the T +. And the U2X has isolated USB out, I think that tech is very sonically beneficial. The AQ diamond is also a wonderful usb cable. I already have an AQ niagara 7000 conditioner as well. 

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