I really appreciate and enjoy your enthusiasm for this hobby and the products that you review. You have given me a nice shopping/wish list of DACs and speakers to hopefully try one day soon. I would love to see you review products from Mola Mola, Spatial Audio, and the May DACs, as I enjoy how your reviews are done. Thank you for your all you do. Be safe.
I wonder where the T+A DAC 200 would place on this list. It has countless excellent reviews. At $7k it isn’t cheap but many say it competes with dcS DACs.
I just picked up a Pegasus and am curious how or if it ranks amongst these. I didn't have a sufficient budget for a Holo Spring 3 😥 However, I am happy with it, especially having upgraded from a DS DAC that couldn't handle DSD playback.
A lot of those devices are not top sounding. They have tons of distortion and noise but some old guy convinces you that it's magical tasteful distortion, therefore you should give thousands of dollars to him.
Gotta add my vote for a review of Holo Audio KTE Spring DAC 3. I've been using this DAC for about 5 months now and its simply amazing. I chose the version with the preamp installed as well. The May is supposed to be a bit better that the Spring DAC 3, but the price point here is right in the sweet spot IMO.
Agree, the Holo Spring 3 KTE it's probably the best DAC at the 3K price point. Let me say that also the streamer can upgrade a lot the sound quality of digital source.
Nice! Talking about entry level, I wonder if you have ever heard an MSB dac. I have the dynaudio heritage special by the way and your review did help me.
I bought the Pontus II based on all the rave reviews- and it’s true, it was smooth and analogue-like. Unfortunately what those reviews didn’t tell us is that the Pontus II lacks a TON of detail. It was all gone. I upgraded to the Holo May KTE (yes, way more expensive) and finally found smooth AND detailed. Bottom line, if you value detail at all- I believe the Pontus II will leave you wanting greatly. Luckily I sold it easily and only took a small loss.
i have the Aires, i agree its not best at detail but it is just so musical. listened to Pentangle last night and it knocked it out of the park. have it paired with Rega electronics
I cannot comment on the more expensive DACS but for me the Pontus II is a revelation. I think all this is so subjective and depends also on our systems. I have tried several overs the years and for me the Pontus blows them all away. I myself never noticed a lack of detail, quite the contrary but for me the musical warm presentation is so addictive and rewarding. Never heard the other DACS in this list but I must say I was surprised the Pontus was not higher up 😊
@@xstensl8823 I had the Aires and I think in terms of value it is incredible. In many ways it’s all the DAC one would ever need. But I do strongly think all this depends on our system.
You should really try the Holo May KTE, according to other reviewers it beats the Terminator Plus and some say also the Chord Dave, dCS Bartok and Mola Mola Tambaqui. It was Stereophile Product of the Year in 2020 for a reason. I am curious to see whether this new dCS Lina can truly beat it.
I just upgraded my Chord Qutest to the PlixiR Elite BDC power supply and it's easily #4 on the list with this "mod". Such a massive improvement that it torched a standard Hugo TT2 in the same system. Sounds very y close to a DAVE but I've not compared them directly yet.
@@susokraut I don't stop half way. I have a 5.2kVa (114lb) Topaz 1:1 ultra isolator with .0005pf interwinding capacitance that then feeds a Furman Elite PFi 20. This combo absolutely shamed the AQ7000 And the PS Audio PS20 when I had week long demos of those units against my setup. I'm at a very high level for power. Using all Audience or Gotham UltraPro power cords, too. 👍
Bartok 2.0 firmware upgrade is exceptional and takes the Bartok close to the Rossini DAC. Add the Rossini clock to the Bartok 2.0 and it is some combination . The Lina plus clock is inferior to the Bartok 2.0 plus Rossini clock. The Lina is intended as a head fi DAC and not a hifi DAC . Also curious to know whether your Lina was run in ?
Excellent top10 of the units you had a chance to listen to. For myself , I enjoyed how you described the differences between each of the units and the importance of matching a DAC with one’s speakers and listening taste.
@@AT-wl9yq I don’t know if they sound diff or we think they sound diff. A lot of ppl say dac make a big diff sound nobody seems to be able to perform AB on them
With your experience with so many components at so many price points, are you ever puzzled by the asking prices? Such excellent quality can be obtained for $5,000 and then competition is priced at $20,000! Any thoughts?
I have the DCS Bartok DAC. When I first had it did not care for the sound as much then had a software upgrade and noticed a great improvement. I have had the DAC about a year. Recently upgraded being installed this Friday to a Rossini APEX Dac (trading in Bartok) with separate master clock. Looking forward to seeing how that performs.
The best DAC that I have ever heard by a country mile -- and I've heard a lot of DAC's -- is the DAC inside the Arcam FMJ CD23, which, sadly, does not include a digital input. If someone out there could mod that piece to accept asynchronous USB, I'd never own another source again in my life.
would you review the geshelli labs DAC ? The inexpensive one. I hear it punches above its class. Also, please review the Black Ice tube DAC - the one around $800
My favorite cars are: first Mercedes F1 2022 model. Second: Red Bull F1 2022 model. Third, Ferrari F1 2022 model. Although my preferred ones, I have a Toyota Yaris…
Far more useful would be a DAC list considering the value of second hand gear vis-a-vis new offerings. For example how does a $5k DAC from 2 yrs ago compare to current listings at $500. I am price sensitive and unafraid to buy second hand. Don't need the latest/greatest gadget, but need VALUE!!!!!!!
Thanks for a great dac list! Very interesting. The best dac I’ve ever heard is the Mola Mola Tambaqi - would be great the hear how it compares to the Lina. If I’m not mistaken they are more or less in the same price range… just a thought :)
would you review the geshelli labs DAC ? The inexpensive one. I hear it punches above its class. Also, please review the Black Ice tube DAC - the one around $800
Why? This is the typical hype train just running its course. How else can companies use reviewers to convince consumers to buy their products? I've had both the May KTE and the Yggdrasil LiM, and I kept the Yggy. Just go based off of your own ears, not a reviewer's tier list. : ) Be careful with hype trains -- they're so prevalent in this hobby, which is funny considering how little innovation HiFi has seen since the late 70's lol
Not a DAC but a CD player: Naim CDX2 + XPS power supply. Way too expensive, the transport is on borrowed time, it treats compressed, poorly mixed black metal with total distain, lacks some treble details and needs the XPS power supply to really sing but nothing sounds as powerful and rhythmic.
No Benchmark Audio DAC in the top ten? Benchmark Audio DAC's we're only used by EMI/Abbey Road to remaster all the Beatles and Pink Floyd music catalogs. If you haven't heard them, give them a listen,
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Can you please review HoloAudio - May DAC - KTE May
I second this review suggestion!!
Have you reviewed the Holo Audio May KTE DAC?
He has not. Interested in this….
Would love to get your impressions of the Holo May. KTE or otherwise 🙏🏼
The May is Awesome !
Please check out the Holo May KTE DAC if you have the chance... would be great to see where you'd insert it in your list.
Have you ever experienced and reviewed the Rockna Wavedream?
Denafrips is made in China, in Singapur is the distributor.
I really appreciate and enjoy your enthusiasm for this hobby and the products that you review. You have given me a nice shopping/wish list of DACs and speakers to hopefully try one day soon. I would love to see you review products from Mola Mola, Spatial Audio, and the May DACs, as I enjoy how your reviews are done. Thank you for your all you do. Be safe.
Have you ever heard the HoloAudio May KTE DAC? I pair it with Grimm MU1 streamer. DCS always has interested me.
another worth listening to would be the Meitner MA3... thanks for all of you dac investigations :)
Very unnatural sounding dac. Not recommended at all
@@Zero1O6 Are you kidding? It's a superb dac !
@@paulb.3227 Depending on level of your sound expertise
@@Zero1O6 No no; depending on the level of resolving qualities in your set!
It's just damned neutral.
Denafrips is made in China but sold in Singapore
I absolutely love this Pontus II DAC, I liked it more than DAC in Hegel H190.
Just upgraded to Venus II.
@@goahead3995 And, the price is right.
I wonder where the T+A DAC 200 would place on this list. It has countless excellent reviews. At $7k it isn’t cheap but many say it competes with dcS DACs.
can't wait for you to get your hands on a MSB Discrete.
I traded my Dave/Mscaler (an amazing combo) for dCS and there is no comparison. Dave is clinical by comparison.
Thanks for these recommendations.
What about Musician (Aquarius and Pegasus) and Chord Hugo TT2?
I just picked up a Pegasus and am curious how or if it ranks amongst these. I didn't have a sufficient budget for a Holo Spring 3 😥 However, I am happy with it, especially having upgraded from a DS DAC that couldn't handle DSD playback.
Like everything else in our hobby, it takes cubic dollars to get to the top sounding components. Great to have so many options!
A lot of those devices are not top sounding. They have tons of distortion and noise but some old guy convinces you that it's magical tasteful distortion, therefore you should give thousands of dollars to him.
@@susokraut LOL!!! 😂😂
Not sure how the Holo May KTE didn’t make the list 🤷🏼♂️
Any experience with the mola mola tambaqui?
Gotta add my vote for a review of Holo Audio KTE Spring DAC 3. I've been using this DAC for about 5 months now and its simply amazing. I chose the version with the preamp installed as well. The May is supposed to be a bit better that the Spring DAC 3, but the price point here is right in the sweet spot IMO.
I hope if he does review any of the Holo DACs that he lets it break in for at least 500 hours….they really do sound awesome!
Agree, the Holo Spring 3 KTE it's probably the best DAC at the 3K price point. Let me say that also the streamer can upgrade a lot the sound quality of digital source.
Great list but I would have included the mola mola tambaqui
Where would you position it on the list?
Would also recommend Ed Meitner MA3 from EMM Labs
Nice! Talking about entry level, I wonder if you have ever heard an MSB dac. I have the dynaudio heritage special by the way and your review did help me.
I would like to buy the Denafrips Venus II. I hope you can review that at some point to compare it to the Terminator+ or Pontus.
I bought the Pontus II based on all the rave reviews- and it’s true, it was smooth and analogue-like. Unfortunately what those reviews didn’t tell us is that the Pontus II lacks a TON of detail. It was all gone. I upgraded to the Holo May KTE (yes, way more expensive) and finally found smooth AND detailed. Bottom line, if you value detail at all- I believe the Pontus II will leave you wanting greatly. Luckily I sold it easily and only took a small loss.
i have the Aires, i agree its not best at detail but it is just so musical. listened to Pentangle last night and it knocked it out of the park. have it paired with Rega electronics
I cannot comment on the more expensive DACS but for me the Pontus II is a revelation. I think all this is so subjective and depends also on our systems. I have tried several overs the years and for me the Pontus blows them all away. I myself never noticed a lack of detail, quite the contrary but for me the musical warm presentation is so addictive and rewarding. Never heard the other DACS in this list but I must say I was surprised the Pontus was not higher up 😊
@@lesterrobinson3169 i am hearing details in the music with my Aires that i have never heard before. game changer and a bargain to boot.
@@xstensl8823 I had the Aires and I think in terms of value it is incredible. In many ways it’s all the DAC one would ever need. But I do strongly think all this depends on our system.
@@lesterrobinson3169 i have a Rega Brio amp and Rega RS1 speakers. not sure if i would benefit from a upgrade to the Pontus 2
No mention of Holo May? I love mine.
You should really try the Holo May KTE, according to other reviewers it beats the Terminator Plus and some say also the Chord Dave, dCS Bartok and Mola Mola Tambaqui. It was Stereophile Product of the Year in 2020 for a reason. I am curious to see whether this new dCS Lina can truly beat it.
That would be the ultimate comparison
The Holo May is more natural sounding
You should get in a mola mola dac at some point. Some have liked and preferred it to the dcs dacs.
Wish you had reviewed the mola mola tambaqui, Aries cerat, audio note dac 5 and other hi end pieces.
I just upgraded my Chord Qutest to the PlixiR Elite BDC power supply and it's easily #4 on the list with this "mod". Such a massive improvement that it torched a standard Hugo TT2 in the same system. Sounds very y close to a DAVE but I've not compared them directly yet.
@@susokraut Already running through an IRIS DDC with TCXO femto clocks before Qutest. Word clock is next.
@@susokraut I don't stop half way. I have a 5.2kVa (114lb) Topaz 1:1 ultra isolator with .0005pf interwinding capacitance that then feeds a Furman Elite PFi 20. This combo absolutely shamed the AQ7000 And the PS Audio PS20 when I had week long demos of those units against my setup. I'm at a very high level for power. Using all Audience or Gotham UltraPro power cords, too. 👍
Uh huh...
Great sum up, you should also try the newer MSB
line up portfolio also when you get the chance 👍
All too expensive for the 'ordinary man'.
How about a review of the 'Best Value' DACS?
I agree I was hoping to some budget DACs in the list or a budget dac review
PS: did you ever listened to the Viva Audio's Numerico Dac?
You could like or dislike it but Audio Note UK DACs must be in any top dac review.
I have a sonnet Morpheus & it's glorious, Dan from NZ
I own a Metrum Acoustics Adagio. Cees does make a great DAC.
Have you tried the Schiit Yggdrasil?
@@susokraut and?
I would add Musician Aquarius and Pegasus to your question.
Does Fisher-Price design Chord gear?
But did you check with Amir to see how they measure ;)
Junk science. That guy is clueless.
Bartok 2.0 firmware upgrade is exceptional and takes the Bartok close to the Rossini DAC. Add the Rossini clock to the Bartok 2.0 and it is some combination . The Lina plus clock is inferior to the Bartok 2.0 plus Rossini clock. The Lina is intended as a head fi DAC and not a hifi DAC . Also curious to know whether your Lina was run in ?
Lina and clock should be close to Rossini w/o clock
@@labalo5 it’s not . It uses different architecture and doesn’t have the mappers .
Excellent top10 of the units you had a chance to listen to. For myself , I enjoyed how you described the differences between each of the units and the importance of matching a DAC with one’s speakers and listening taste.
Outstanding review !
Thank you for a great list of DAC.
Honestly can anyone pick them apart via blind AB? Just curious as one is costing like over 13k.
If they sound different, why wouldn't you be able to tell them apart?
Blind or double blind test just doesn’t seem to work in the wold of high-end audio!
@@AT-wl9yq I don’t know if they sound diff or we think they sound diff. A lot of ppl say dac make a big diff sound nobody seems to be able to perform AB on them
Great list, have you ever heard the Border Patrol DAC? It has my interest lately and maybe it could be a more budget friendly Lampazator option?
Love my Border Patrol dac!
So is the DCS Luna going to move in permanently? I hear that sort of excitement at the end of this.
and the Canary audio DMS 650, that you enjoyed so much,?
Thanks for a great list and review. Any words about Mytek Manhattan 2?
With your experience with so many components at so many price points, are you ever puzzled by the asking prices? Such excellent quality can be obtained for $5,000 and then competition is priced at $20,000! Any thoughts?
I have the DCS Bartok DAC. When I first had it did not care for the sound as much then had a software upgrade and noticed a great improvement. I have had the DAC about a year. Recently upgraded being installed this Friday to a Rossini APEX Dac (trading in Bartok) with separate master clock. Looking forward to seeing how that performs.
Have you ever tried PLAYBACK DESIGNS
And the flavor of the month goes to….DCS! 👏🙄🤦♂️
Have you ever listened and compared the MATRIX AUDIO i-3 Pro? any opinion in terms of quality?
I don't know why the Holo May Dac is not on this list. It should be IMO, at least the top 5 in this list. Maybe you've never listened to it?
Do you think the Weiss DAC204 would compare to the Chord Qutest.
The best DAC that I have ever heard by a country mile -- and I've heard a lot of DAC's -- is the DAC inside the Arcam FMJ CD23, which, sadly, does not include a digital input. If someone out there could mod that piece to accept asynchronous USB, I'd never own another source again in my life.
What about the 10 best DACS, under 500$ ?
Have you reviewed the new Esoteric DAC’s N-01XD, and N-05XD?
would you review the geshelli labs DAC ? The inexpensive one. I hear it punches above its class. Also, please review the Black Ice tube DAC - the one around $800
DCS products are a treat to listen thru-has no signature
Very cool review(s), thanks!
Nice! I have all these on my top 800 DAC list. I wouldn't put them on my top 300 list though.
do you intend to review the Grimm Audio MU1?
what is the most suitable for rock and metal music dac?
What is your reference streamer for DACs that don’t have streamers
please do something similar but for Pre-amps
Mine were HOLO AUDIO R2R DAC "MAY" followed by RME dac adi-2 fs .
Yeah man that's it man.
Where ist the Best DAC/Pre - Resolution Audio Cantata 3.0?
If you like the Lina you will love the Rossini.
I could of sworn he liked Pontus over Lampizator.
A severe case of inconsistency...or memory loss!
He also said he preferred the Pontus over the chord qutest lol
NICE ! I wonder what your list would look like if there are $$$ constraints, say up to $2.5Kish ?
Are sure lampizator is not number1 ? I heard chord qutest improve a lot by using battery as power supply so test it if you have one.
I’d switch dcs for weiss (#1) all day they also have an upgraded version of the Weiss :)
Could you please help share your comparison between them? I’m considering between these two and bartok as well
Audio engine 150 euro is all I need ..oh and a few beers...best sound bar none
Check out the Rossini apex.
“Most favourite”
Bright
Brighter
Brightest
Most brightest???
My favorite cars are: first Mercedes F1 2022 model. Second: Red Bull F1 2022 model. Third, Ferrari F1 2022 model. Although my preferred ones, I have a Toyota Yaris…
Denafrips products are made in China but distribution admin is based in Singapore.
$13,000 for a DAC...hell to think of the great system I can buy with 13k with a 1k dac
a $20,000 dac was by far the best part of a $25,000 system. Speakers are next. Amp is next. Most expensive amps sound the same.
Far more useful would be a DAC list considering the value of second hand gear vis-a-vis new offerings. For example how does a $5k DAC from 2 yrs ago compare to current listings at $500. I am price sensitive and unafraid to buy second hand. Don't need the latest/greatest gadget, but need VALUE!!!!!!!
I can arrange if you wanna try our method 4!
Gr8 list, but incomplete. No Mola Mola, May and upgraded Bartok… those three are probably the top end of DACs at this time.
Try the halo may dac kte
Thanks for a great dac list! Very interesting. The best dac I’ve ever heard is the Mola Mola Tambaqi - would be great the hear how it compares to the Lina. If I’m not mistaken they are more or less in the same price range… just a thought :)
Mola Mola great too…a little analytical…I like higher end Lampizator’s better but 35k for a Pacific should be better
would you review the geshelli labs DAC ? The inexpensive one. I hear it punches above its class. Also, please review the Black Ice tube DAC - the one around $800
Where is the Holo May KTE? A dac tier list without the Holo May... That hurts.
Why? This is the typical hype train just running its course. How else can companies use reviewers to convince consumers to buy their products?
I've had both the May KTE and the Yggdrasil LiM, and I kept the Yggy. Just go based off of your own ears, not a reviewer's tier list. : )
Be careful with hype trains -- they're so prevalent in this hobby, which is funny considering how little innovation HiFi has seen since the late 70's lol
Emm Labs or Meitner Audio review?
I love my Directstream DAC with Bridge 2
What is the best Dax for rock and metal music up to you?
Not a DAC but a CD player: Naim CDX2 + XPS power supply.
Way too expensive, the transport is on borrowed time, it treats compressed, poorly mixed black metal with total distain, lacks some treble details and needs the XPS power supply to really sing but nothing sounds as powerful and rhythmic.
Really expansive DACS hurts the pocket really deep
The strangest names, but the most incredible high prices. 😢
No Aqua?
Very informative, but try to let us understand how the Lina is so much better in the review? I mean does it beat vinyl and reel?
V happy with a budget pecanpi and upgraded power supply :)
So which one is the cheapest of the 10 DACs?
Hey just heads up the W in Weiss is pronounced V as it is a German name. Cheers
Where are aqua formula/la scala, meitner EMM Labs, Audio Note?
T+A DAC 200 and Mola Mola Tambaqi ????? Both missing in this list.... thats odd
No Benchmark Audio DAC in the top ten? Benchmark Audio DAC's we're only used by EMI/Abbey Road to remaster all the Beatles and Pink Floyd music catalogs. If you haven't heard them, give them a listen,
No J2 ???
Denifrips is Chinese manufacture, is it not? Not that that’s bad, just accurate.
You need to hear mola mola tambaqui dac!
What’s up with all the comments about Holo May KTE DAC! I feel like they try to advertise this DAC so badly!