View Full Version : DAC upgrades
It is bonus time again, and I thinking about buying a different DAC, moving from my RME ADI2 to a R-2R DAC.
However, I don’t want to spend €3k on a DAC. I am looking to buy used, to get more VFM.
On the 2nd hand market is a Metrum Hex, which looks interesting, but are there any issues when buying old DACs?
Maybe looking to spend a maximum of 1.5k€, so is it worth making the move, or is it just going to be different, rather than better?
I'm currently using a DAC that's 35 years old, doesn't seem to have any problems.
I think if you really want something noticeably different from your RME look for something that's a complete train-wreck measurement-wise. Trouble is most of those are more expensive than e1500!
My own comparisons between R-2R and DS didn't yield anything to write home about either way.
Stay with the RME AD12. If you can work your way through the multiple options offered, you probably already have one of the finest DACs available.
What are you running into the DAC Kevin, CDP, streaming or both?
Any thoughts on a Vincent DAC-7?
Any thoughts on a Vincent DAC-7?
Don't bother with all that expensive nonsense just get yourself an SMSL SU-1, you might be surprised. I know some folk who have compared it against some mega bucks stuff and preferred the Su-1.
I had a chap here last week and he was gobsmacked!
I don’t think a different AKM DAC will give me what I am looking for.
I am trying to get my digital to sound more analogue, so a tube based DAC could be the answer?
I don’t think a different AKM DAC will give me what I am looking for.
I am trying to get my digital to sound more analogue, so a tube based DAC could be the answer?
Yeah I have heard that some of the tube DACs get you closer. I think a Lampizator might be where you need to look, there is an Amber 1 on eBay UK that might be in your price range?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305225691741?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338468473&toolid=10001&customid=e6fd8290-16a1-11ef-bb17-666238326334
This would be where I would go if I were looking for a Tube DAC.
No balanced outputs :(
https://youtu.be/Zf44nlLG9Ko?si=LEyKdv3LpMEo4LNL
The Vincent sounds pretty good in this, but obviously, it is YouTube, with it’s awesome sound quality…
Since my last post, I have been reading a lot of reviews, and watching YouTube.
The differences seem very subtle, so I think an upgrade will require a significant investment.
Different will be much cheaper though.
Law of diminishing returns and listening improvements happens pretty quickly with DACs and once you are in the mid to higher tier this applies even more so.
My experience listening to DACS at all price points has resulted in my finding a lot more similarities between the sound of DACs rather than differences but to some those small differences in presentation especially when you take this into context of your own system, equipment and listening room may be important.
The biggest difference I can probably make is better speakers, or should I say speakers better matched to my room.
That is going to be expensive, and won’t be happening any time soon.
If I can find a good deal on a 2nd hand DAC, I may buy an R-2R to keep for when I fancy a change.
The biggest difference I can probably make is better speakers, or should I say speakers better matched to my room.
That is going to be expensive, and won’t be happening any time soon.
If I can find a good deal on a 2nd hand DAC, I may buy an R-2R to keep for when I fancy a change.
Certainly my biggest ever upgrade by far was moving into a larger room and then buying bigger speakers. They made all my other upgrades seem very minor by comparison. Speakers are by and far the best way to upgrade your sound especially if you can integrate room acoustics at the same time which is what I have been doing for the past couple of years.
Not really spent any money at all on anything else apart from a tiny extremely cheap little DAC!:lol:
The biggest difference I can probably make is better speakers, or should I say speakers better matched to my room.
That is going to be expensive, and won’t be happening any time soon.
If I can find a good deal on a 2nd hand DAC, I may buy an R-2R to keep for when I fancy a change.
You have good speaker already, what about adding an EQ unit? At least it has the capability to make some real difference, maybe even an improvement.
The last couple of systems I have heard that were using very expensive DACs (Chord, DCS) did not sound very good. Nothing wrong with the DACs of course, but despite their price tags (the DCS stack was into six figures) they couldn't fix what was wrong.
Ali Tait
25-05-2024, 09:04
The biggest difference I can probably make is better speakers, or should I say speakers better matched to my room.
That is going to be expensive, and won’t be happening any time soon.
If I can find a good deal on a 2nd hand DAC, I may buy an R-2R to keep for when I fancy a change.
I do like the Gustard R26 I got recently, prefer it over the Mytek I used to have.
The problem is hearing one first.
Certainly my biggest ever upgrade by far was moving into a larger room and then buying bigger speakers. They made all my other upgrades seem very minor by comparison. Speakers are by and far the best way to upgrade your sound especially if you can integrate room acoustics at the same time which is what I have been doing for the past couple of years.
Not really spent any money at all on anything else apart from a tiny extremely cheap little DAC!:lol:
I will be moving into a much bigger room when I retire. New speakers will be required then. Until that point, I think the triangles will do nicely.
I have a few acoustic panels for the 1st reflection zone, but I know my room is far from optimal.
EQ is a thought though.
EQ is absolutely worth a try.
After a lot of playing about with mine I've settled on just one minor adjustment. But it's like a speaker upgrade. So much so I regret I did not try it years ago.
We have similar speakers in terms of 'sonic presentation' (There were some Triangles at the last NEBO and I was struck by just how similar they are even in a totally different room) so it might work for you too.
I shall order myself a microphone soon.
It will come in useful for the home cinema system too.
Have to agree that DAC changes can often be very difficult to hear any changes and then even more difficult to hear the worth of that change . About three years ago I managed to scratch an itch that I had for a long time and bought a pair of used dCS Delius / Purcell units . Now these are the very bottom rung of the dCS ladder and have long since been replaced by other more expensive models . However they do have the Ring DAC and they are very well made and they sound wonderful . I am often told that I really should look at replacing them with something more modern as the chip set is over thirty years old and things have moved on .
Well I have heard some of these more modern DAC,s from quite modest but heavily touted units to a few really high end ones . I have come to the conclusion that often the choice of the DAC is personal I heard a Ring DAC many years ago fitted at that time to a modest Arcam CD Player but really was impressed with the sound . Never bought one for various reasons . When the Delius/Purcell arrived and was plugged in and started up I knew my original view was the same now . No it is not the best for detail , no it is not the best for bass , no it is not the best for pin point placing of artists in a sound stage . Yet it does all of these things to a very high standard and then what makes it a keeper for me (lottery win not withstanding) is that it just plays music and sounds right . It convinces you that these are real people playing music it sounds right . In the end I think you have to find the DAC that does this for you then just relax and listen to some music
personally i will never waste a lot of money on a dac again.
recently bought a topping e30 to compare with my Qutest. i heard no difference whatsoever and immediately sold the qutest.
Lawrence001
03-06-2024, 17:18
personally i will never waste a lot of money on a dac again.
recently bought a topping e30 to compare with my Qutest. i heard no difference whatsoever and immediately sold the qutest.I've noticed a lot of difference between DACs it probably depends on synergy and the resolution of the rest of the system.
.... what makes it a keeper for me (lottery win not withstanding) is that it just plays music and sounds right . It convinces you that these are real people playing music it sounds right . In the end I think you have to find the DAC that does this for you then just relax and listen to some music
That's all you can ask from a DAC, or from any piece of audio gear for that matter.
Floyddroid
05-06-2024, 20:08
I would ave thought the most obvious choice would be aDenafrips?
Is it possible to listen to one in your system before you buy it?
I was tempted by the Pontus 15th, but it is €2k.
I bet it is not €1.5k better than my RME.
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