[sobrietywarrior]

What do you think is the best DAC coupled with the Darkstar? I saw a review here that the Zodiac series is a good pairing. Would the Zodiac Gold be the best pairing?

 

[Radio_head]

Did you already buy the Dark Star?  If not, have you heard it?  What headphones are you planning on using?
 
"Best DAC" is a really broad question as Dacs range from ODAC price to Maxed out MSB at over $40,000

 

[sobrietywarrior]

I don't have a Darkstar but would like to get one pair with an LCD2.

 

[Radio_head]

Maybe start from the beginning...
 
What's the total budget for your rig?  What do you want to spend on the individual components?  What are your aural goals with your system?

 

[sobrietywarrior]

My budget is around $6k. May keep the LCD2 or sell it and get the HD800 or have both. I listen to mostly rock, pop, classical. 

 

[Radio_head]

This is how I would build that rig right now if I had that money:
 
LCD-2 + HD800 = $2400
Liquid Glass first run = $3250 (or Darkstar if you're set on it)
Schiit Bifrost = $350-450

 

[sobrietywarrior]

Why do you recommend the LG? I'm concerned about tube maintenance and LG isn't even released yet.

 

[Radio_head]

Tube maintenance is almost a non-issue, lots of the new productions are cheap and last thousands of hours with no issues.  Tube maintenance is one of those humps that prospective buyers always worry about only to try it and realize it's a non-issue.  The only possible pitfall is going on spending sprees to see how different sorts of tubes sound.
 
 
LG is the best I've heard the Audeze sound, and that's including some very lofty company (pretty much everything but the Pinnacle.)  I've heard similar things about it's pairing with the HD800 but have not heard the combo myself.  That is why I would recommend it.

 

[sobrietywarrior]

Hmm. That is interesting. What do you think would be the best DAC to go with the LG?

 

[Kaixing]

I just got a Darkstar and HE6, it sounds great and I am going to update my dac into either Mada-2 or Vega

 

[Kaixing]

Update: I just bought a Forssell Mada-2 and I will post my listening experience with them next week.