At that $2k price point you are going to get a really really good DAC. But with trade offs. R2R, FPGA or Delta Sigma philosophy should be your first choice. They all sound a little different, but will all have really good qualities at that price point. Here my recommends at that price point.
1. Delta Sigma - Pure Audio Lotus 5
2. FPGA - Qutest
3. R2R - Pontus II. Maybe an Audio GD R2R 8. But, I’d get a Pontus. It isn’t as resolving as the Qutest, but for my tastes is more balanced and musical. I simply love the R2R sound. It is detailed, but not so detailed you lose weight, and musicality. Strikes a nice balance.
If you want it all with R2R you need to go up in price to something like a Rockna Wavelight, Merason DAC1 or Terminator II. The Holo May KTE is another great DAC, but pricey and I’d get a Terminator first.
At that $4k price point you can also get TEACs new UD-701n, which will have impeccable PRAT, plus a streamer and decent headphone amp. TEAC makes great DACs, in my opinion. There newest is their best yet but more than double the price of a Pontus.
I have gone the Pontus route and couldn’t be happier. Phenomenal product. Worth every penny…
I had a slightly different take on the Qutest vs the Pontus. To me, the Qutest initially sounds more resolving because it presents the main elements of music in more etched detail, but the Qutest seems to do less well than the Pontus at presenting all elements of music. Less prominent details in music seem easier to follow with the Pontus than with the Qutest.
On its own, the Qutest sounds very good. But listening to the Pontus reveals what the Qutest misses in its presentation of music. Some thoughts on strengths of the Pontus:
Presence: Instruments and voices are conveyed by the Pontus with what sounds like an appropriate level of weight for each instrument. . In contrast, the Qutest communicates the details but seems to be less able to convey the weight and fullness of each voice and instrument's sound. The 'air' around voices are also conveyed by the Pontus in a very palpable way but with a sense of refinement and restraint that sounds realistic when compared to a real-life performance.
Pace & Emotional Range: What appeals to me most about the Pontus and perhaps what I noticed first was wide range of pace that the Pontus is able to convey. Some DACs like the Qutest have good pace. Other DACs such as the Ares II sound more relaxed. It's intriguing to hear a DAC that can sound both relaxed as well as upbeat and dynamic as needed. For the Pontus, that ability allows it to sound relaxed and calm or energetic and dynamic depending on the music being played. Music through the Pontus seems to be conveyed as the artist or composer intended instead of the Pontus imposing its own sonic signature onto the music.
Flow & Continuity: Consistent with my comments on the Pontus' adaptability in terms of pace and emotional range, it is conveys the flow of music really well. Its presentation makes it easy to "follow the tune" when listening to music. For lack of a better way to describe this quality of the Pontus, I would say that it has a lot of patience in how it conveys music. It's not in a rush to get the next note out as the Qutest sometimes seems to be, but can play quicker or slower depending on emotional nature of the music.
What listening preferences would the Pontus fit well: The Pontus would be a great choice for anyone that appreciates the sound and feel of live music. More than any other DAC I heard, the Pontus seems to savor the texture and feel of every note of music. The Pontus does particularly well with reproducing the textures, tonal quality and emotions of voices and acoustic music.
What listening preferences would the Pontus not fit as well: Listeners that want a sharp cut-glass feel to their music might not appreciate the Pontus as much. The Pontus digs out a lot of detail, but it presents detail in a way that sounds natural. If you listen to a lot of electronic music and are looking for razor-sharp sounding transients, the Pontus might not fit your preferences as much as the Qutest.
