[.Sup]

 

Yeah, but that doesn't seem to be the case with the Metrum Octave.  If you buy it within the EU you get lumped with a 19% tax.  If outside the EU, no tax but you 'may' have to pay import duty (some haven't).

http://www.metrum-acoustics.nl/price_list.html

All products sold in EU have tax included in the price, Metrum adds it when you checkout. No difference.

 

[colinharding]

Synthesis Matrix 24 bit tube dac.  Italian company.  This DAC does support 24bit/192khz via USB. Around 4k
 

 
Also must not forget Audio Note.  DAC 5 signature below, around 60k
 

 
Melos DACs may not still be in production but they are (or were) wonderful tube DACs.  The middle component is the DAC, around 3k
 

 

[LostWeekend]

  There's a new French made Micromega usb dac, called "Mydac".
 

 

[complin]

A few more
Lampizator Poland http://www.lampizator.eu/newdac/lampizator/welcome.html
 
DCS United Kingdom http://www.dcsltd.co.uk/
 
Arcam United Kingdom http://www.arcam.co.uk/
 
Rega United Kingdom http://www.rega.co.uk/html/main.htm
 
Quad UK (probably made in China) http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/Product.aspx?lang=En&Tab=37
 
Naim United Kingdom http://www.naimaudio.com/hifi-products/pdt-type/dac
 
Burmester Germany http://www.burmester.de/en/produkte/index.php?product=1,2,57
 
MBL Germany http://www.mbl.de/en/

 

[RedBull]

Not that it is affordable.  Don't forget this:
 
dcs -> UK
http://www.dcsltd.co.uk/product/debussy-dac
 
But who knows ...

 

[complin]

There must be one or two millionaires on Head-Fi don't you think? 

 
Quote:

Not that it is affordable.  Don't forget this:
 
dcs -> UK
http://www.dcsltd.co.uk/product/debussy-dac
 
But who knows ...

 

[RedBull]

Don't underestimate head-fi 

 
 
dcs Vivaldi => 110K. => (CD transport + Upsampler + DAC + Master clock)
Need your advice, do you think I can get the best of my LCD-2 with this?

 

[RedBull]

Quote:

What would be the best European dac maker / model at any price?
 
I have currently a Meier system that I like a lot but I want to upgrade.
 

 
At any price, I'm pretty sure => dcs Vivaldi. 
You may need to mod the caps, internal cabling and some resistor to further improve the sound (soundstage, detail, etc).
 
I believe you don't need to upgrade anymore once you have this as there's simply no more upgrade.
 

 

[rosgr63]

Quote:

Quote:
 
At any price, I'm pretty sure => dcs Vivaldi. 
You may need to mod the caps, internal cabling and some resistor to further improve the sound (soundstage, detail, etc).
 
I believe you don't need to upgrade anymore once you have this as there's simply no more upgrade.
 

Sure there will be in a couple of years.
And you forgot to add the amp and the cables on top of this.

 

[Sapientiam]

Quote:

Quote:
 
At any price, I'm pretty sure => dcs Vivaldi. 
 

 
I have my doubts on that as the dCS is S-D. I reckon a decent multibit DAC (something based on TDA1541A perhaps) would have better dynamics. Have a look over here (just to give one example) : http://www.ecdesigns.nl/isd-player/isds1

 

[complin]

I would doubt it, as the DCS Ring DAC is legendary, and made from discrete components developed in house at DCS, Its not a mass produced off the shelf chip set that most manufactures use.  Also its upgradable via various releases of firmware as new features come along like playing hi-res DSD files.  I know of no other commercial DAC which is equivalent, except possibly MSB, but I'm not that familiar with their implementation. However the DCS sound may not be for everyone as it majors on detail.
 
In fact a lot of the stuff out there are just bog standard off the shelf components or ready built modules thrown together is a box and touted as revolutionary, or novel on some way.  I'm afraid its a bit of a sham, and has been going on for decades. 
Its called marketing!   

 
Quote:

 
I have my doubts on that as the dCS is S-D. I reckon a decent multibit DAC (something based on TDA1541A perhaps) would have better dynamics. Have a look over here (just to give one example) : http://www.ecdesigns.nl/isd-player/isds1

 

[Sapientiam]

You haven't given consideration to how the dCS ring DAC has become legendary? I'll give you a clue - its called marketing.

 

[rosgr63]

What about Weiss?
 
Don't they use proprietary chips?

 

[Sapientiam]

Yep Weiss use ESS now, they were using TI/BB. 

 

[complin]

No off the shelf I believe [size=small]PCM1792, [/size][size=small] ESS9018 etalt[/size]
 
Quote:

What about Weiss?
 
Don't they use proprietary chips?