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What lush, warm, euphoric, organic sounding DACs are there out there?

Mar 26, 2025 at 3:21 AM Post #33 of 57
I would like to hear what OP eventually found. It is over 3 years since discussion started, it must be some result, thanks.
 
Mar 26, 2025 at 6:37 AM Post #34 of 57
Havent found any warm lush DACs, they are all sterile and clinical if you ask me. Better of listening to vinyl with an Audio Technica AT3600L. Other than that, the starting point systems DAC's werent bad, not too digital sounding.
 
Mar 26, 2025 at 2:34 PM Post #37 of 57
westsounds said:
I've tried plenty of tube amps. They can add a bit of something, nice distortion.
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I agree tubes add something pleasant (2nd harmonic, frequently to much). In SS amps distortions are better controlled and when chosing non-feedback discrete design, it can be something the best of both worlds.

Which DACs did you try?
 
Mar 26, 2025 at 3:24 PM Post #39 of 57
sajunky said:
I agree tubes add something pleasant (2nd harmonic, frequently to much). In SS amps distortions are better controlled and when chosing non-feedback discrete design, it can be something the best of both worlds.

Which DACs did you try?
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Oh man, I’ve really had some DACs! I’ve had some really great ones and some really cheap ones, tried loads of the Chinese ones as well, some are really good. But DACs I believe are really just slitting hairs sometimes when it comes to differences.

Just to name a couple, I’ve had Trichords Pulsar (old school) quite nice actually and analogue like. But the cheap Starting Point systems has been a great little DAC again a bit analogue like not too digital, perhaps not the standard of the Trichord with external power supply, but still enjoyable with that Phillips TDA chip.

But I’ve had some higher end DACs like Naim (the big one) with those flagship Burr Browns in. That wasn’t smooth though, it was high def but actually a stunning sound. I was actually imagining placement of performers with that thing, or it might have just been my brain telling me that because it was a 3 grand DAC.

Most DAC sound very similar to me. Unless they are skewed to a certain way more than the other, some sound clean and clear and some sound a bit warmer and romantic, then shall we call it.

Most of the Chinese ones are pretty much identical though, usually clear and precise. Don’t sound bad, just like good clear DACs. I couldn’t really get on with SMSL though, those are the most boring and uncharaterful DACs Ive ever heard. Just vanilla! The filters added a bit if they had that feature, but other than that it was like a boring representation of sound in the cleanest and clearest way :)

What else I have I had Aune Flamingo, Musical Fidelitys, DPA’s, Cyrus, Chords, Beresford, Cayin, Fiio 'the R2R' one, Numerous ifi’s. I could go on and on, but I've forgotten half of them.
 
Mar 26, 2025 at 4:21 PM Post #40 of 57
westsounds said:
Oh man, I’ve really had some DACs! I’ve had some really great ones and some really cheap ones, tried loads of the Chinese ones as well, some are really good. But DACs I believe are really just slitting hairs sometimes when it comes to differences.

Just to name a couple, I’ve had Trichords Pulsar (old school) quite nice actually and analogue like. But the cheap Starting Point systems has been a great little DAC again a bit analogue like not too digital, perhaps not the standard of the Trichord with external power supply, but still enjoyable with that Phillips TDA chip.

But I’ve had some higher end DACs like Naim (the big one) with those flagship Burr Browns in. That wasn’t smooth though, it was high def but actually a stunning sound. I was actually imagining placement of performers with that thing, or it might have just been my brain telling me that because it was a 3 grand DAC.

Most DAC sound very similar to me. Unless they are skewed to a certain way more than the other, some sound clean and clear and some sound a bit warmer and romantic, then shall we call it.

Most of the Chinese ones are pretty much identical though, usually clear and precise. Don’t sound bad, just like good clear DACs. I couldn’t really get on with SMSL though, those are the most boring and uncharaterful DACs Ive ever heard. Just vanilla! The filters added a bit if they had that feature, but other than that it was like a boring representation of sound in the cleanest and clearest way :)

What else I have I had Aune Flamingo, Musical Fidelitys, DPA’s, Cyrus, Chords, Beresford, Cayin, Fiio 'the R2R' one, Numerous ifi’s. I could go on and on, but I've forgotten half of them.
Click to expand...
I gave advice of the Schiit Gungnit MB A1 earlier on. The Schiit DACs (LIM, Gungnir 2 (my current and much better than the earlier Gungnir) might be of interest now, and some of the pricier R2R and FPGA DACS.. If I were giving advice I'd say for you to avoid DS DACS.
 
Mar 26, 2025 at 4:54 PM Post #41 of 57
westsounds said:
Just to name a couple, I’ve had Trichords Pulsar (old school) quite nice actually and analogue like. But the cheap Starting Point systems has been a great little DAC again a bit analogue like not too digital, perhaps not the standard of the Trichord with external power supply, but still enjoyable with that Phillips TDA chip.

But I’ve had some higher end DACs like Naim (the big one) with those flagship Burr Browns in. That wasn’t smooth though, it was high def but actually a stunning sound. I was actually imagining placement of performers with that thing, or it might have just been my brain telling me that because it was a 3 grand DAC.

Most DAC sound very similar to me. Unless they are skewed to a certain way more than the other, some sound clean and clear and some sound a bit warmer and romantic, then shall we call it
Click to expand...
You seem have preference to R2R type. These old chip-R2R DACs may sound vintage, it is because of using obsolete digital filters. These days FPGA filter designs are much more acceptable. Discrete R2R designs became popular over last few years. But not Fiio - this is a poor one. R2R generate lot of ultrasonic noise, it needs a quality amplification, it is why Fiio or Canyin fails.

If you have a good amp, I would recommend Denafrips or Musicians even the cheapest one. They do not use opamps just a passive output, so depends on your amp can sound really good. They are not warm, rather on neutral side. If you are looking for organic, it can't be warm, it would be wrong combination. Organic require neutral on the warm/cold scale. Both brands are laid-back not energetic, but not fatiguing. If you need more punch, energetic character there is Audio GD or a higher priced Rockna, but not a Schiit multibit kind which is dynamic but loses details on fast transients.

I would like to take your attention to NOS. You don't really need digital filters, but requirements for amplification are even higher, non-feedback, it means no opamps. And remember, with USB source it is important to have $50 USB isolator dongle in the path if a DAC do not provide galvanic isolation (most do not), it is critical for sound quality. I learned it with my R2R-11 which has no isolation, it can sound really good, but not always.

As for Delta-Sigma types, they all sound digital, harsh in trebles, most of them are fatiguing.
 
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Mar 26, 2025 at 5:25 PM Post #42 of 57
sajunky said:
You seem have preference to R2R type. These old chip-R2R DACs may sound vintage, it is because of using obsolete digital filters. These days FPGA filter designs are much more acceptable. Discrete R2R designs became popular over last few years. But not Fiio - this is a poor one. R2R generate lot of ultrasonic noise, it needs a quality amplification, it is why Fiio or Canyin fails.

If you have a good amp, I would recommend Denafrips or Musicians even the cheapest one. They do not use opamps just a passive output, so depends on your amp can sound really good. They are not warm, rather on neutral side. If you are looking for organic, it can't be warm, it would be wrong combination. Organic require neutral on the warm/cold scale. Both brands are laid-back not energetic, but not fatiguing. If you need more punch, energetic character there is Audio GD or a higher priced Rockna, but not a Schiit multibit kind which is dynamic but loses details on fast transients.

I would like to take your attention to NOS. You don't really need digital filters, but requirements for amplification are even higher, non-feedback, it means no opamps. And remember, with USB source it is important to have $50 USB isolator dongle in the path if a DAC do not provide galvanic isolation (most do not), it is critical for sound quality. I learned it with my R2R-11 which has no isolation, it can sound really good, but not always.

As for Delta-Sigma types, they all sound digital, harsh in trebles, most of them are fatiguing.
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I’m pretty much done chasing my tail anymore with DAC tbh, I have a handful here now which I just switch between. If the sound ever grates on me, I just EQ it before it reaches the DAC and tame or enhance frequencies I like, it takes a lot of the hassle out of this finding the perfect DAC business. I think I’ve probably heard the most of what's on offer for digital now. I really think chasing a tonality of something as minuscule nuanced as a DAC, is like I said, just going around in circles. They are are all slightly different, some qualities I like in some then others. I just keep changing it up now and EQ’ing to my personal preference.
 
Mar 26, 2025 at 6:23 PM Post #43 of 57
I'm a real sucker for lush, analog, non fatiguing sounding pieces of equipment. I have an MHDT Orchid for many years now and with the right tube it definitely fits the original posters wishes. When I have the money, I'll upgrade to the LTA Aero which I believe will be my endgame DAC for many many years.
 
Mar 27, 2025 at 4:10 AM Post #44 of 57
For tube based DACs, see

Musical Paradise MP-DX,
Audio Mirror Tubadour III “SE”,
LTA Aero,
MHDT Orchid
Aqua La Scala
Lab12 DAC1 Reference
Nagra HD DAC X
Lampi models (Amber, Baltic, Big7, Horizon etc)

Not sure of their sonic signatures.
 
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