Doge 7 tube dac

[tobiasrankin]

Anyone try this dac? I know its a bit on the cheaper side and the members here tend to have more expensive gear but I am curious about it.

 

[P2C4S]

Yes, I have one, purchased in April of 2023 direct from the factory with the upgraded tubes. Love it. Surprisingly, remarkably, good, even excellent. What more can I tell you?

 

[tobiasrankin]

Yes, I have one, purchased in April of 2023 direct from the factory with the upgraded tubes. Love it. Surprisingly, remarkably, good, even excellent. What more can I tell you?

Have you compared it to any other dacs?

 

[P2C4S]

@tobiasrankin: I'm fundamentally a vinyl guy (Oracle premier, SME 3009, Ortofon) so have not pursued much in digital streaming until recent years. I've used several DACS. Probably the most relevant comparison is with a Berkeley Audio Alpha DAC, series 2, which I've owned for some time. As you may be aware, that Berkeley is very good for the money, and likely underpriced in the used market for its quality. My system includes VMPS RM-40 speakers with upgraded cabinets and TRT caps, etc., and Yamaha NS-1000 and other speakers used occasionally; Nordist Valhalla or Kimber 12TC cables, usually driven by Bendini 100/100DE class A amplification. To my ears in my modest systems, the Doge 7 (with the upgraded factory tubes) has more timber and meat in the midrange, and maybe slightly more dynamic jump than the Berkely, and more solid midbase. Both are equally clear. I could probably live with either the Alpha 2, or the Doge 7, but think the Doge has a preferable edge. It seems a bargain to me even at its full retail price. (I have no connection with either Berkeley nor Doge.)

I've attended Consumer Electronics Shows and T.H.E. shows more than a dozen times, though not since COVID. In such settings I've heard a lot of DACs and some fine systems (some poor ones too!). I don't know of a DAC with more bang for the buck than these two DACS at their price points. I'd like to hear the Alpha Series 3 in my system, but doubt it would be much of an improvement; it's currently outside my budget at full retail. Hope that helps. If you're ever in Draper, UT, you're welcome to have a listen to my system.