Let's Get A Consensus Of The Best DAC's In The Market Today

[isquirrel]

I've only heard this one a few times and enjoyed what I heard

Light Harmonic, Da Vinci

I know JackD knows the brand and maybe he might comment

LH will have a couple of special things to announce very soon. My DaVinci is returning to base for a refit......

 

[Simone Leroy]

Wisnon, Thanks a lot for your words! I listened for the very first time Heil Tweeter in a ESS speaker 33 years ago and, even if I was 12 yrs old, I immediately felt to hear a "masterpiece" of technique. Not only Piano, but also Strings and Soprano voice are naturally reproduced, superbly enriched by "air" all around the instruments, with the whole harmonics ....
Since I love Heil Tweeter, and usually love as well ribbon Tweeter and the Electrostatic ones probably my judgement on a horn speaker is affected by my "prejudice" against horns...

 

[bonzo75]

Wisnon, Thanks a lot for your words! I listened for the very first time Heil Tweeter in a ESS speaker 33 years ago and, even if I was 12 yrs old, I immediately felt to hear a "masterpiece" of technique. Not only Piano, but also Strings and Soprano voice are naturally reproduced, superbly enriched by "air" all around the instruments, with the whole harmonics ....
Since I love Heil Tweeter, and usually love as well ribbon Tweeter and the Electrostatic ones probably my judgement on a horn speaker is affected by my "prejudice" against horns...

I love ribbons, my favorite being the Analysis Audio, and stats, but also love horns, though not duos (do like the Trios). Horns and ribbon panels to me both fight the evil force of boxes

 

[joaovieira]

Wisnon thanks for your clarification and for sharing all those links.
Obviously I wrote my listening impressions of that room, and since I am not a professional audio-reviewer, a journalist, a seller or an audio engineer, those impressions are of low value or at least are valid only for myself. I'm not a pure "audiophile" as well, I am "only" a music passionate lover. In any case, just to let you know, last 6 weeks have come to Florence and have performed in several individual concerts the best 10 pianists on the international scene of Classical Music (from Pollini to Zimerman, from Lang Lang to Kissin, except Martha Argerich who performed here in Florence last year). And I attended each performance, from different seats and different positions, and I could hear a lot of different ways to play the same piano (Steinway) and sometimes different ways to play different pianos (Bosendorfer or Fazioli). Once at home I listened again the same pieces on several recordings, and I always felt a "natural sound" of the piano recorded. In that room in Munich, on the contrary, I listened to a complete not natural sound of the piano. The same is valid for the Paganini Violin concert I listened in that room: solo Violin and strings sounded "arficifial" to my ears (and I had attended a live concert with the same Paganini Concert played by a young but demoniac violinist few weeks before...). I spent in that room, totally, less than 20 minutes and I cannot be too "tranchant" in my judgement, I only expressed my very personal and subjective listening impressions, and I'm perfectly aware of my limits! ??

I don't know if you like some good rock sometimes, but on September 17th I will be in Firenze for David Gilmour concert. All shows sold out in Europe, I bought more expensive on viagogo.com.

 

[joaovieira]

Simone,

I was just adding perspective. Your opinion is also legit and welcome. Nothing will please everyone, so more "data points" will help people to judge for themselves, if they can align with the taste of one of the opinion givers.

Some people like chocolate better and some like vanilla better, but almost everyone likes ice-cream. LoL

I am not that familiar with the AG Duos either.

At home, I have HEIL folding ribbon tweeter speakers, so-called AIR VELOCITY transformers. The incoming air is at 1x velocity and outgoing is at 4.7x velocity. this enormous speed means that frequency response is ruler flat from 1khz to 23khz and piano is superbly reproduced. To me very few drivers can do piano like that, especially dynamic drivers and horns.

Unfortunately the presentation in Munich was done with AG Duo. It limited a lot the greats Audiopax and Lampizator. But even with that limitation it was considered one of the best sounds in the show.

 

[wisnon]

Wisnon, Thanks a lot for your words! I listened for the very first time Heil Tweeter in a ESS speaker 33 years ago and, even if I was 12 yrs old, I immediately felt to hear a "masterpiece" of technique. Not only Piano, but also Strings and Soprano voice are naturally reproduced, superbly enriched by "air" all around the instruments, with the whole harmonics ....
Since I love Heil Tweeter, and usually love as well ribbon Tweeter and the Electrostatic ones probably my judgement on a horn speaker is affected by my "prejudice" against horns...

My speakers look like this "wall of sound" setup (I tried to replicate this at home with far less electronics):

Syrinx on top, Aulos below.

My work in progress:

 

[wisnon]

Unfortunately the presentation in Munich was done with AG Duo. It limited a lot the greats Audiopax and Lampizator. But even with that limitation it was considered one of the best sounds in the show.

Several people said it was the first time they ever heard a demo of the Duos that they liked.

 

[Simone Leroy]

Wisnon You are a lucky man! The soound of your speakers should be fantastic!
Joavieira I like also Rock sometimes.. (I had been the lead vocalist and the lead keyboards of a Heavy Metal Band in the late '90ies...)
So You'll be the Welcome to Firenze....and yes, I Have already in my hands two tickets for David Gilmour Concert of next september!
But, please, do not miss a visit also to Uffizi Museum and Accademia Museum where you'll find the statue David by Michelangelo ..!
To go back to the subject of this thread, since for me it's impossible to identify the sound of a single component in a completely unknown system, I'll be glad to listen again Lampizator Big 7 and the AudioPax Electronics in a different set-up!

 

[joaovieira]

I will have my Audiopax (receiving those today!!!!) and my big 7 working with the Tidal Piano Cera I still own, but waiting for a pair of Contrivas G2. Must be now crossing Atlantic Ocean.

 

[MtnHam]

One of the most viewed and posted to forums here at WBF is the DAC Forum. Recently there have been a lot of new threads asking about what is the best DAC, the Best PCM DAC, Best NOS DAC, Best Asymmetric DAC, Best DSD DAC etc

This lead me to thinking, wouldn't it be nice if we could get a consensus from members as to what they consider the world's best DAC's. Do these need to cost a king's ransom or can they be bought on a tight budget.

There is no right or wrong answer. In fact I would hope everyone will put up a list of their 10 best DAC's. After the thread has run it's course then I would like to go back and collate the results and then amend the OP with everyone's top 10. Those listed below are in no particular order or preference
So what would everyone else list as the top 10 DAC's

When done we should be able to put up the opinions of members here. My 10 above are only 10. I'm sure we will get a he diversity of opinion but out of it perhaps we might get our top 10

It seems this thread has gotten a bit off topic. IMO, there will never be a consensus as there are far too many possibilities and opinions. And then there are some who believe you need to invest $75,000+ to get the best, and even sign up for future upgrades at a yearly cost that exceeds the price of many great DAC's. Boggles the mind!

 

[wisnon]

The thread has run 16 pages, so talk of being off-track is futile. After 10 pages or so the main theme has been exhausted.

 

[flez007]

I have the 5th Element in my system with the CDT Six, this kit offer the most relaxing and involved Red Book I've ever heard. It's like playing records. I am getting zero digital hardness.

So is the Reimyo CD999 Pro I am trying right now. I own an AN level 4 that follows your same sonic description....

 

[LL21]

So is the Reimyo CD999 Pro I am trying right now. I own an AN level 4 that follows your same sonic description....

How does the Reimyo compare with your AN4? Most curious!

 

[flez007]

How does the Reimyo compare with your AN4? Most curious!

They both belong to the same sonic camp LL21 - The Reimyo has a tad more resolution and detail, the AN4 is a little more textured - The Reimyo is terrific in a whole Reimyo stack of course, and could be a challenge to use it in a non-Reimyo system thru proper cable matching, but worths the effort!.

 

[LL21]

They both belong to the same sonic camp LL21 - The Reimyo has a tad more resolution and detail, the AN4 is a little more textured - The Reimyo is terrific in a whole Reimyo stack of course, and could be a challenge to use it in a non-Reimyo system thru proper cable matching, but worths the effort!.

Interesting...both sound like great digital! I suppose the ultimate question: which one are you keeping? Or which one would you keep, money no object?

 

[flez007]

Interesting...both sound like great digital! I suppose the ultimate question: which one are you keeping? Or which one would you keep, money no object?

I am keeping the AN since I will not keep the full Reimyo stack, both are great performers, saying that, the all-Reimyo stack keeps surprising me A LOT!

 

[LL21]

I am keeping the AN since I will not keep the full Reimyo stack, both are great performers, saying that, the all-Reimyo stack keeps surprising me A LOT!

I can hardly think that the AN is anything but awesome. Enjoy.

 

[MarinJim]

I have to mention my new ModWright Elyse DAC w/ Siemena CCAs and Philips rectifier. I am addicted to the best I can get.

 

[still-one]

The best I have heard to date is the MSB Select DAC. It was only a pre-production version but amazing detail. Too bad it is ridiculously priced for even most well heeled audiophiles.

 

[asiufy]

The best I have heard to date is the MSB Select DAC. It was only a pre-production version but amazing detail. Too bad it is ridiculously priced for even most well heeled audiophiles.

+1 on all points.
Nothing comes even close, unfortunately...