Suggestions for DAC under 75k

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LBRS

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Jan 18, 2025
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Hello Forum Members

I have the following setup currently.
Source - Oppo BDP 93 Blueray player
Amp - Soul Note A1 Integrated Amp
Speakers - Vienna Acoustics Bookshelf

Looking to add a DAC as my current amplifier is purely analog without any built in DAC

Few months back I read reviews about MHDT Orchid NOS DAC online and there are many positive reviews. However they are shipped from Taiwan and I don’t know how much it would cost them to bring it to India with customs etc. Eventually I would want to get the MHDT DAC in a year or two.

Since I have never used a dedicated DAC in the current setup, wanted to buy something's under $500 (used) and try it out for a year before I upgrade to Orchid.

One of my close relatives is coming from the US next month. I was thinking of ordering an used DAC from EBay and have them bring it for me.

Looking for suggestions from the forum members. Besides the price, need something that is under 4/5 kgs and that can be carried easily in a checkin or carry on luggage

Thanks in advance
 
LBRS said:
Hello Forum Members

I have the following setup currently.
Source - Oppo BDP 93 Blueray player
Amp - Soul Note A1 Integrated Amp
Speakers - Vienna Acoustics Bookshelf

Looking to add a DAC as my current amplifier is purely analog without any built in DAC

Few months back I read reviews about MHDT Orchid NOS DAC online and there are many positive reviews. However they are shipped from Taiwan and I don’t know how much it would cost them to bring it to India with customs etc. Eventually I would want to get the MHDT DAC in a year or two.

Since I have never used a dedicated DAC in the current setup, wanted to buy something's under $500 (used) and try it out for a year before I upgrade to Orchid.

One of my close relatives is coming from the US next month. I was thinking of ordering an used DAC from EBay and have them bring it for me.

Looking for suggestions from the forum members. Besides the price, need something that is under 4/5 kgs and that can be carried easily in a checkin or carry on luggage

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
If you are serious about getting MHDT Orchid, for the stop-gap arrangement, you can get EC Design RX dac available for sale in this form. That will be miles better than any SMSL or topping Dacs.
But in case you just want to go in for new ones, I will suggest you Denafrips Enyo. Cost will be around 85000 but you can enjoy the denafrips R2R sound without spending a huge amount.
 
Have you checked this one?

DENAFRIPS - Enyo 15th

www.headphonezone.in

Denafrips - Enyo 15th

Buy Denafrips Enyo 15th R-2R DAC at the best prices in India. Choose from Chord Electronics, iFi Audio, Aune Audio DACs & more at Headphone Zone. Experience your Music with the Best Amps & DACs. Enjoy expert advice from our Headphone Gurus.
www.headphonezone.in www.headphonezone.in

MaSh
 
LBRS said:
Hello Forum Members

I have the following setup currently.
Source - Oppo BDP 93 Blueray player
Amp - Soul Note A1 Integrated Amp
Speakers - Vienna Acoustics Bookshelf

Looking to add a DAC as my current amplifier is purely analog without any built in DAC

Few months back I read reviews about MHDT Orchid NOS DAC online and there are many positive reviews. However they are shipped from Taiwan and I don’t know how much it would cost them to bring it to India with customs etc. Eventually I would want to get the MHDT DAC in a year or two.

Since I have never used a dedicated DAC in the current setup, wanted to buy something's under $500 (used) and try it out for a year before I upgrade to Orchid.

One of my close relatives is coming from the US next month. I was thinking of ordering an used DAC from EBay and have them bring it for me.

Looking for suggestions from the forum members. Besides the price, need something that is under 4/5 kgs and that can be carried easily in a checkin or carry on luggage

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Save up some money, buy a better one. Don't fall for the cheapo Chinese DACs; your setup needs a better one. Try to get at least the audiobyte dac, speak to Mr. Venkat on this.
 
LBRS said:
Hello Forum Members

I have the following setup currently.
Source - Oppo BDP 93 Blueray player
Amp - Soul Note A1 Integrated Amp
Speakers - Vienna Acoustics Bookshelf

Looking to add a DAC as my current amplifier is purely analog without any built in DAC

Few months back I read reviews about MHDT Orchid NOS DAC online and there are many positive reviews. However they are shipped from Taiwan and I don’t know how much it would cost them to bring it to India with customs etc. Eventually I would want to get the MHDT DAC in a year or two.

Since I have never used a dedicated DAC in the current setup, wanted to buy something's under $500 (used) and try it out for a year before I upgrade to Orchid.

One of my close relatives is coming from the US next month. I was thinking of ordering an used DAC from EBay and have them bring it for me.

Looking for suggestions from the forum members. Besides the price, need something that is under 4/5 kgs and that can be carried easily in a checkin or carry on luggage

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
All DACs that i've experienced below 2L are a bit of a compromise in one area or another. With that out of the way, my vote would go to the Gustard R26 because it has, in my experience, the most refined presentation and organisation of the lot with emphasis, subjectively of course, to all the right notes that i'd want to pop. Used examples 1/1.5 yrs old can be found in the 80-90k mark.

I have heard it with a variety of amps viz. Prima Luna Pre & Power, Luxman 590AX-ii, Kinki Studio EX-M1+, Musical Fidelity M6si, Willsenton R800i, Cambridge Audio CXA81, Tonewinner AD2500, Willsenton R8, to name a notable few, and it paired well with all of them. Speakers that i've tried them with are the Avant Garde Trio, Tannoy Turnberry GR-OW, Spendor Classic 2/3, Scansonic MB3.5, Tannoy DC8, Dynaudio Focus 160, ATC SCM 11, Definitive Technology D9 and it paired beautifully with the said speakers unlike some other DACs of a similar price range i've heard, including but not limited to the Denafrips Pontus.

If I'd had to nitpick, I wish the soundstage was wider and the dynamics were stronger with a little more meat on the bone in the presentation - the RME ADI-2 DAC FS and most other Delta Sigma DACs of a similar price point will better it in this regard. However, I have tried Delta Sigma DACs of this price category with the aforementioned speakers and despite their pros, the lack of refinement and the inferior layer separation vis-a-vis the Gustard R26 is evident. This is not much of a concern with the Delta Sigma DACs while listening to EDM and the aforementioned pros make them the better choice. However, for most other genres of music, the Gustard R26 is superior.
 
Last edited:
DB1989 said:
Speakers that i've tried them with are the Avant Garde Trio, Tannoy Turnberry GR-OW, Spendor Classic 2/3, Scansonic MB3.5, Tannoy DC8, Dynaudio Focus 160, ATC SCM 11, Definitive Technology D9 and it paired beautifully with the said speakers unlike some other DACs of a similar price range i've heard, including but not limited to the Denafrips Pontus
Click to expand...
Since you have actually experienced Denafrips Pontus and Gustard R26 with a variety of speakers, just wanted to know from your observation on what you found lacking in Denafrips Pontus which was present in Gustard R26. Rather what are the areas where Gustard R26 scores over the Denafrips Pontus.
My experience of Gustard R26 was limited to very one set of speakers. Hence your experience will be of immense help.
 
DB1989 said:
All DACs that i've experienced below 2L are a bit of a compromise in one area or another. With that out of the way, my vote would go to the Gustard R26 because it has, in my experience, the most refined presentation and organisation of the lot with emphasis, subjectively of course, to all the right notes that i'd want to pop. Used examples 1/1.5 yrs old can be found in the 80-90k mark.

I have heard it with a variety of amps viz. Prima Luna Pre & Power, Luxman 590AX-ii, Kinki Studio EX-M1+, Musical Fidelity M6si, Willsenton R800i, Cambridge Audio CXA81, Tonewinner AD2500, Willsenton R8, to name a notable few, and it paired well with all of them. Speakers that i've tried them with are the Avant Garde Trio, Tannoy Turnberry GR-OW, Spendor Classic 2/3, Scansonic MB3.5, Tannoy DC8, Dynaudio Focus 160, ATC SCM 11, Definitive Technology D9 and it paired beautifully with the said speakers unlike some other DACs of a similar price range i've heard, including but not limited to the Denafrips Pontus.

If I'd had to nitpick, I wish the soundstage was wider and the dynamics were stronger with a little more meat on the bone in the presentation - the RME ADI-2 DAC FS and most other Delta Sigma DACs of a similar price point will better it in this regard. However, I have tried Delta Sigma DACs of this price category with the aforementioned speakers and despite their pros, the lack of refinement and the inferior layer separation vis-a-vis the Gustard R26 is evident. This is not much of a concern with the Delta Sigma DACs while listening to EDM and the aforementioned pros make them the better choice. However, for most other genres of music, the Gustard R26 is superior.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the suggestions.
I have also heard positive feedback about Gustard from the British Audiophile
I will try if I can audition the DAC somewhere
 
morerajendra5678 said:
Since you have actually experienced Denafrips Pontus and Gustard R26 with a variety of speakers, just wanted to know from your observation on what you found lacking in Denafrips Pontus which was present in Gustard R26. Rather what are the areas where Gustard R26 scores over the Denafrips Pontus.
My experience of Gustard R26 was limited to very one set of speakers. Hence your experience will be of immense help.
Click to expand...
Perhaps a little more context was required. What I said was, to quote verbatim, that "...it paired beautifully with the said speakers unlike some other DACs of a similar price range i've heard, including but not limited to the Denafrips Pontus". The aforementioned speakers all paired well with the Gustard R26 unlike the other DACs we compared it against. In the case of the R26 vs Pontus, we tried them with the Tannoy Turnberry GR-OW paired with a Willsenton R8 as well as a Musical Fidelity M6si, just to ensure it was not a case of tubes vs solid state.

The Pontus + Tannoy Turnberry was too sharp and fatiguing and we had to turn down the treble quite a bit for the sound to be somewhat palatable. The Pontus could possibly sound good with a speaker that has a soft presentation but with the Tannoy, it sounded like nails on a chalkboard. The Gustard R26, with its soft dynamics and refined presentation was a much better fit.
 
DB1989 said:
Perhaps a little more context was required. What I said was, to quote verbatim, that "...it paired beautifully with the said speakers unlike some other DACs of a similar price range i've heard, including but not limited to the Denafrips Pontus". The aforementioned speakers all paired well with the Gustard R26 unlike the other DACs we compared it against. In the case of the R26 vs Pontus, we tried them with the Tannoy Turnberry GR-OW paired with a Willsenton R8 as well as a Musical Fidelity M6si, just to ensure it was not a case of tubes vs solid state.

The Pontus + Tannoy Turnberry was too sharp and fatiguing and we had to turn down the treble quite a bit for the sound to be somewhat palatable. The Pontus could possibly sound good with a speaker that has a soft presentation but with the Tannoy, it sounded like nails on a chalkboard. The Gustard R26, with its soft dynamics and refined presentation was a much better fit.
Click to expand...
Thanks for sharing your experience. Was there any difference to high frequency when using Tannoys+Pontus with Willsenton R8 than using Tannoys+Pontus with Music Fidelity M6si.
 
DB1989 said:
yes, the treble was slightly rolled off with the Willsenton R8 compared to the M6si.
Click to expand...
Thanks again for sharing your experience. In the system I heard Denafrips Pontus, it had tubes. Speakers were warm sounding 3way monitor. May be I didn't feel the hardness of treble due to soft done tweeter and overall warm signature of the speakers. But I opted for Holo Audio May KTE over the Denafrips Pontus. Both were pre-owned items.
Since it is literally not possible to have physical experience with Dacs with different kinds of speakers, I wanted to know your indepth experience with the DAC and speakers.
 
morerajendra5678 said:
Thanks again for sharing your experience. In the system I heard Denafrips Pontus, it had tubes. Speakers were warm sounding 3way monitor. May be I didn't feel the hardness of treble due to soft done tweeter and overall warm signature of the speakers. But I opted for Holo Audio May KTE over the Denafrips Pontus. Both were pre-owned items.
Click to expand...
Did you per chance try the Pontus and the R26 in the same system?
morerajendra5678 said:
Since it is literally not possible to have physical experience with Dacs with different kinds of speakers, I wanted to know your indepth experience with the DAC and speakers.
Click to expand...
I'd first heard the Gustard R26 with the combination of Spendor Classic 2/3 and a Luxman 590AX-ii.. At that point of time, being unfamiliar with the components in the chain, I couldn't exactly pinpoint the characteristics attributable to the Gustard.

The next time i heard the Gustard was in a system with an Avant Garde Trio speakers driven by a combo of Prima Luna Pre and Power amps. First impressions were that the resultant sound was sweet and very refined, something that I also noticed with the previous system. It just so happened that I was carrying my RME-ADI 2 DAC FS along that day and we tried it also. What was evident immediately was that while the RME provided a noticeably wider soundstage and stronger dynamics, the overall presentation was a bit raw and rough around the edges. It is then that I realised that if the Gustard R26 could keep up with the rest of this megabucks system and compliment av Avant Garde speaker no less, I would be sleeping on it at my own peril.

Nevertheless, I didn't pull the trigger immediately and heard it in a couple of more systems before i was reasonably certain that I could identify the sound of the Gustard R26.

It is after I got the Gustard that we tried it against the Denafrips Pontus in the chain which had the Tannoy Turnberry driven by the M6si and Wilsenton R8. It was reminiscent of the experience I had with the Avant Garde system inasmuch as while the Pontus sounded more dynamic and immediate, it was a bit raw and rough around the edges compared to the Gustard which sounded sweeter and more refined. At the end of the session, all comers in that meet, except a turbaned gentleman, preferred the Gustard for the abovesaid reasons.
 
DB1989 said:
Did you per chance try the Pontus and the R26 in the same system?
Click to expand...
No. I have not heard them in the same system. Since I have myself heard Pontus at length but never found anything harsh, I wanted a detailed note about your experience as you have heard it in different systems.
 
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