HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

Up to about £800 is the budget but I will be happy to spend less.

There are plenty of good DACs under (OK, one by only a penny, but... ) that number. I'm using a Topping D70 clone, but the D70 has now been superseded by the Topping D70S MQA I believe, for around £540. The D90 has also been replaced by the D90 MQA which is (on Amazon, anyway) £799.99. The "old" D90 is still on sale for around £100 less. S.M.S.L's "version" is the M400 MQA and that's around a tenner over your £800.00 limit.

I also know one person with an LKS MH-DA004 DAC (around the £750 mark) and he's extremely happy with it.

Obviously, a bit of judicious shopping around may produce less expensive results, or not.

Thanks Slinger will look at these dacs you mention. I hope for a decent improvement over my Rega which is 10 years old now. Dacs seem to be one of the areas in HiFi that are still developing pretty quickly.

I have less than 12 months DAC experience so I am a million miles away from being an expert on the subject. I started with a Topping D30 with dedicated Topping PSU, it was/is good however I am one of the constantly curious types and I was intrigued by the stream of rave reviews for the Denafrips Ares 2.

I called the UK agent and asked him if he would consider a two week sale or return agreement, he said yes as he was sure I wouldn't return it. I had to wait a while for him to get fresh stock. I was optimistic it would be a "keeper" but you never can tell until you have lived with the test item. Its the single most impressive hi-fi purchase I have made to date. I have my Cambridge CD transport and my Samsung TV going through it and hopefully in early Feb my streaming PC. I couldn't be without it, there is something so right about it, it makes my feet tap and my ugly mug smile, its worth every penny of the price. FWIW check out the second prices on eBay UK, they are always close to or occasionally more to the new price and they are also far and few between which I guess is because they are so good.

I have just replaced my transport a CXC. It only lasted 2 years before mistracking intermittently. I now have an Audiolab CDT. I was pleasantly surprised by the difference in sound. It has been quite an upgrade. If I get the same sound improvement with a new DAC I will be well chuffed.

Chunk McDaniel wrote: ↑Wed Jan 06, 2021 7:00 pm I have just replaced my transport a CXC. It only lasted 2 years before mistracking intermittently. I now have an Audiolab CDT. I was pleasantly surprised by the difference in sound. It has been quite an upgrade. If I get the same sound improvement with a new DAC I will be well chuffed.

That's interesting and thanks for the heads up, my CXC is less than a year old but if it does fail its good to know of a better affordable alternative

Not taken the cover off the CXC yet. Have lost the use of my right hand for the moment. It may just need a laser clean or a blow out with some compressed air. Enjoyed it when it worked but the Audiolab is definitely a level above sound wise. More authority and scale. Build quality seems better too.
The Denafrips Ares 2 seems to get rave reviews. I am very interested.

Chunk McDaniel wrote: ↑Wed Jan 06, 2021 9:17 pm Have lost the use of my right hand for the moment. It may just need a laser clean or a blow out with some compressed air.

Seriously?

Yip if I can eventually get the cover off the laser may just need a clean Slinger. Had that problem before with an old transport.

Well I'd just go for the Topping D90 and be done with it: The LKS DA004 mentioned by Slinger, I can only find at $1550 although there is a mini version at $999
This gentleman does some excellent demonstration videos