My SIX favourite DACs

This video is brought to you by Primare:

🎥 Camera: John Darko / Olaf von Voss
🎬 Editor: John Darko
🌈 Colour: Olaf von Voss
🕺🏻 Motion GFX: John Darko
💰 Ad segment: Jana Dagdagan

0:00 Intro
2:51 Topping D10s
6:14 Chord Mojo 2
10:50 Denafrips Ares II
12:46 Chord Hugo 2
15:22 Lyngdorf TDAI-3400
16:55 Mola Mola Tambaqui

👉 Further information...

Topping D10s video review

Chord Mojo 2 video 'review'

Denafrips Ares II video review

Chord Hugo 2 video review

Lyngdorf TDAI-3400 video review

Mola Mola Tambaqui video review

Room treatment by Vicoustic

👉 Shopping...

Topping D10s

Chord Mojo 2

Chord Hugo 2

Cables and power products by AudioQuest

Hi-fi furniture and speaker stands by Solid Steel

Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links, which are indicated with a '🛒'.

#DACs #hifi #audiophile
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[J.G-li]

I like the RME ADI-2-DAC FS with balanced xlr outputs, superb DAC

[DN]

DAC's are an important part of the chain. Especially when you have high end gear that does not obfuscate what the dac is able to do.

[mw]

I have had the Merason Frerot DAC for a while, I auditioned several other DACs including the Ares II but I fell for the simplicity and sound signature of the Frerot. I doubt I will ever change it out. Would be nice to see you review it!

[seabjackson]

Top 6 DACs, I’ve ever heard are

1. Mola Mola Tambaqui
2. Playback Designs MPD-8
3. DCS Lina DAC
4. Chord Dave
5. DCS Bartok
6. Chord TT2

[martintokkie]

Dear John,

For more than 30 years I have been a lover of good sounding music. I have built up a nice set based on class A amplifiers over the years. I upgraded the 16 bit old CD drives and the Sonos connect by starting with external DACs. Your videos have helped tremendously in that quest. In addition to a Cambridge DacMagic 100 and a Topping E30, I now have a Cambridge 851D (unfortunately no longer made) and a Sonos Port. The latter streamer is not the most expensive thing you can buy, but it plays with Apple music without any problems. Still, in my opinion, everything sounds significantly better than many other devices because the basics in amplifiers and speakers (Focal) are in order. I've tried Tidal and Qobuz, but they don't add anything for me, and indeed, usually CD quality is fine. Keep it up!

[timothyfreeseha]

This might be my favorite Darko video yet. Priorities and personal perspectives about what represents a value proposition. A lot to take away.

[ufarkingicehole]

I've tried a ton of Dacs from Pegasus to smsl 400.

Geshelli Labs has impressed me the most and is my go-to.

The J2 is fantastic, and now they have newer models coming out that should be a step above.

That and the owners are amazing people

[jondu-sud]

John, your comments on the relative influence of rooms, speakers, amps and then finally between DACs really hit the nail on the head for me, based on my own much more limited experience, thanks for that

[gilpatmore]

You are very kind and lots of fun to watch! Thanks for everything!!!

[richardharris]

Excellent summary. And my own preferences, in ascending order of preference (and based on personal experience):
1. Arcam AVR20 (ESS9026Pro). For a built-in DAC in an AV receiver, this is well designed and provides excellent staging, clarity and detail
2. Gustard A26. Definitely a step up, extended bass, presence and spatial cues. In my case, unreliable and poorly supported by Gustard
3. Teac UD-701n. If you can find one, this has a fantastic build and sound quality for the price. Lots of options, and needs a deal of 'running in' to give its best. No support from Teac however (in the UK at least). Probably the best bangs-per-buck of all of the discrete DACs in this list.
4. Chord Dave. A big jump in price, but fantastic level of detail and imaging. To my mind, lacks the ultimate presence and musicality of…
5. Dcs Bartok (pre-Apex version). With the right system, provides just a stunning level of openness, control, imaging, staging, detail and just plain listenability. Only (for my tastes) trumped by…
6. Yep, the Mola Mola Tambaqui. I can't really add much to what's already been written about this DAC, but just wow, and for all types of music. Expensive yes, but I'd never have believed that a DAC could make so much difference to the enjoyment of music. Which surely is what it's all about?

[rajivjoshi]

I have the Gustard R26 DAC. It blends the filament bulby-warm sound of an R2R DAC, and the clearness of a chip DAC, but without the associated harshness and glare. A bit of both that is, like a good red wine cuvee. Expresses itself well with all music genres…

[svenmuilwijk]

Yes, have spend a lot of time with the Tambaqui at my vacation job last year (high end store) and it is indeed a piece of absolute sonic art. Even compared to much more expensive devices (like the Linn Klimax DSM). ❤

[jeremiasgarcia]

Like you said, sound is subjective and everyone is chasing a particular sound to their ears.

That being said, I appreciate your perspective and enjoy your videos

[robertreynolds]

Right now the Denafrips Terminator + has stolen my heart. It’s ability to present music in a grandiose, yet relaxing way is incredibly addicting.

[OzSteve]

Great video. I just bought the Eversolo DMP-A6 (upgraded from the FiiO R7 in my home office) and I'm loving it so far.
Onto the top 6

In no specific order:

Topping D10 Balanced (I used this with my headphone amp when I started getting into separates for headphone use)
PS Audio DirectStream (out dated now with the MK II out)
Auralic Vega (gen 1) was to me, better than the PS Audio DS
Chord Qutest (I got this used for $1200 AUD) Amazing little DAC. I've since added the M Scaler and WOW
Denafrips Terminator Plus WOW I was blown away with this (I got this on loan for a week)
Chord Dave with M Scaler and upgraded PSU. For me, this is my end game DAC (until a Dave 2 comes out) I was lucky enough to borrow one from a friend who was looking at selling it. I had it 2hrs and said I'll buy it (with the stand) for a GREAT price.

I've owned 17 DACs and these are my 6 favourites

[davidrevelli]

John, I love the tone of this video! It's straightforward, no-nonsense opinion and information. Leave all of the nonsense at the door and get on with sharing your hi-fi priorities and choices! Rock on!

[steverees]

It's always great to see other people's choices of hifi equipment and this video was no exception. My DAC choices would be the Chord Cutest, Chord TT 2, Chord DAVE, DCS Bartok, DCS Rossini apex, DCS Vivaldi apex. My end game DAC will be the Chord TT 2, with the upscaler. Perfectly sufficient for my system and sounds incredible for the money.

[phantomplastics]

Recently upgraded headphones and now I find it much easier to identify the best sounding cables or DAC. Then when I play through the speakers, it sounds great. It ensures that I'm not choosing a DAC, cables and speakers to compensate for the room for example.

[beadlesastout]

Theres lots of other factors that will effect how you perceive sound when you hear it. Your mood, temperature, time of day, fatigue and what you have listened to before.
Your own hearing can affect your opinion on sound quality.
We have to remember John will A, B switch between gear over and over to pick out tiny nuances in sound quality.
Its more so a gear hobby rather than a sound quality hobby.

Id say pick something in your price range and something you like the look of and enjoy your music. Get into the music again rather than the gear but there is nothing wrong with loving gear and hobbyism too.
I do like the honesty in johns videos as he will say when things are not night and day different or sometimes not even needed.

[eliz_kilic]

I just would like to tell you the music you use in the videos are just delightful ❤️ thank you for the video.