Hi Guys, I've been casually looking for a new DAC.  I'm not disappointed in what I am using now, but I am always searching to improve my 3D soundstage.   It's really good now, but I always wonder if it can be improved.   And, I always wonder if I can make the sound more analogue.

Currently, I am using a Mytek Brooklyn DAC+.  This DAC offers two things that I probably won't want to give up in a new DAC.  

1. It outputs balanced and unbalanced at the same time.  Balanced goes to my Zbit and then to my 25th Zen.   Balanced goes to amps driving the bass speakers and sub.

2. Remote.  I'm lazy.  I can use my phone with Audirvana to do the volume, but prefer to bypass the digital volume control.

I've heard Denefrips, Schitt, and PS Audio in my room and all sounded good but that was all pre-covid so I haven't heard much of the new stuff other than at Axpona and you can't really get a good read at shows.

Budget is around $2K.   Maybe I could stretch to $3K but I'd rather not.

Any suggestions are appreciated.  I think there are lots of great DACs out there.   Just not sure of the balance/unbalanced simultaneous output.  It's usually not a promoted feature even if it can output in this fashion.

Thanks

Denafrips is still great post-COVID and does balanced and unbalanced output simultaneously. But no remote so YMMV, although once you get it setup there isn't anything to change except maybe the source if you have more than one. It also offers an upgrade path by adding a DDC to your existing DAC.

My vote is on the Pontus 15 also.

I'm on the fence if I'm going to buy one myself.
My Ares II is so good that I don't know if it is worth spending the $1900 on a new one.

I kind of have blown most of my Christmas money on a new SS integrated.

But I'm also looking at a streamer.

Upper middle class problems!

I just purchased the new Holoaudio Cyan2. Was $1300 and many say it bests the Pontus even 15th edition. It’s a r2r nos DAC so no internal over sampling. There are lots of reviews and much written on it since it’s release in April I agree with what everybody has to say is truly an amazing buy. my system‘s pretty game right now and I absolutely love it especially with the Tori five

To add to the discussion, I have had the Ares II, the Pontus (not the 15) and now have the Terminator II.  All three have been excellent, and each one surpassed its predecessor.  The Pontus was a step up in my system over the Ares II, but the Terminator II was a couple of steps up from the Pontus. If you stay in the Denafrips models and have the resources, I recommend highly the Terminator II.

I can share my personal experience.

Had a holo spring 3 kte nos fully decked out with the better power supply, silver wire, better capacitors, etc. which the holo designer told me was 95% of the sonics of the holo May.  I Had also added a Swiss fuse to it. It was great.

I Upgraded recently to a gustard x30 and certainly prefer the gustard.

It is the only dac I am aware of right now running 4 flagship-grade ESS Sabre 9039 PRO  chips.

You can run it in nos mode or not with multiple filter settings to tailor the sound.

There are a number of reviews available online on the product.

Hey Pal.

I have been looking at DACs too, I guess right now, looking seriously at the Musical Paradise, though I find the Gustard x30 compelling also, especially having really been enjoying my Gustard X20pro after mods for quite a few years. I don't know if the Musical Paradise can do both outputs or not. Looking around for information I found this Musical Paradise thread. In it there are some videos from Loic at Hifi Cave, for what its worth, one of them mostly comparing the Gustard R26 (resister ladder) to a Pontis and Venus, with a tease reference to his tuned up Musical Paradise at the end.

https://www.stereonet.com/forums/topic/612687-musical-paradise-mp-dx-dac/

Over the last few years I have almost bought an R26 many times, and they do come up used. I just never dove in because I have for the most part loved the Gustard I have, to me quite a bit faster and more resolving in musical ways than it was stock. Seems the Gustard R26 has gotten a lot of praise from reviewers in comparison to the Holo Spring and other less costly ladder DACs, my interest the same reason as yours... wanting to actually hear a decent ladder DAC in my setup that is a good quality for the money, while being pretty fast and clear. But I have not heard it, so.....

Thanks all for your input.   I decided to buy the Cyan 2.  Good reviews, lower cost and I think I can flip it easily if I don't like it.   Also, I run DSD and the owner reviews said its even better and closer to the higher end May Dacs in running DSD.

I was also tempted on the Pontus II 15th anniversay.  $500 more (on sale now) but decided to see what a lower cost unit can do first.

This is going to be interesting.  My Mytek is pretty resolving and has a great great soundstage in my room.  So, I will be interested to see what R2R brings to the table.

In your budget range is the Auralic Vega S1 Streaming DAC @ $1,999 + Upgraded PSU @ $1,000.  It's received some nice reviews.  

https://us.auralic.com/products/vega-s1

Well it’s supposed to arrive the 24th.  Not even 3 weeks so happy about that. Supposed to take 6 weeks.  I’ll give it some time and then post about what I hear.