Price: $5995
Website: www.bryston.com
Gordon said: Quite simply, it’s the most revealing and most musical digital source I’ve ever had in my system. (It’s also the most expensive.)
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: Hardware is an A+, but has operational quirks.
Price: $499
Website: www.cambridgeaudio.com
Mark said: It’s a jack of all trades—other DACs in its price range might do one or two things better, but you’d be hard-pressed to find something anywhere near its price that does everything as well as does the DacMagic 200M.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: Latest feature-laden budget DAC from Cambridge is a winner.
Price: $810
Website: www.denafrips.com
Dennis said: If your main concern is simply enjoying music from digital sources but you think digital sounds inherently too sterile or clinical, then the Denafrips Ares II might scratch an itch you didn’t know you had.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: Huge value in the under-$1000 DAC market.
Price: $8698 SGD
Website: www.denafrips.com
Evan said: After many weeks of very enjoyable listening sessions, the Terminator-Plus proved a distinct step up in sound quality from my Bryston BDA-2 DAC in every regard.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Unique in the world of me-too high-end DACs.
Price: AU$59,995
Website: www.linn.co.uk
Barry said: Bringing to bear the power of Space Optimisation and the Organik DAC, the Klimax brought a level of improvement to my system that was not subtle.
Read the SoundStage! Australia review.
The gist: Space Optimisation took Barry’s system to new heights.
Price: $5995
Website: www.linn.co.uk
Stephen said: It does perform beautifully with loudspeakers and has a great deal of flexibility.
Read the SoundStage! Australia review.
The gist: Needs a better owner’s manual.
Price: $3595
Website: www.luxman.com
Jeff S. said: It is solidly built and ergonomically efficient, but most of all, it exudes quality in terms of sound.
Read the SoundStage! Ultra review.
The gist: Superb value in the realm of physical disc players.
Price: $2599
Website: www.marantz.com
Gordon said: If you’re not bothered by the software issues I’ve raised and are looking for a single component that will let you play shiny discs, stream music from the Internet, and play music from your smartphone and computer, Marantz’s SACD 30n should be high on your shortlist.
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: The sound is warm and inviting.