[Mallard1]

Hello,
I am looking to purchase a DAC and would like to spend around 2K. I have been looking at the Geshelli Labs DayZee DAC with the Sparkos upgrade OP AMPS #2590.  Has anyone on here had any experience with this particular DAC and if so, what were your thoughts. I had purchased an earlier model of Geshelli DAC and it did not fit what i was looking for. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

[Jon L]

I had purchased an earlier model of Geshelli DAC and it did not fit what i was looking for.

The thing that bothers me about the Dayzee DAC is that it is reported to pretty much require the ~$500 Sparkos SS2590 opamp upgrade (Eight!) to sound superior. 

The other favorite DAC out there is the Laiv Harmony, so as the audiofools want to try new DAC's like Dayzee and sell off their "old" DAC's, perhaps you can find one on the used market:
https://youtu.be/jAEm3jZxSbQ?si=WhZT4TipWaHOU0Gp
 

[Mallard1]

Thank you for your thoughts.  I will look into that.  I watched the link you sent and that one im going to look at for sure.   

[KTS]

I do not have any experience with Geshelli Labs, although I have seen very favorable reviews. I am using a Denafrips Aries II and have been for a few years, I can recommend it wholeheartedly. It is detailed and has a nice soundstage.

[mkrawcz]

Personally, I prefer tube DACs. I have the kit version of this and I like it over my Holo Spring 3 KTE. https://ankaudiokits.com/product/dac-2-1-signature-professional-edition/

[SRP SRP]

On a whim, I purchased an Okto Research dac8 stereo after reading a review in stereophile. It replaced a Geshelli Labs dac.

Optical in, balanced out connections (to monoblocks).  Really happy with the results as Im hearing new details in familiar music.

I also considered the holo may dac. I heard it in another system and thought it sounded great.

Good luck!

[BrandonB]

Personally, I prefer tube DACs. I have the kit version of this and I like it over my Holo Spring 3 KTE. https://ankaudiokits.com/product/dac-2-1-signature-professional-edition/

These kits are really cool to look at.  Have you done any extra modding to your DAC?  I wish they had a toslink input and went up to 24/192.

[jmimac351]

I had purchased an earlier model of Geshelli DAC and it did not fit what i was looking for.

What didn't you like about it?

[Hydro]

I have a number of Audio note Kits products, the best upgrade is Duelund copper coupling caps. The level 4 with c-core output transformers is a great dac. If you want a great solid state dac I would go with the best Denafrips you can afford. Both of these are single bit ladder dacs.

[mkrawcz]

These kits are really cool to look at.  Have you done any extra modding to your DAC?  I wish they had a toslink input and went up to 24/192.

No modding on this one. I may upgrade it to the 4.1 eventually so I have balanced outputs. Lack of 24/192 and a toslink is a drawback for some, but I find I don’t care much if it’s reduced down to 24/96. The tube stage makes up for anything you might hear from that by creating a more lifelike sound. I find I prefer the DAC with tubes, then everything else in the path solid state. Just seems to sound better that way to me.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I would strongly suggest that you look at 2 DAC's.  My first choice would be the Schiit Audio Yggdrasil.  This DAC is a true giant killer.  It is musical, resolving and detailed.  It has a huge soundstage and good spacing between instruments. It has excellent air and transparency.  It easily compares to DAC's in the $5K to 6K range.  For its price you will be hard pressed to find a better one.  It is also made in the USA and Schiit audio has a 15 day return policy.  They have very good customer service.

https://www.schiit.com/products/yggdrasil

Here is a Stereophile review of one of the older models-
https://www.stereophile.com/content/schiit-audio-yggdrasil-da-processor-analog-2-upgrade

The other DAC is the Chord Qutest.  You can find them used for about $1K.  They sell for $1800.  They really respond well to usb cable changes and an upgraded power supply.  My son has one and it is fabulous for the price.  If you go this route, I can recommend a rather affordable USB cable that works well with it and a good Linear Power supply that takes the dac to another level  of refinement.

I just thought of another DAC that I reviewed a few weeks ago.  The AVA HiFi DVA DAC/digital preamp.  This goes for about $2500 but they have a used one on their web site for  $2200.  You can use it as a stand alone DAC, a preamp or both.  It sounds better than both the dacs I listed although the Yggy is close. 

Here is my review and from the replies to my review from people who have this DAC, my review was spot on.  Made here in MN and they have a 30 day return policy and some of the best customer service in the business.

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=190241.0

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=190241.0

[corndog71]

I second Yggdrasil.

[Nick B]

I have the Holo Cyan2 dac and it's excellent....especially for $1,198

[Mallard1]

Thank you all who have given your suggestions. I really appreciate it as i have lots to think about now. 

[jmimac351]

Danny shared a revelation today with Op Amps in a DAC... and the DAC chip was not the focus - it's the output stage. 

I see many of the usual names in DACs and have heard several of them, including Gustard - which lasted a few minutes before back in the box and back to the nice buddy who insisted I hear it.  I did, and that was a good reference for "what that is". 

My perception of many conversations about DACs is that they focus on chips / "digital" / measurements... and not much, if any, thought is given to what I've experienced as the #1 thing --> the design / features of the analog output stage.

That is why I use the 2 DACs I do - they certainly have "great chips"... but a good chip in a DAC is like ordering a pizza... what happens after that?  Nobody usually knows or it's shared in the routine S/N, THD, OverUpSampling, etc.  The flashy number specs.

But what is different about it other than people say something is good?  I'm not talking numbers, I'm talking design.  I know enough about the design of what I chose to be dangerous, but it was that and reading between the lines for a LOT of material, piecing together why certain things are done a certain way by certain OEMs.

I also did something else that's a little crazy... I called the OEM and talked to them.  I know that's very risky vs reading forums and YouToobs, but I'm a wild and crazy guy!

I could be 100% "wrong", but I'm not wrong about what I like. 

[I.Greyhound Fan]

With DAC's it is all about the output stage.   Many DAC's use the same chip but they can sound remarkably different due to the implementation and the output stage.  This is not new news.  I do not put much faith in some measurements and spec's.  I owned a Parasound A21 amp and its specs are for the most part better than my Pass X250 amp.  However, the A21 does not hold a candle next to the Pass which sounds way better.

[mkrawcz]

With DAC's it is all about the output stage.   Many DAC's use the same chip but they can sound remarkably different due to the implementation and the output stage.  This is not new news.  I do not put much faith in some measurements and spec's.  I owned a Parasound A21 amp and its specs are for the most part better than my Pass X250 amp.  However, the A21 does not hold a candle next to the Pass which sounds way better.

This is why I love my ANK. It's got a ladder DAC chip from 1991, yet it sounds better than most of the best measuring DACs out there. I have examples from most of the top measuring DACs on Audiosciencereview, plus several modern ladder DACs. They all just don't sound as musically convincing, natural, and real as the ANK. I'm sure the true top tier DACs do, but where now talking over $10k to get there.

[YEEEEGZ]

I second Yggdrasil.

MiB, LiM or GS? 

[I.Greyhound Fan]

MiB, LiM or GS? 

I have only heard the Original with the Unison usb.  It sounded fabulous.

[corndog71]

MiB, LiM or GS? 

I started with GS which was their first Gen DAC cards.  This also included the Gen 5 USB input.  It sounded great to me. 

As soon as Schiit announced the imminent end of their Gen 2 (OG) cards I jumped on the upgrade which also coincided with their chassis update.  I also got their Unison input card.  Obviously I couldn’t do a side by side comparison so take the following with a grain of salt.  The OG seemed a little warmer and better balanced.  Both of these were AKM DACs.

I haven’t heard the newer versions but I’ve read lots of positive comments about both MiB and Lim.  These are TI dacs.