Ha ha — I have a Chord Hugo 2 which does double duty, DAC + drives the Audeze LCD-4z well. But when I got the AAA 789, at least as good or maybe better, for $350, I had to get a price-appropriate DAC. The Hugo 2 and Meridian 818 are otherwise engaged (although I tested both and was impressed). But I went back to Massdrop and got the SDAC, made by Grace, for $80. Tiny and discrete. And it holds its own, the combination with the 789 is excellent. But it is compromised, 96k and unbalanced only. So I’m thinking of the next step. Trying to stay price-appropriate.
I wrote here: