Which Future DAC for a Specialized Use Case?

[Jud]

One of these years I suppose I'll want a new DAC, though I'm very pleased with the one I have now. I'm asking the question below as a start of my research.

 

The way I use a DAC is fairly specialized: I send it DSD512, so I bypass all the DAC's internal filtering. All I really use of a DAC is the final analog filter and the analog output circuitry. So which reasonably affordable DACs have very good parts, build quality and design in these areas? Is there anything to touch @Miska's DSC1 DIY DAC and variants (e.g., balanced versions) for near the price?

[Jud]

10 hours ago, firedog said:

Lampizator used to make a DSD only DAC that didn't use a chip to convert DSD.

You might be able to get one used, or maybe they would make one for you if you asked.

 

What kind of budget are you thinking of?

 

Not thinking of the near term, just storing up information for whenever I might want to do something. So I'm not concerned about price so much as circuit design and parts quality in the final analog filter and output stage.

 

I'm interested in the possibility of directly driving an amp, though I'm agnostic about an analog vs. software volume control. If a software volume control doesn't sound better than the volume knob on my preamp, so be it; and equally so for the reverse situation. Direct optical Ethernet input would be nice, but it's up to the audio gods whether that will be available at the time I feel like upgrading.

 

I'm going to have to have a look at DIY Audio to see what names are mentioned with regard to parts for the analog filter stage; if anyone here ( @barrows, @Miska, @Superdad, others?) has suggestions in that respect, I'll gladly read them.