High output DAC?

Great Guys! Thank you for the speedy feedback on this and the suggestions.
I'd say that it matches what Q007 says about the Theta with what I experienced. However, I think (not sure) the version 1 hadn't balanced out, and even the v.II were not all balanced.
What a joke I was not keeping the Theta Pro Basic II with balanced output! I bought instead a Krell Stealth, that works ok on the sound field, but not happy with the output.

I never heard of the Altis, I think it will be a difficult task to get one around Europe. The Cal Audio I tried was a tubed version (can;t recall the model) and didn't work out well on my system. Had only RCA out though.

Thanks again, will start hunting dac's!
Brgds, Marcelo

All the Theta DACs have high outputs. In a Stereophile interview the designers claimed they sounded better that way. Both the Pro Prime IIa and Pro Basic IIIa have balanced analog outs, and sell used in the USA around $350-400 and $650-800 respectively. I've owned both but prefer the Pro Basic III because it features AES/EBU input from the transport.

The XLR outs of the Benchmark DAC1 are high output. I don't recall the level but you can check the manual online: Benchmark Media

My Electrocompaniet ECD-1 is definitely high output (unless everything else I have is low output). We're talking a couple hours difference on the clockwise motion of the pot.

I'd like to second Johnd's suggestion of the Timbre. I live near the two owners of the company, when they were in business, and a few visits to one of their homes was absolutely astonishing in that the DAC really did sound like analog. Through the years, I've never bought one, but I have yet to erase it from my mind either...