Au revoir, MHDT Orchid, you're a great DAC but...

I really liked mine and still have it in a second system.

I moved on some time ago, first to a Teac NT-505, which had a similar "warm" sound but more detail, then to an Aqua La Voce S3 FPGA DAC, which was more neutral and transparent and now to a Rockna Wavedream Signature, which I hope will be endgame for me.

The Orchid is a really nice DAC at its price point, but it's not a world beater.

It sounds amazing, but you think it's too much of something or other.  Could it be you're overthinking the situation?  Would you stop going to a restaurant because the food was too delicious?

It's a fair question but not a fair analogy. Those with all tube systems might chime in, here, but I will say that when I tried a solid state DAC in my system, especially with both KT77 output tubes and a 6SN7 input tube on the preamp, I had too much softness and not enough clarity, separation, and top end sparkle. But I really like that amp and preamp and so the one thing to change -- again, for my tastes in my room -- was the DAC. 

@hilde45

I know exactly where you coming from, too many tubes can lead to softness or mask the true characteristics (signature) of a component. A solid state DAC can restore the delicate balance you’re seeking in your system. My advice would be to consider a DAC with onboard streamer like Lumin D2. With a 14 days return policy, I think this would a good alternative to explore and streamline your digital front end, quite possibly a step up from your modified Node :-)

Good thread. Finding that delicate balance. I sure enjoyed my upgraded Orchid whenever my solid state amplifier -or- tube amps with more detailed output tubes were in play. The Orchid would smooth and balanced things out nicely, in this configuration.

However, with my all tube system, lush 6SN7 tubes installed in my tube preamp, and smoother output tubes in my tube amps, having the Orchid in front position could be a tad bit "too much of a good thing", some times, for my taste. Did lots of experimentation with GE 5670 triple mica, Tesla 6CC42, WE396/2C51 tubes in my Orchid, and mine also had upgraded Mundorf Silver Gold coupling caps inside.

Today, I’m now back to a (non-tube) solid state r2r dac for some of the targeted inner detail and texture I was looking to recapture. This paired with my tube preamp and mono tube amps works better for my ears and taste I’d say. Not ready to take the big leap on a high $ SS dac yet.  It will take many demos to get there fwiw. 

I loved my Orchid DAC (still have it tucked away in the closet)  Using the 6922 adapter and NOS tubes the sound was fantastic.  I replaced it with the PSaudio DirectStream.  which had a similar sound signature but I felt was more detailed and produced an even better soundstage.  I had them both directly connected to a SET tube amp.  While I moved from a tube DAC to a non tube DAC I think it was more of an upgrade of the processor than elimination of the tube.