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Thinking about getting a R2R DAC

Dear community,

I currently have a chord qutest DAC. I like it a lot, very full sound, accurate detailed and exciting.  However, whenever I go back to vinyl (with a well-recorded nice pressing) I find the sound so much more satisfying.  There is a warmth, yes, but there is a presence, a 'there-ness' that I just don't get with the digital.  I'm wondering if an R2R DAC would get me closer to that?  my budget would be around the same as the qutest.  I was looking at the MHDT Orchid or the Border Patrol.  Don't get me wrong, I really like the Qutest.  I am thinking of putting it in the upstairs system to pair with the Node2i I have up there.  Any thoughts?  Will analog always just be a different animal than digital?

Currently in the main system I have a Sonore uRendu feeding the Qutest which is going to a LTA MZ2 going to a Pass XA 30.5

thanks!
adam8179
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
I have an MHDT Orchid Dac and had a Border Patrol Dac on loan which I didn’t feel was as good. The Orchid is a very nice Dac and LTA is offering a 600.00 Mod for it shortly. The MHDT Dacs - Border Patrol among others are Chip Based R2R Dacs as opposed to a fully formatted R2R Dac like the MSB - Aqua Dacs- Holo Audio etc... a new one from the brains behind the Metrum Dac’s called the Sonnet Morpheus Dac is Approx 3k and better than the 6K Metrum Psvane. The Chip based are less expensive. The new Audial while still chip based is more elaborate but only 2K and supposed to be very nice


I would agree with the above. When I did my own huge DAC shootout, I kept the MHDT(s) and sold the Border Patrol. MHDT units have better nuance, warmth and dimensionality than the BP, and on top of that, you can roll tubes and subtly tailor the sound on the MHDT. (BP uses its tube in the power supply section only, and it uses a unique tube.)

Metrums (even older ones like the Octave) are truly excellent. As is the Morpheus, which I currently have as well. The Morpheus sounds subtly different than the Pavane/Adagio... I would not say it is clearly better, just a subtly different presentation with a clear family resemblance.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
The Chip based are less expensive.
Indeed - its possible to get the flavour of R2R at a very low price

Yes Yes Yes!!!
Just look for the higher end used players that use the PCM1702 or even better the PCM1704 Burr Brown dac chips here,
http://vasiltech.narod.ru/CD-Player-DAC-Transport.htm
and even better if they are used with together with DF1704 or better PMD100 and better again PMD200 filter chips

Cheers George
simna
165 posts
 
I bought a LAB 12 DAC1 SE a few years ago and I'm very pleased with it. And you also have the option to tune it a little by replaceing the 6922 tube. If the limitation to 24bit/96kHz is not a problem you could give it a try.
I also lack that "something" I get from LP:s and this DAC does a good job closeing in the gap between CD:s and LP:s. At least in my humble system and to my ears.
alchemyman
21 posts
 
I recently purchased a Jolida FX2 tube DAC (now Black Ice) and took it to compare with a friend's Qutest.  We found the Jolida to be a more engaging and relaxing listen.  The Qutest certainly was the more open and "airy" of the two DACs, but it's also more analytical at the same time. In fairness, I also don't hear much difference between DACs in general on my system.
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