More discrete R2R Mulibit dacs.

kalaliSo, all those discrete components combined replace one chip?

Yep, and they stopped making them years ago, because  Delta Sigma was more than 20 x cheaper to make and allowed for dsd use, probably because there was no laser trimming to be done like in an r2r ladder multibit dac, the last true ladder mulitbit being the Burr Brown PCM1704. It was only 24/96 this thing above can do  24/382

Cheers George

There's always the Analog Devices AD5791 that's used in the Schiit Yggdrasil.  Granted, it's only 20 bit, but it's still a true R-2R ladder.  And expensive at minimum $60 a pop.

Yes the AD5791 is still available but it was never designed as an audio dac, I don’t know what the down sides are for this in audio use. I believe the last audio one was the PCM1704 and it was more like >$120, a Delta Sigma is like <$10.

"AD5791 APPLICATIONS:
Medical instrumentation Test and measurement Industrial control High end scientific and aerospace instrumentation."

Cheers George

Cool looking Dac but seriously Denafrips? That might be one of the worst names for audio gear ever :-)

I use an R2R in my dac but that is where the similarities end.  It is like saying a preamp uses 6DJ8/6922 tubes but one company uses the Amperex tube brand.  It comes down to the component design.  My power supply weighs in at 30lbs and I use DHT design.  So while the R2R may be better sounding, it still comes down to the design and implementation.  If it was just the R2R, I could make a DAC for $500!  There are plenty of good sounding DAC chips available such as the Sigma 32 bit for one.

Happy Listening.