MHDT or Border Patrol

gelle
The Orchid uses Phillips TDA1541A-R1, which is the top of the line DAC from that Phillips 15xx series, compared to the lower cost TDA1545A chips used in the Canary. The Orchid uses an OPA861 transistor for output gain whereas the Canary uses additional TDA1545A chips for output gain. This link below summarizes all differences;

http://www.mhdtlab.com/mhdt%20dac%20families.htm

Guys, what a fascinating thread. Normally I only hang around the analog forums (more shade there, I can stay hidden Lol), but I'm finally (Covid-permitting) gonna try and get off the fence and make that streaming purchase, obv needing to settle on a dac.
My dilemmas are trying to converge on a SQ level-price point based on streaming likely to run alongside my tt and also my cdp...yes, I still buy cds to add to the 1.5k that I already own played thru a $15k cdp.
Even w streaming, I'm likely to carry on buying lps and cds.
I have no idea where streaming will take me...if I end up with an unengaging server/dac, or I struggle w the interface, or I don't find much I like on the æther (I'll be looking for unusual prog, fusion and ambient electronica deep genre searches), the whole thing could be a waste of cash

...hence my joy at finding this line of dacs. MHDT almost looks too good to be true. Warm AND revealing, toneful AND dynamic...and open to tube rolling
...and critically for this potential customer at least who is really unsure of the lay of the land, hugely affordable.

Am I reading you fanboys correctly...you CAN have it (almost) all, for a fraction of the cost of spendy bigger names like Chord, Aqua, Lampi etc?

Well. I ended up with a Orchid. It replaced my Oppo 105. I have ~50-60 hours on the stock GE tube an it’s really opened up. The whole sound stage seems In front of you if that makes any sense. So much so I hooked my Oppo 105 into the Orchid and my Redbook seems more alive as well. I also have a Western Electric JW396A D getter W-E military tube en route which I hear is supposed to be amazing. 

Gelle, I'm fascinated by all this. For an owner using a Lampi GG to want for nothing in using an MHDT is a fantastic testimonial.
And your's amongst dozens more that are 100% effusive.
Is this dac the single biggest bargain in digital audio.
I'm trying to find a corresponding bargain in servers/streamers.
My attention is drawn to the c$1k Limetree Network Bridge.
I'm thinking that plus BBQ Audio-modded Orchid or Pagoda is the way to go for this computer audio novice.

I just purchased the balanced pagoda and it's replaced a schiit multibit, I think I need several weeks of burn in but my setup has never sounded so good. Can't wait to upgrade this thing.