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Sold My Ayre QB-9 DSD - Help Me Choose A New DAC!

I’m looking for help in choosing a new DAC.

Here’s my DAC history…

About seven years ago I purchased an Ayre QB9. It was the original non-upgraded 24/96 version and I absolutely loved it. A few years later I had it upgraded by Ayre to the QB-9 DSD.

While I loved the original QB-9, I never completely loved the upgraded DSD version. The QB9 DSD was smoother and more detailed, but lost some of the musical immediacy and excitement of the original - at least for me.

To be fair, I never had the opportunity to compare the original QB-9 to the QB-9 DSD. In hindsight, I still really enjoyed listening to the QB-9 DSD, but had hoped for even more magic from the upgrade.

Right about then I started traveling extensively for work. Since I would not be home much, I sold the QB-9 DSD and bought a Audioquest Dragonfly Red - for the road.

Fast forward three years. I am no longer traveling for work as much and have the time and opportunity to set up a new home DAC. I’ll start with the Dragonfly Red, but I want something better.

My stereo system is comprised of a highly-modified Eico HF81 tube amp (EL84 for 14-watts) and a pair of highly modified Signet SL260 speakers. I also have a pair of Falcon LS3/5a speakers.

I listen to just about everything. Electronic to Jazz - with some classical. Depeche Mode to Miles Davis. Jack Johnson to Talking Heads. Rolling Stones to Yello. Steely Dan to Kraftwerk. Seriously, I’m all over the map in my musical interests. That’s the fun!

As for sound, I really want to hear people and instruments in the room. I really want to hear a 100-percent natural sound. I also want to hear meat on the bones of instruments and voices. No delicate wispy outlines. Real solid instruments and humans rendered naturally in three-dimensional space... please.

I can’t stand hardness or brightness. I can’t emphasize this enough. That’s why I tend to skew towards tube amps. And yes, I have an extensive vinyl collection - but that’s off topic.

I listen to a lot of full-res Red Book 16/44. I also have a deep collection of 24-bit high-res, and a Tidal HIFI subscription. I switch between all of the above.

Over the past few weeks I have researched what’s out there right now in DACs. Based purely on online reviews and forums, I’m leaning heavily towards a R2R DAC.

Ideally, I’d keep my purchase price under $4,000. That might mean buying used for a few of my selected DACs. Less expensive is better.

Here’s my current preferred R2R DAC list:

Schitt Yggdrasil
MHDT Labs Orchid
MHDT Labs Pagoda
Audio Mirror Tubadour III SE
HoloAudio Spring DAC 2
Rockna Wavelight
Metrum Orchid
Denefrips Ares II
Denafrips Terminator

And two non R2R DACs I’m considering:
Lampizator Amber 3
RMA ADI-2 DAC FS

And yes, I could go back to an Ayre QB-9 DSD, and possibly upgrade it to an Ayre QB-9 Twenty - but so much has changed in the world of DACs. Why not take a fresh look at what’s new - right?
If you have any suggestions or insights based on experience with the above DACs - and my stated sound preferences - please chime in.

Thank you!









eicoeico
eicoeico OP
3 posts
 
Lancer705 - Thanks for the tip on the Bakoon. I’ll look into it.

creditingkarma - Thanks for the tip on the Sonnett Morpheus. I hadn’t even heard of that brand.

bjesien - Your QB-9 specific question would be great for a new thread. I would like to hear more about the QB-9 Twenty myself.

I may have made an error when I used the word, "natural" to describe the sound I prefer. When I say natural, I mean true to life. That’s in stark contrast with "accurate" sound which tends to be analytical and cold.

The only reason the RMA ADI-2 DAC FS is on my list is because some online reviews have said it’s natural in it’s presentation. This is compared to the Benchmark DAC2 and DAC3 which are universally praised as cold and accurate. That’s not for me.
big_greg
6,664 posts
 
Why? DACs shouldn't have sound signatures

Every DAC I've listened to sounds at least slightly different.  The Mytek Liberty I owned had excellent measurements, but I sold it and wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless they wanted something very analytical.  Not my cup of tea, and not "natural" to my ears. 

Honestly, I could care less how my MHDT Orchid measures.  It is detailed and organic sounding, and pleasing to my ears.  It sounds like music.  I love it for the way it sounds, not its measurements.

djones51
4,947 posts
 
If you don't want accurate you're probably not going to like the RME ADI-2. The specs on it are about the same as a Benchmark DAC3, in other words they both measure beyond what's audible for humans so in a blind test everything else being equal they should sound the same which is they don't have a sound.
helomech
1,722 posts
 
Topping d90. Recently shot it out vs brooklyn mytek. Bye mytek
I compared it against the Chord Qutest. Preferred the D90 by a good margin. 

Somehow it doesn't sound analytical or dry despite its SOTA measurements. 
springclip4287
13 posts
 
Hi eicoeico,
noticed you are running a Tube Amp.
My vote therefore goes to the Topping D90 as I'm currently running one with a Tube Amp.
I also have musical tastes that are all over the place. My system, which I'll detail below, handles all my musical tastes with fantastic sounds. No harshness and not warm or muddied either. Voices and Instruments come right at me. I highly recommend that you trial the D90, as I believe there still is a money back offer when purchased, or try to borrow one locally to see what you think.
The only other DAC I have tried is a Chord Qutest. Great DAC but a little warm sounding for my system. Can't say anything about others as I haven't tested them. I was considering a Denafrips Pontus or Venus to try R2R but just had a feeling they may be too bright within my system. It was just a 'feeling' though after reading reviews.

Primaluna EVO 400 Integrated Amplifier
Audioquest Ruby Interconnects
Innuos Zenith MK3 1TB Streamer/CD Ripper
Audioquest Coffee USB Cable
Topping D90 MQA DAC
Rega Planar 2 Turntable
Cable Talk Monitor 2.1 Interconnects
Rega Fono MK3 Phono Stage
QED Silver Anniversary Speaker Cable
Klipsch Forte 3 Speakers
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