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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
redwoodaudio
414 posts
 
It just so happens that stereophile has recently highly recommended two r2r DACs, the denadrips terminator and the holo audio may. If you read herb reichert column a few months ago on the may dac, he acknowledged that stereophile had not done r2r technology justice.  Delta sigma is definitely not the only reference game in town anymore.

Why do we have to be so tribalistic about DACs, though? Seriously, lots of good products out there, and yours is almost certainly not the "best" in the world. So you bought a dac that somebody else doesn't like... Just ignore them.
Post removed 
jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
what a shame another pretty good, well participated and informative thread ruined

i come here to learn, share ideas and have fun about the passion of hifi and music

if i want to see garbage and get upset i can turn on cnn or fox, or look out the window at the smoke

i’m out
decooney
2,171 posts
 
@adam8179 OP: Quote - "Thinking about getting a R2R DAC...I was looking at the MHDT Orchid or the Border Patrol".

Adam, as the original poster you had a question. Some answered to it, others not so much - going in an entirely different direction making extra noise. Funny, kinda like poorly designed converters with added parts and oversampling. As to your original question, either of these R2R NOS DACs will be nice. Good Luck on the decision.
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,608 posts
 
@jjss49,

Good point. The only way to avoid ‘Debbie Downers’ is to not engage them. Sadly, their only agenda is to cause enough chaos so they can satisfy their monstrous ego. 
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