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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
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
2,134 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
5,593 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. 
bjesien
1,322 posts
 
I did a blind shootout between the Mojo V2x and the Orchid and my updated Ayre QB-9 Twenty.  I kept the Mojo- my wife and kids liked it best too.     
dht4me's avatar
dht4me
83 posts
 
There is a lot of talk here about R2R w tubes and I have had both Delta Sigma and many R2R's. I have an Audio Note DAC 5 special and my wife and I am quite surprised as to how similar it is to my vinyl rig. It took a lot of learning and setup to get my digital rig where it is at and was far more difficult learning curve vs getting great vinyl sound. Literally everything or anything can effect digital and usually to a negative degree. 
The Delta Sigma DAC's seem to be more tolerant of conditions but do not seem have that elusive sound potential regardless of what I did. 

My friend has a Technics SP1200MKii with a fairly cheap cart and it is astoundingly good for what it costs.
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