Thinking about getting a R2R DAC

I have a very analog, warm sounding EAR Acute CD player. I purchased a COS Engineering D2v after 15 years. It is probably a delta-sigma type. It has superior resolution. It was compared to the less expense H1 unit. The difference was the H1 had a more open sound rivaling the LP’s liveness and extra deep bass, but thinner mid-range sound. It worked perfectly for my friend’s monitor speakers making them sound louder in the bass and bigger sounding . My D2v rivaled LP’s full bodied mid-range making them extremely listenable for hours but lacking my LP’s open sound on my older speakers which do not have as prominent a high end. Both units are highly dynamic and rival LPs. The main difference I think is that the D2v has a dual switching power supply and the H1 has a single switching power supply. (The twice as expensive D1 has dual linear power supply). Instead of continued searching for a better DAC, I’m in the process of upgrading my speakers for the benefit of both LPs and CDs. I got tired of searching for CD playback in the 2000s after acquiring about 30 different CD players, almost all relative junk compared to an EAR Acute 2005.

@adam8179

My path to satisfying digital began when I purchased a dB Audio Labs Tranquility DAC which uses the old-school TDA1543. It was the first time I can honestly say I was happy with digital. After several years using this fine DAC the high-res bug bit and, wanting to hear it in all its glory, I purchased the Chord Qute HD when it first came out. I was wowed and used it until an upgrade with even higher specs was offered. With future-proofing in mind I shipped it off to be upgraded to the EX version.

In the meantime I re-installed the Tranquility and was surprised just how much I missed the sound quality. It seemed at first to be a bit less resolving but after a while I realized the Tranquility was simply more balanced, retaining all of the detail coupled with a natural, beautiful tone. When my newly upgraded Qute EX arrived I kept both DACs in the system to compare side by side. My preference leaned heavily toward the Tranquility.

Since then my entire system evolved and when I learned of the MHDT Lab Pagoda DAC (dual PCM1704) I took a chance on it. That was about 2.5 years ago. I choose it over the Orchid for various reasons, one being the Pagoda is a 24-bit DAC. I do like high-res and want 24/192 without decimation to 16/44.1 (or 16/48). Would I have been happy with the Orchid? Considering the myriad of accolades from others who seem to be seeking a similar sound quality, I would say yes. That said, I love my Pagoda and it’s not going anywhere. Obviously, I think you might be very pleased with an R-2R DAC. Best of luck to you.

Other components in my system:

Sonore microRendu

Decware SE84UFO

Omega Super 3i Monitors & DeepHemp 8 Subwoofer

If you are looking for an organic and natural sound and consider a R2R DAC, go for a pure one, i.e. a well implemented FPGA-based R2R DAC without a digital filter. 

@co_jones 

of course, synergy is the magic ingredient here

it comes in many forms

the process is trying and finding it for your wants and tastes