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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
audio2design
1,351 posts
 
Lots of interesting views in this thread. Modern DACs have more than enough resolution in their digital filters to reconstruct the signal at higher sampling rates, well beyond the analog performance.  NOS DACs are not accurate. They used to have wicked phase issues due to the analog filters now they just have wicked aliased harmonics. Pick your poison.   A DAC can have a "voice" if you want that sort of thing. It can also be accurate. It won't be both. Buy what you like. Some of us like accuracy. Some of us don't. Many audiophiles claim to like accuracy but don't really. I would say the majority don't and would not know it if they had it, but claim to seek it out.

melvinjames
416 posts
 
NOS DACs are not accurate. They used to have wicked phase issues due to the analog filters now they just have wicked aliased harmonics.

No doubt you realize some NOS DACs are capable of 24/192. Are you saying these DACs suck as well?
audio2design
1,351 posts
 
What happens when you feed them 16/44.1?


Or are you assuming the music is already upsampled as the vast majority of music is not native 24/192. Not just upsampled but filtered as well.



There is not much justification for NOS. None really except for personal preference for artifacts.
melvinjames
416 posts
 
You didn't answer the question.

FWIW I used a Chord Qute EX DAC for years and, while it's getting long in the tooth, I still think it's a terrific DAC. I must enjoy artifacts considering an MHDT Lab Pagoda replaced it. Sounds great with Redbook.
audio2design
1,351 posts
 
It sounds wonderful to you and that is all that matters and yes you very well may enjoy those artifacts though depending on age may not hear the bulk of them. It gives a light and airy sound to redbook. Some love it.  Embrace it but don't confuse it with accurate.
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