Ok, do not know now? Was kind of liking my tubed MHDT Orchid. Maybe I should like? Maybe I should not? My ears are still deciding, for 4 months now. So far it is one of my favorites. My ears will decide. Enjoy!
R2R Ladder DACs or All in One Streamer Solutions
I am soon to own a Pass INT 25 integrated amp. I also own an Oppo 205.
I am now searching for a separate DAC to replace/improve the DAC in the Oppo.
Budget $2k. Used preferred.
I like the R2R ladder sound and want a tube inside for a little balance with the Solid State gear.
My current source is the Oppo 205.
I am also shopping for a Streamer/Ripper/Storage device. Roon friendly and DSD capable.
Budget also $2k. Used Preferred.
It seems that the few offerings of these all in one solutions all contain a DAC.
My thought is that the DAC included will not be any better than the Oppo so it is of little use.
Has anyone been down this road lately?
Am I missing something?
Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!
I am now searching for a separate DAC to replace/improve the DAC in the Oppo.
Budget $2k. Used preferred.
I like the R2R ladder sound and want a tube inside for a little balance with the Solid State gear.
My current source is the Oppo 205.
I am also shopping for a Streamer/Ripper/Storage device. Roon friendly and DSD capable.
Budget also $2k. Used Preferred.
It seems that the few offerings of these all in one solutions all contain a DAC.
My thought is that the DAC included will not be any better than the Oppo so it is of little use.
Has anyone been down this road lately?
Am I missing something?
Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!
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- 50 posts total
I can be passionate about technical details, but please understand I absolutely think personal preference (our ears) are the most important. It does not matter what I think or link, it matters what you like. However, I think it is important not to get caught up in the flavor of the month and let the "masses", or perhaps it is the "crowd" decide what currently you should "like". That is why I point out that it was not too long ago that DACs based on the 1541 were not considered good, but suddenly they are again. Which is not to say you don't love your DAC, because you obviously do. If I had to guess, it has little to do with the 1541, and a lot to do with the overall design, warts and all. Warts are good in audio. We are working very hard to add warts to recorded music these days. People like warts. jbmac7594 posts11-08-2020 8:52pmOk, do not know now? Was kind of liking my tubed MHDT Orchid. Maybe I should like? Maybe I should not? My ears are still deciding, for 4 months now. So far it is one of my favorites. My ears will decide. Enjoy! |
The PCM1738 is a segmented DACMusical Fidelity used the PCM1738 Delta Sigma dac in 2002 in their A3/24 this was the start of the "new wave" because it was way to expensive to produce R2R chips with the multitude of laser trimmed resistors in them like in the TDA1541 and PCM1702 and 04 and more. We A/B’d the that MF A3/24 which was mine against R2R dacs, even no name ones from China, which used the TDA1541 and PCM1702/4, and on RedBook CD using the same transport, the R2R chip’ed dacs reined supreme. And today the "Discrete R2R" like my MSB, my friends Total are even better again than those old "chip based" R2R d/a converters. Cheers George |
Ya I am calling that one out ... even cheap no name ones from China huh? Sure. Why do people make up stories? Ask any DAC designer (good ones) and they will tell you the implementation, i.e. output stages, power supply, clocks, etc. matter far more than the DAC architecture. Cheap ones from China ... if you are going to tell tales, at least keep them remotely believable. |
- 50 posts total