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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!
chorus
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
The PCM1738 is a segmented DAC
Musical 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
audio2design
1,351 posts
 
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.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
even cheap no name ones from China Why do people make up stories?

Really, call all you like, do you think Chinese can’t put a dac together, your so wrong buddy. You have your head in the sand. https://ibb.co/BjRSjp5
abraxalito
93 posts
 
 ...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.

Have you noticed that implementations of the 1541 have changed in the intervening time? My first CD player used LM833 as I/V and filter stage. Seen any recent designs going that route?
audio2design
1,351 posts
 
And it was probably a $200 CD player too.
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