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It's time to replace my 2009 factory-modded Wadia S7i with a current R2R DAC.


Having finally emerged from the rabbit hole of review leading on to review (doubting I'd ever come back),  I found that most  assess their DAC's performance based on source input from computers or servers. 

But I have a collection of cd's that I wouldn't live long enough to load  into a server, nor do I foresee streaming from commercial libraries or using USB/HDMI connectivity.

So, my question:: do present-day machines perform equally as well using native mode PCM hard discs played from a transport ?

Oh and ..have any lovers of the Wadia house sound found  equivalent sound in a R2R DAC ?

Thanks,

- John
 
128x128dr-john
kucharsk
13 posts
 
dCS Rossini Player with Rossini Clock.
It takes both pieces to exceed the performance of the S7i, but they do.
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,500 posts
 
My experience with decent CD player vs. decent standalone DAC, server and HD is that they will perform very similarly.  What is most important and what will deliver best performance is clock synchronization from server to DAC.  If they don't synch, the goal should be to use the DACs clock, not the servers.  

Not sure where your budget is but Rockna is my favorite R2R. At every price they compete, they are the best DAC that I have heard.

Read the reviews. The Wavelight is a hair warm and they get progressively more neutral as you go to the Wavedream Edition and Wavedream signature. The product is very highly regarded.

The only DACs I have heard that are clearly better than my Wavedream Signature is the MSB Reference & Aries Cerat. I would take the Wavedream Signature and NET server over a Rossini any day.  But that is me.  I like Rockna's more natural sound.  

I am looking forward to a side-by-side with the Playback Design Dream DAC.  I am going to be ordering a Playback soon I think.  
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
What is most important and what will deliver best performance is clock synchronization from server to DAC.
The dac should be the master, and and sources to be clocked to it.

Cheers George 
kw6
692 posts
 
I just got the Ares II from Denafrips bests my Chord Qutest. But with Qutest I was using Optical and coax with Ares II. I will switch back soon but with Chord I need to add bnc to RCA adapter! 😃
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,901 posts
 
dr-john

I would keep the Wadia. Very few companies build this kind of player in 2021 moving forward.

Happy Listening!
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