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Different R2R DACs

Several months ago, I bought a used Hono Spring Level 2 DAC to see how R2R would compare against my Mytek Brooklyn DAC+. I like the Brooklyn+ a lot, but, given the other components in my system, I'm thinking about building in a bit more warmth (without losing significant detail). I'm not looking for sweetness or holography. Unfortunately, I was thoroughly unimpressed by the way the Holo Spring Level 2 smeared the music. I returned it within two weeks. Perhaps the unit I bought was defective (though I bought it from a highly reputable seller of used equipment), but it started me wondering how much of the hype surrounding the newer generation of R2R DACs was just that, hype. However, I keep seeing so many glowing reviews of reasonably priced R2R DACS from Denafrips, Aqua, Lampizator and others. So I'm wondering whether I should give them another try. Unfortunately, where I live the only real (suboptimal) option is to audition by purchasing one DAC at a time. Before I start down that road again, I thought I would ask the collective brain of Audiogon about how much of a difference I might expect, as against the Holo Spring level 2, from a new Denafrips Pontus II or used Terminator II, a used Aqua La Voce or Lampizator, or some other R2R DAC under $5K. I don't require require resolutions greater than 24/192 (beyond which I discern no difference). I do like the option of MQA decoding, but it's not a deal breaker. 

The rest of my system (source components aside), at present, include a Parasound JC2 BP preamp, a pair of VTV Purifi mono amps, and Harbeth C7ES-3 speakers.

audio-satisficer
lemonhaze
415 posts
 

@ghasley, It just gets the job done in a way that makes you forget about the gear and lose yourself in the music.

Thanks for the great info, the above quote is exactly what I was after and carries more weight than a mainstream review.

 

The Merason was on my short list and now it's on an even shorter list together with the new Mojo Mystique X

 

Decisions, decisions 🤔

jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 

to @ghasley and other interested readers of this thread

We are talking minor differences to major differences but these differences are the discovery that most dacs these days commit sins of omission rather than 20 years ago when a dac would exhibit sins of commission. In short almost any of the dacs I had and sold on I could have lived happily ever after with....some do some things better but none are bad, just different.

i believe these are the most important words in his post... we need to not lose perspective, among well reputed and well established dacs into mid and high 4 figures, none are bad and the differences, even on a resolving system, are not huge, all are able to deliver wonderful, very analog listening experiences

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 

@ghasley ,

I appreciate your contribution to this thread and mentioning/introducing  the Merason DAC1. I hadn't heard of this Swiss made component.  It certainly seems to be a first rate product. This forum can be very useful in bringing awareness of smaller companies that produce excellent audio components. @in_shore brought to my attention recently  the Musician Aquarius DAC. There's  much good product available in High End audio. 

Charles 

ghasley
2,487 posts
 

@charles1dad its a fun hobby with wonderful people (mostly LOL). There has never been a better time to be in the hobby. There has never been more amazing products available than today and I can't wait to see what's over the horizon. I utilize some seriously old tech and some seriously new tech and never has high end gear been better built, better sounding or more reliable. All the best charles.

m-db's avatar
m-db
971 posts
 

metaldetektor    Back to the topic at hand -- reasonably priced R2R dacs -- I've put the Sonnet through its paces and it's great. Accurate and nuanced timbre, balanced from top to bottom, no digital edge. Is it as good as my reference DAC that costs three times as much? It is not. I could go on at length as to why, but what's the point -- they're in very different price brackets. I have yet to find this mythical thing called a giant killer. If you think you've found one, you're looking at the wrong giant. But if I was searching for a DAC in the $3-4k range, it's a wonderful DAC I could happily settle down with.

Thanks for this followup it's much appreciated.

M 

 

 

 

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