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Too many choices for R2R DACS--opinions appreciated

So I've decided to treat myself to a new DAC to celebrate a rather significant birthday coming up, and I'm very intrigued by the new generation of DACs employing R2R technology. Reviews have been unrelentingly positive, but I have way too many choices now, so I'd appreciate some opinions from any of you who may have had a chance to compare some of them. Price range: about $3K (with some slight headroom if the right DAC warrants it). I've looked at reviews for Audio-GD, Denafrips, Sonnet, and the new one from Jay's Audio (which doesn't yet seem to have any reviews that I can find). 

I'll be replacing a DAC that I actually really like, an Abbingdon Music Research DP-777 (not SE) which I've had for a few years now, but from what I read about the R2Rs, they appear to produce a sound I might like even better. 

Listening preferences: mostly classical, some folk, some Broadway, and I never  totally outgrew my taste for the good ol' rock music I grew up with. 

Rest of the system: Modwright KWI-200 integrated, Cambridge Audio CXU disc spinner, Ryan R610 speakers, Rel S2 sub. Cables: Audience & Cardas. (This all might be a bit TMI, but let's cover all the bases).

Your opinions gratefully received. Thanks!

 

cooper52
mrotino
66 posts
 

I have the metrum acoustics onyx which I had upgraded with the DAC 3 chips.  Cees who is the designer of both the Onyx and Morpheus mentioned that with the DAC 3 chips the Onyx is essentially equivalent to the Morpheus as they both now have 16 DAC chips and their design is very similar.

I also have the Metrum acoustics ambre streamer which I highly recommend as it is very well built with upgraded clocks, linear power supply, etc. and has all the digital outputs.  In my system USB was the worst sounding and the images and vocals were thinned out.  I2S was the best connection between the two and images and vocals definitely became fuller and the sound more transparent and dynamic.  It's possible the Morpheus has a better USB input than the Onyx but I would think the other digital inputs on the Morpheus, especially I2S will be better.

cooper52 OP
187 posts
 

Thanks for the suggestions about inputs. I've been mulling over the prospect of adding a streamer to the system, and I wonder if anybody has compared the Metrum Ambre with the Sonnet Hermes? I'm still limited by my choice of USB over I2S configuration on the Morpheus. I may have made a wrong decision here...

mrotino
66 posts
 

I would probably go with the Sonnet Hermes as I'm sure the pricing is very similar between the Hermes and Ambre.  Cees mentioned they both basically sound the same however the Hermes has a slightly larger power supply and uses the Pi4 chip instead of the Pi 3 chip used in the Ambre.  

If you want to use I2s you need to purchase the I2s module which replaces your already installed USB module.  It's very easy to do.  You can't have both I2s and USB connectivity at the same time.

metaldetektor
160 posts
 

@cooper52 That is an excellent summary of the Sonnet and consistent with my experience of it. I know folks who actually prefer the old Metrum DACs, exactly for that reason -- less resolution, yes, but more fullness to the sound.

tweak1
3,666 posts
 

The spinner is a huge weak link in revealing what any quality dac can reveal, compared to much newer designs. I, too thought I needed to upgrade to an R2R from my Audio Alchemy DDP-1 + PS 5 dac/pre when using either a Marantz HD-CD 1 or Oppo 105 with ~$500 in aftermarket power supply area upgrades.

The Marantz mechanism died and I replaced it with a Audiolab 6000CDT (MSRP $600). Comparing it to my 105, playing the same disc, but the hybrid layer vs the SACD layer, the 6000 was a very clear winner, so I sold the 105. If you have $3K to spend consider the new Project spinner

hth

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