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Au revoir, MHDT Orchid, you're a great DAC but...

I've decided to sell my beloved Orchid. Terry London and others on this forum really helped me into the best DAC I had ever heard with the MHDT Orchid, and the mods that Grannyring did made it really amazing. But as time wore on, I started to realize that having tubes in my DAC as well as in my preamp and amp was more than I needed. I had all the liquid top end control I needed with my preamp and amplifier.

I realize now what a major benefit the Orchid is for a solid state system, or for anyone seeking that "vinyl" sound. The NOS JW396 guarantees that (thanks to Brent Jessee for that great DAC tube).

Anyone interested in the DAC can find it easily, and anyone with questions is welcome to let me know.

I'm wondering if anyone else moved the tube DAC out of their tube system as I have? 

128x128hilde45
jerryg123's avatar
jerryg123
3,429 posts
 

So what direction are you going now? 

Love my LossLess Echos End with the FW 640X

hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,974 posts
 

I have to admit that I was mightily impressed by the Holo May DAC. I'm hoping to find it used at a reasonable price. In the meantime, I'm making due, happily with the Schiit Bifrost 2/64.

jeffseight's avatar
jeffseight
574 posts
 

I use a Solid state INT and a Tube DAC that is R2R and has a chip.

I like that tube influence but doubling it is more than I want to deal with.

Keep us posted on the new dac.

onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,229 posts
 

It sounds amazing, but you think it's too much of something or other.  Could it be you're overthinking the situation?  Would you stop going to a restaurant because the food was too delicious?

big_greg
6,647 posts
 

I really liked mine and still have it in a second system.

I moved on some time ago, first to a Teac NT-505, which had a similar "warm" sound but more detail, then to an Aqua La Voce S3 FPGA DAC, which was more neutral and transparent and now to a Rockna Wavedream Signature, which I hope will be endgame for me.

The Orchid is a really nice DAC at its price point, but it's not a world beater.

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