Why do I prefer R2R over Chip based DAC's?

mclinnguy,

I don't think he has to save up that much money for a wadax that's not the only chip-based DAC that sounds that sounds very analog, the Wyred4sound 10th anniversary DAC is very analog sounding and it's only 4,500 US, one of the reviewers put it up against his VPI turntable with a $5,000 Japanese cartridge and he said that the tenth anniversary DAC sounded just as analog, on that review I bought it and I totally agree and they even give a 30-day trial period.

@magnuman that is my sarcastic sense of humour- just trying to make a point. Have a look at my system and note my "inferior to any R2R DAC" ESS DAC. 

Much of what goes wrong in a DAC occurs after the DAC portion itself. For example, a datasheet implementation of an industrial op amp I/V/LPF/buffer. The DAC will never achieve better than that limitation. Industrial OA are relatively easy to use but they are limiting in sonic results, no matter who does the design or how much the unit costs.

And all R2R are not equal of course; for example Denafrips DACs are unusual in that they have no output buffer at all. The ladder drives the line out directly. Obviously this will at least have benefits in no buffer coloration added, since there isn't one.

TK

mclinnguy,

I was using all harmonic tech magic stuff in my system which was incredible sounding and then I upgraded to the NeoTech rectangular OCC single crystal wire holy F what a big improvement but the biggest upgrade I made was when I put the Townshend podiums underneath my speakers it was like I upgraded to more expensive electronics they're not cheap but they stop all the speaker vibrations down to three Hertz.

@designsfx 
Thank you!
No wonder everyone was so off topic.