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In Reply to: RE: DAC Upgrade Bug posted by kiratobias on September 25, 2015 at 09:18:44
before I bought my R-2R DAC (1704K, similar to ahendler's). Didn't work for me. Glad I stuck with multibit. Audio-gd and Lite Audio may still have a few specimens left but they are being snapped up fast.At just over your budget ($3.1K), the AN Kits 4.1 NOS DAC, using AD chips, has a good following and a very specific, filterless design.
If you're into DIY, the Soekris R-2R DAC is worth a look, though you'll need someone to design the whole caboodle for you. Also, if you were still into Delta Sigma sounds and DIY, the DDDAC 1794 might be worth a shot.
There seem to be endless Sabre DACs about, of which the Oppo 105 is a (justly) popular example. Ultimately, even with the JLTi mods, multibit wins to my ears but there are plenty of happy Oppo listeners, and it comes ready to use with a good market in modifications too. Fantastic for video though!
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
Edits: 09/26/15Follow Ups:
I wonder just how much the sonic traits can be attributed to the digital design -R2R ladder vs Delta Sigma- vs the analog stage and voicing the designer puts into the end product.
and with enough exposure to a device, one can come to recognise patterns (something the brain is good at) to a greater or lesser extent. The patterns my brain recognises with bitstream technology tells these ears, at least, that those patterns are not for me.Using the analogy of film, those aspects of a design you mention do a great deal to shape the 'treatment' of a film or content. But the 'narrative structure' would be determined by the main protaganist or voice - the DAC.
If the narrative structure is satisfying, the 'story' told by the DAC (of the music and performance at hand) will be satisfying. If the story is jumbled, out of place, badly weighted, missing key ingredients and detail, then no amount of fancy camera work, art design, production design, superstar directors or DOPs will substitute for the defective heart of the tale.
I admit the limitations of the analogy, and am more than willing to audition new technology - including DS DACs in items like Avantgarde's Acoustic Zero 1 Pro - but know that I have a limited time on this earth, at this time, and with a all-too short a time remaining of decent hearing with which to enjoy the music available to me. I think my choices are reasonable, but enjoy seeing others make theirs, different as they are.
Big J
"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
Edits: 09/26/15
We all have our reasons for making the choices we do. I have not heard a R2R DAC but I'd like to someday. That being said, I've owned a few DS DACs, some with the same exact ESS DAC chip inside that sound very different.
Each DAC sounds different, but to me, one type sounds like music and the other does not. In other words, when I hear an R2R, it immediately sounds like what I was looking for from digital for 20 years or so (my first CD player was when NAD just changed to "1 bit" and I stupidly thought that the newer technology must be an improvement, so did not buy the last of the multi bit players made by them). I can generally quickly hear the differences between the 2 types, but it's over the long term that the D-S really become unbearable.
It may be somewhat like hearing CDs sounding good and not knowing any better until one hears vinyl. Then one thinks, "that's music".
Different implementations of the Sabre chip, Different power supplies and different analog stages.
Alan
Who knows, perhaps King Wa can make the ESS Saber chip sound 'relaxed' and listenable over a long period of time.
Hoping I never have to find out.
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