after PCM1704 is gone, what about AudioGD?

If I was in the market for another DAC right now, I'd be tempted to pick up one of Audio-gd's remaining Master 7 items, with 1704Ks.

I love the custom-built R2R movement. I'm less convinced about how everyone is consistently getting full 16 bit resolution from their solutions, let alone higher bit depths. Laser-trimming resistors on the scale required, and with the necessary, repeatable precision - even for custom levels of production - is not an easy business.

That's what makes DACs like the 1704 so special, from an engineering point of view, if you like their sound like I do. I wish them (all) good fortune and success, however!

Big J

"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."

If you could have only one, which which of the Audio-GD products would you choose?, posted on March 21, 2017 at 07:14:45
Ivan303 Audiophile Posts: 48887 Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM Joined: February 26, 2001	I have both the Master-7 and the Master-11, versions of about a year ago. One for every room of the house? First they came for the dumb-asses And I did not speak out Because I was not a dumb-ass

Perhaps I'd start with, posted on March 21, 2017 at 23:42:39
jusbe Audiophile Posts: 5950 Location: North Island Joined: April 4, 2000	the Master 7. The only reason I didn't choose it a couple of years ago is that I was actually in the market for a transport, bought the Lite Audio LT-One and found the Lite Audio DAC 83 was pretty good in its own right. It's still on my radar... Big J "... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal* salvation is a contradiction in terms."*

RE: Perhaps I'd start with, posted on March 30, 2017 at 23:09:40
Dynobot	If you are in the market I have a Audiogd Ref 7 I could part with...

Not yet!, posted on April 1, 2017 at 13:08:20
jusbe Audiophile Posts: 5950 Location: North Island Joined: April 4, 2000	Actually, I'm looking for info on the NOS Master 7, which seems to be a device tailored to getting the best from that configuration. Just not sure it would really be musically better than the DAC83 + Lifatec I'm curently driving. Big J "... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal* salvation is a contradiction in terms."*

RE: Not yet!, posted on April 1, 2017 at 13:17:02
Dynobot	I have both the Ref 7 and the Master 7. I would say they sound very similar with the Master 7 being slightly more resolving. I think the DAC83 can hold its own and would probably be a lateral move with a different flavor.

RE: Not yet!, posted on April 1, 2017 at 23:38:07

jusbe
Audiophile

Posts: 5950
Location: North Island
Joined: April 4, 2000

Thanks for your insight. It mirrors my hunch.

Big J

"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."

Does the Lite Audio DAC allow you to use it in NOS mode?, posted on March 22, 2017 at 07:56:46
Ivan303 Audiophile Posts: 48887 Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM Joined: February 26, 2001	Was considering the Lite Audio PCM1704 DAC as I have had really good luck the Lite Audio 'kit' 6SN7 line stage. First they came for the dumb-asses And I did not speak out Because I was not a dumb-ass

No. But., posted on March 22, 2017 at 14:53:12

jusbe
Audiophile

Posts: 5950
Location: North Island
Joined: April 4, 2000

No, in that sense, the Audio-gd has an advantage in terms of choice of presentation. The DAC 83 sounds far from amusical, however.

One thing the Lite Transport does have - which I have found intriguing as the only other company I know of that has experimented with this is Audio Note UK - are an implementation of very small output transformers for some kind of digital signal conditioning. You can see them (at least I think that is them - two small black cubes) near the rear of the pcb, adjacent to the outputs. Commentary has been extremely hard to come by, save in Google 'Chinglish' - "RA audio grade buffer transformer for intact wave shape". They may just be part of the balanced circuitry, however. Just don't know.

The other thing, aside from I2S, that I liked in the DAC was the use of high quality output devices - the same ones used by Audio Innovations in their Alto amp (itself a homage to a Quad design, if I'm not mistaken). These produce a wonderfully full range sound of deep tonality.

[The encircled part is one which Lite Audio deliberately disguise. I'm guessing it relates to which particular filter they use for their unorthodox filtering arrangement - as discussed on a couple of HK experimental audio sites re the 1704K and upsampling techniques.]

Big J

"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."

RE: after PCM1704 is gone, what about AudioGD?, posted on March 19, 2017 at 12:50:32
ahendler Audiophile Posts: 5151 Location: San Antonio, Texas Joined: January 24, 2003	They are developing there own ladder dacs. It is called the DA-M1 module (I think) Look at there new singularity 19 product. It uses these modules. Four of them Alan

Have you heard it?, posted on March 20, 2017 at 13:25:50
Frihed89 Audiophile Posts: 15703 Location: Copenhagen Joined: March 21, 2005	It needs an external power supply, right?

RE: Have you heard it?, posted on March 20, 2017 at 14:44:05
ahendler Audiophile Posts: 5151 Location: San Antonio, Texas Joined: January 24, 2003	I have not heard it The Singularity 19 is a complete dac including built in power supply. 120v input The R2R module is like any chip and would be part of a complete dac which would have its own power supply Alan

Thanks Nt, posted on March 20, 2017 at 15:12:43
Frihed89 Audiophile Posts: 15703 Location: Copenhagen Joined: March 21, 2005	Nt

Digital Drive

after PCM1704 is gone, what about AudioGD?

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