Audio-Gd Reference 10

It's like he stuck everything everyone asked for at some point in the last few years in a single box.  I don't see an I2S input, however, even though it is mentioned on the page.

 The Balanced DAC/Amp wars have truly begun 

 Expect a few more of these announcements by the end of the year from other players.

 4 x PCM1704UK - nice - looks like a NFB-9/Ref 7.1 with a balanced 4-pin XLR / 1/4 head amp

I'm fairly certain that I won't need more than half the number of inputs provided for by this unit.  I'm also fairly certain that I can't get any of his stuff due to the prohibitive import duties where I am.

A baby Master-5 with a built-in DAC sounds nice. He's got more stuff coming that should peak some interest around here.

 Anyone keen to play a round of 'Guess that Audio-gd price?'

 Here's my guess ~ $1100USD + shipping.

More probably, the Master-5 is $1450. Just a guess.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gwarmi 

 

 Anyone keen to play a round of 'Guess that Audio-gd price?'

 

I'm guessing around 1300 before shipping.

Too rich for me.  Not in the sense that I couldn't afford it, but rather in the sense that it's too much $$ to spend on a DAC relative to speakers.

The question is do you want to buy this version, or the one that comes out three months later, or the one that come out three months after the second version.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pigmode 

The question is do you want to buy this version, or the one that comes out three months later, or the one that come out three months after the second version.

Oh come on, it's more like 5 months.

Wow! Looking forward to this one! Now I need to re-consider if I should get the D2 or the Ref 10. 

Yes, I think my pick for $1100+ shipping was a tad keen - too cheap, you'd like to think Kingwa may pull a rabbit out of

 the hat but those PCM1704UK chips are not getting any more common as he scours the planet looking for long lost

 stock sitting in a warehouse somewhere.

 Perhaps we will see this as a new Dac/Amp flagship in various dual WM8741 and ESS018 Sabre forms closer to that

 price.

I look forward to seeing how this fares, especially against separate units. I was put off the likes of the NFB-10 because of the reduced versatility (e.g. no analogue inputs).

I wonder whether the use of PCM1704 chips was a design choice for sound quality, customer demand or both.

All it needs is a remote control now.

Considering $320 of the parts are the PCM1704k chips alone and a Reference 7.1 is $1900, I would be surprised if it were less than $1500.