The dac has one built-in but using an external one could help, especially if noise is very low at the output. Also, using an isolation transformer on the pc would help. It would prevent much contamination of the ac line. Or you can use the AC isolator on the dac. A PC contaminates the ac line with a lot of high-freq noise, which affects the DAC.
Hi Fred
For not much money, the Zerozone pt500 should be fine. The pt700s would provide additional isolation. But given the price, I would use it on the sensitive audio gears: clock, DI, streamer and dac. The spo-500 is their top model, it features an o-core transformer (500w) otherwise it is the same as the 700w pt700s.
If you like the Audio GD R2R sound, I would recommend the R27RE or R27HE. I have the R27RE as well as the R28NOS, both are in different rooms. To me the R27RE is an upgrade for sure. The upsampling modes are noticeable which I like. It's larger though. Size wise it's larger. The R27HE is huge. It's why I am in the process of selling the R28NOS.
Most worthy upgrade you can do is everything around the R28NOS. Audio-gd keeps shining every step you take every tweak make
Sell the DAC and upgrade to a better unit or units. The amplification is better with separates than it is with the integrated units, if you have the money and space for them.
Thanks for chiming in, @Currawong, @OCC7N , @Patswalker !
| Add DI24 (to R28NOS) | R27 MKII | R27 RE | R27 HE | Least expensive combo of separates- R-8HE MK3+ Master 9 MK3 | |
| Total out of pocket cost to me | $648 | $2099 | $2390 | $3390 | $2290+ $1138= $3428 |
| What I gain | Best amplification |
I can comment on some of the equipments:
If you are connecting two pieces of Audio GD gears, yes, you may use an HDMI cable. For example, from a DDC such as Di20 or Di24 to R8 or R28
That’s what I thought. So it can be uses as the connection, the focus just needs to be on the pin-outs matching but that has to do with the devices
Yes, non Audio GD connections require compatible pin layouts.
Thanks you for this feedback!
