Audio-gd R2R 11

[Festive56]

SAJUNKY, thank you for your reply and advice. My OG IS hooked to my computer usb out, but I use it for gaming mostly, with some casual music listening as I surf around, read news etc. In this usage it is already more than adequate. The usage case for the MK 2 would be in my primary hp listening rig where it would be connected spdif (coax) from a WIIM Pro streamer for more critical listening. I have looked with GREAT interest at the R28, both MK 2 and MK3. As I am unable to audition either, I’m hesitant to spend the extra money. I was hoping to get most of the way there without breaking the bank….Hence my interest in the R2R-11 MK 2.

 

[sajunky]

SAJUNKY, thank you for your reply and advice. My OG IS hooked to my computer usb out, but I use it for gaming mostly, with some casual music listening as I surf around, read news etc. In this usage it is already more than adequate. The usage case for the MK 2 would be in my primary hp listening rig where it would be connected spdif (coax) from a WIIM Pro streamer for more critical listening. I have looked with GREAT interest at the R28, both MK 2 and MK3. As I am unable to audition either, I’m hesitant to spend the extra money. I was hoping to get most of the way there without breaking the bank….Hence my interest in the R2R-11 MK 2.

Hmm... If you are not willing to tweak your DAC, I would rather use Mk2 with your game ring, as it has galvanic isolation. Trust me on this, it makes a difference.

On the other side, the original R2R-11 has a better potential on S/PDIF without tweaking and also for tweaking USB connection. Not coming to details, but for a technical reason upgrading oscilators on the Mk2 with ultra-low noise Crysteks will not bring expected results, but with the original R2R-11 it does. But once again, we can agree to disagree.

 

[FredA]

SAJUNKY, thank you for your reply and advice. My OG IS hooked to my computer usb out, but I use it for gaming mostly, with some casual music listening as I surf around, read news etc. In this usage it is already more than adequate. The usage case for the MK 2 would be in my primary hp listening rig where it would be connected spdif (coax) from a WIIM Pro streamer for more critical listening. I have looked with GREAT interest at the R28, both MK 2 and MK3. As I am unable to audition either, I’m hesitant to spend the extra money. I was hoping to get most of the way there without breaking the bank….Hence my interest in the R2R-11 MK 2.

The mkii is cleaner and more resolved, not quite as easy on the ears but still on the smooth side. The headphone amp is a step forward too. The mkii and mki react well to a transport upgrade.

 

[Pharmaboy]

SAJUNKY, thank you for your reply and advice. My OG IS hooked to my computer usb out, but I use it for gaming mostly, with some casual music listening as I surf around, read news etc. In this usage it is already more than adequate. The usage case for the MK 2 would be in my primary hp listening rig where it would be connected spdif (coax) from a WIIM Pro streamer for more critical listening. I have looked with GREAT interest at the R28, both MK 2 and MK3. As I am unable to audition either, I’m hesitant to spend the extra money. I was hoping to get most of the way there without breaking the bank….Hence my interest in the R2R-11 MK 2.

I have used my mk2 R2R-11 only with coax in from a DDC. I do the same with any/all DACs here, which either get signal via digital coax or AES/EBU cables.

Years ago when I started using SPDIF converters w/then-current DACs with wonky USB implementations, the superiority of digital sound via coax in was quite evident vs USB. Maybe that has changed, but now that I have multiple DDCs + my old and still very good SPDIF converter, using coax or AES/EBU into the DAC is just automatic housekeeping for me.

I never heard the original R2R-11, but I remember seeing a few comparison comments that found it somewhat warmer than mk2. I find mk2 to be slightly warm (nothing excessive), but its most noteworthy quality to my ears is a very smooth sound with proper note weight, in the usual NOS manner. Considering that when you buy an R2R-11 mk2, you get not just an overachieving NOS DAC, but also a very solid headphone amp (which I never use) and a very good preamp w/remote (used that a lot--very well done) ... well, it's a bargain.

It's a pity Audio GD no longer makes this device. It's pretty much the ideal AIO for a single-ended system. I use mine these days strictly as a backup in case either of my other NOS DACs crap out -- but this box is so well designed and put together that I can't imagine selling it.

 

[ProLoL]

I originally started with the Audio GD Compass with the discrete op amps, I believe they were the Sun, the Moon and the Stars if I remember correctly. With a set of HD650’s, It was my main rig for a long time. When the R2R-11 came out I immediately bought one and have loved it ever since. It may not be the last word in resolution and detail, but it’s smooth, sweet, musical and never fatiguing. It’s only after going through a lot of other gear I’ve really come to appreciate the R2R-11 for what it is. But of course I wonder if the newer MK2 delivers more of the magic…. Sigh, such is this hobby I guess.

Same here, after going through the soekris dac254, lks004, I always came back to the R2R11 and it serves me to this day. Ofcourse you can always play with cables, firmwares and source sample rate to achieve your desired flavor from that device.

 

[sajunky]

I have used my mk2 R2R-11 only with coax in from a DDC. I do the same with any/all DACs here, which either get signal via digital coax or AES/EBU cables.

Years ago when I started using SPDIF converters w/then-current DACs with wonky USB implementations, the superiority of digital sound via coax in was quite evident vs USB. Maybe that has changed, but now that I have multiple DDCs + my old and still very good SPDIF converter, using coax or AES/EBU into the DAC is just automatic housekeeping for me.

I agree. A good S/PDIF converter was for a long time an universal solution for noisy USB source or an inferior (pre-UAC 2.0) receiver. I went the same direction reading various comments. U2Pro I own is not a real DDC, but worth a money. However after learning how to remove ground loops S/PDIF input wasn't much better. Sound was softer, more pleasant, but less detailed. It prompted me to install Crystek oscilators on the Amanero board. It was immediately change like night and day and was continuing improving during next few hundred hours. Hi-res playback has improved even more than CD. Since then I stopped using U2Pro. Few months later I also installed Crystek oscilators on the U2Pro hoping it would beat Amanero. Sound has improved, but not to the same level as a direct USB.

New generation of USB isolators are game changers. Easy to use and judging from various posts very effective. I suggest to try one, even you have a good DDC like DI-20HE.

Extra comment. Both versions of R2R-11 do not support 176.4kHz on the S/PDIF port. It will be noticed immediately if you try to play SACD. It is because DSD64 DoP transfer use this sampling rate. USB is free of this limitation.

 

[Pharmaboy]

However after learning how to remove ground loops

How do you remove ground loops? Is it these oscillators you speak of?

 

[sajunky]

How do you remove ground loops? Is it these oscillators you speak of?

Ground loops I removed by redirecting to the intermediate device power supply. I used self-powered USB 2.0 hub. The art is to create a difference of impedance on the path between PC to the hub, so ground loops will flow to the hub's power supply, not a DAC. Current will flow the easiest way. A different cables are used on the connection PC-hub (short cable with thick wires and sans ferrites) and different between hub-DAC. The later should have ferrites (moulded or clamp type). I also made a DIY USB filter. Tested iFi Defender and found it effective. Placement of these devices is critical. Complicated? These all measures may become redundant when you can simply plug $50 USB isolator dongle. But I didn't test it yet, maybe can be still useful.

As for Crystek oscilators, find required part numbers in this post. Few posts above the hi-res photos show location of the oscilators.

There is one things made incorrect on the R2R-11, you can fix it easy way. The enclosure is not on the same potential as the a cable shield and when a plug is inserted, it makes intermittent contact with the enclosure due to the lack of contact springs. I found a sound changing (not a small change), depends how a cable is positioned. This is wrong. It should either make a firm contact or not.

I found better sound was with a good contact. I solved a problem by soldering a short wire to the mounting bolts on the Amanero board. Find how is in your case, it is worth to fix it.