Audio-gd R2R DAC Thread

[Pharmaboy]

Nice! That has to be something. Give us your findings later

+1!

 

[PopZeus]

Thank you, @motberg, for that kick-ass reply a few pages back. Somehow JUST caught it. Running NOS probably means I shouldn't bother sending out an oversampled signal from Audirvana (which will output everything as 32/384 as I currently have it in the settings).

 

[arielext]

Been playing with the R2R-1 for the last few days and I am very impressed, the same way I am with the NFB-1AMP.
My first impressions were "meh"; is this it? But I noticed nothing was "off", nothing sounded worse than I was used to (modi2 uber, corda stagedac). Thing I noticed most was the brightness. Untill I used the R2R-1 > loki mini > HEV70 > HE60 combo, I actually toned down the highs compared the old setup (corda stagedac). Revisiting old classics (tool - lateralus, marilyn manson - antichrist superstar, muse - absolution, the gathering - how to measure a planet?) is always a joy and I always seem to find new things each time I change gear but this time I did not find anything new; I forgot to listen for those microdetails, I ... enjoyed the music! Re-listening again and swapping back the modi2 I did find I caught some microdetails a bit better while using the DT880 600ohm; swapped the headphones for the Hifiman edition X v2 and it offered less noticeable changes.
My journey with the R2R-1 just started but I am enjoying the ride, a lot! I'm feel I'm less interessed in zooming in on the technical details and enjoy the actual music a bit more compared to the older 'classic' sigma-delta dacs.

In the end these are just my opinions and of course ymmv.

 

[TiborM]

Hi, what nos settings do you use?
And just wait, let it burn in, it sounds wonderful now

 

[arielext]

Hi, what nos settings do you use?
And just wait, let it burn in, it sounds wonderful now

Haven't opened the case yet so factory default.

 

[TiborM]

So your findings are like mine, meh!
I really wasn't impressed at all.
Now I use nos mode 1 and PLL setting on (whatever it is), what a difference it is. Also burn in is important week or two of normal use. Simply wonderful

 

[arielext]

So your findings are like mine, meh!
I really wasn't impressed at all.
Now I use nos mode 1 and PLL setting on (whatever it is), what a difference it is. Also burn in is important week or two of normal use. Simply wonderful

I've set it to nos mode 1 and PLL today; first impressions: has life ever sounded this good?!
I'll keep it to nos mode 1 for now and report back later; thx for the tip!

 

[Pharmaboy]

I've set it to nos mode 1 and PLL today; first impressions: has life ever sounded this good?!
I'll keep it to nos mode 1 for now and report back later; thx for the tip!

Wow...getting excited about this DAC.

Can I ask you & @TiborM ... how many of this DAC's outputs are you using at the same time?

 

[arielext]

Wow...getting excited about this DAC.

Can I ask you & @TiborM ... how many of this DAC's outputs are you using at the same time?

My set-up is al followed:
- R2R-1DAC -> acss -> NFB-1AMP and
- R2R-1DAC -> rca -> loki mini -> rca -> HEV70

If my NFB-1AMP is on the sound is barely hearable through the HEV70; when I turn the NFB-1AMP off the volume is normal; so I keep 2 outputs plugged in at all time and use the power switch on the NFB-1AMP as my switch.

 

[cubed4life]

@Pharmaboy , as for me I currently am using acss and xlr from R2R 1 dac. If I want to listen through xlr, I have to change input from my connected acss amp or turn off. Not sure about if you have rca replace acss as you have mentioned of doing.

 

[Pharmaboy]

My set-up is al followed:
- R2R-1DAC -> acss -> NFB-1AMP and
- R2R-1DAC -> rca -> loki mini -> rca -> HEV70

If my NFB-1AMP is on the sound is barely hearable through the HEV70; when I turn the NFB-1AMP off the volume is normal; so I keep 2 outputs plugged in at all time and use the power switch on the NFB-1AMP as my switch.

Really? That's very concerning to me.

I have 2 Audio GD DACs (DAC-19 & NOS 19), each w/the ACSS output replaced by an RCA pair. They behave identically in my system:

• I can run 2 headphone amps/preamps independent of each other
• The volume of neither amp/preamp changes when I turn on/turn off the 2nd amp
• The only time I have trouble is when one of the amps is my Audio GD SA-31SE.
  • I bought that used, and the original owner shorted out all but one of the RCA inputs (he had good reasons to do so).
  • Anyway, I've found that when the SA-31SE is connected to one of the DAC's RCA outs and is not turned on, there is distortion heard through the amp fed by the other RCA output.

I was so pumped at the thought of getting an R2R 1 w/the ACSS output replaced by RCA; then connecting a total of 3 devices to it simultaneously (2 X RCA output pairs; and the 3-pin XLR output pair). I actually emailed Kingwa to ask if all 3 outputs would be "live," and if this would be OK. He replied that all three outputs are live, and it's OK.

So I'm concerned now...

 

[Pharmaboy]

@Pharmaboy , as for me I currently am using acss and xlr from R2R 1 dac. If I want to listen through xlr, I have to change input from my connected acss amp or turn off. Not sure about if you have rca replace acss as you have mentioned of doing.

Wow. This is very confusing. Both you & @arielext are running into trouble using 2 of the 3 total outputs at the same time. With you it's ACSS & XLR; with him it's ACSS & RCA.

I'm wondering if this is peculiar to the ACSS output...? It's the only common thread between the 2 of you...and I'm not experiencing this in my Audio GD DACs in which the ACSS output was changed to RCA.

 

[TiborM]

Hi
Well I have connected my stereo amp and headamp at the same time, but haven't actually used them together.
I don't think it's a good idea and don't know how to explain it why, it degrades quality somehow...

 

[arielext]

Really? That's very concerning to me.

I have 2 Audio GD DACs (DAC-19 & NOS 19), each w/the ACSS output replaced by an RCA pair. They behave identically in my system:

• I can run 2 headphone amps/preamps independent of each other
• The volume of neither amp/preamp changes when I turn on/turn off the 2nd amp
• The only time I have trouble is when one of the amps is my Audio GD SA-31SE.
  • I bought that used, and the original owner shorted out all but one of the RCA inputs (he had good reasons to do so).
  • Anyway, I've found that when the SA-31SE is connected to one of the DAC's RCA outs and is not turned on, there is distortion heard through the amp fed by the other RCA output.

I was so pumped at the thought of getting an R2R 1 w/the ACSS output replaced by RCA; then connecting a total of 3 devices to it simultaneously (2 X RCA output pairs; and the 3-pin XLR output pair). I actually emailed Kingwa to ask if all 3 outputs would be "live," and if this would be OK. He replied that all three outputs are live, and it's OK.

So I'm concerned now...

As far as I know acss is nothing like rca or XLR and could very well be the reason you "cannot" use both of them at the same time. If the acss output is replaced by a (probably parallel) set of extra rca outputs I imagine you cán you both of them at the same time.

 

[Pharmaboy]

As far as I know acss is nothing like rca or XLR and could very well be the reason you "cannot" use both of them at the same time. If the acss output is replaced by a (probably parallel) set of extra rca outputs I imagine you cán you both of them at the same time.

Interesting thought. How do we check it out?

Well, here's one way to check it out: someone w/the default configuration of outputs on the R2R 1 could connect both the RCA output & the XLR output simultaneously, then see if there was any interaction/distortion between loads. That's harder than usual to do, because you need an amp/preamp w/XLR inputs...

The whole thing is strange.