Audio-gd R2R DAC Thread

[PopZeus]

Tried the coaxial input today for the first time on my R2R 1. Wow! I love how utterly smooth and detailed it is. Even with a completely SE chain from the DAC to the amp, I'm finding this to be the ideal way to process digital audio. If HDMI audio is all that it's cracked up to be, I'm really gonna consider getting an R2R 2 for the living room. It's clearly outclassing any DAC in my AV receiver to the point where I likely can hear the difference through my HT speakers.

 

[jam130]

Hi, i am a newbie on this forum and posted the following question in the introductory thread but no one replied so i am asking here, i hope it is ok with you guys.

I am (was) a proud owner of a new Audio GD R2R-2 DAC, bought in February 2018. It has played music flawlessly for 2 months when it decides to stop producing sound, no matter the inputs used (usb, toslink, etc) or cables. Power was well going through the unit, but no sound coming out. I was really disappointed to have my unit broken because the sound was lovely to my taste, a perfect DAC paired with my HE-560 headphones and MZ2 Linear Tube Audio amp.

After writing to Kingwa, he told me to send back the unit to him. Shipping took 3 weeks, and Audio GD has received it a week ago. I wrote to him and his latest reply is "our technician will check it as soon as possible".

Does any of you had to return a product to Audio GD in China ? How long it took before you had your unit repaired and sent back to you ? Thanks for you help.

My NFB-28.38 DAC was DOA so I paid to ship it back. Kingwa received it almost a month ago and sent me the same email: "recieved...test as soon as possible"

No communication since then. I've sent 3 follow up emails and nothing but silence.

 

[BernieB]

My NFB-28.38 DAC was DOA so I paid to ship it back. Kingwa received it almost a month ago and sent me the same email: "recieved...test as soon as possible"

No communication since then. I've sent 3 follow up emails and nothing but silence.

Sorry to hear about your dac, one month of waiting without answers is not encouraging. I am aware that audio gd is a small business but they lack communication skills and customer support. I'll wait 2 more weeks and if i don't get any replies from them i will have no choice but ask for a refund or claim a dispute with paypal or my credit card.

 

[FredA]

Not usual. You newbies are not lucky.

 

[thebkt]

Yes. It clicks/pops in these situations:

- From DSD to PCM
- From PCM 88.2 to PCM 44.1
- On the first track in the playlist or doing a fast forward or stop

It does not click/pop between tracks with the same format.

Click/pop is almost inaudible in non-oversampling mode. It is clearly audible in oversampling mode.

Testing procedure:

- ‘Artificial’ playlist built containing mixed audio formats DSD-64, PCM 88.2 (Flac) and PCM 44.1 (Flac). Very well recorded tracks from Chesky Records
- PC -> Foobar. DSD Output: DSD only. No processing. WASAPI (push and event). 32 bits. -> Audio-GD R2R 1 USB Amanero upgraded (isolated, non-powered) Firmware not updated
- Stax SR-007, Hifiman HE6, Focal Elear

Personally, I have settled on the NOS mode and use to listen to full albums with the same, consistent format, so the click/pop is not an issue. That said, I am thinking about going through the firmware update process, but I am so lazy ...

I've heard no clicking/popping with my R2R in my time with it. I've used both NOS/OS and have a variety of file formats/quality. I've not been scientific about it, but no pops in anycase.

 

[FredA]

I've heard no clicking/popping with my R2R in my time with it. I've used both NOS/OS and have a variety of file formats/quality. I've not been scientific about it, but no pops in anycase.

Nice setup!

 

[jimmychan]

My NFB-28.38 DAC was DOA so I paid to ship it back. Kingwa received it almost a month ago and sent me the same email: "recieved...test as soon as possible"

No communication since then. I've sent 3 follow up emails and nothing but silence.

This is unusual to a Audio-gd customer. They used to be good service. I have no problem for the last ten years buying from them.

Good luck!

 

[Elder]

Guys, please tell me!
Someone tried to listen to him in DSD_Native mode via Linux?
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linu...stable.git/tree/sound/usb/quirks.c?h=v4.14.43
case USB_ID(0x16d0, 0x071a): /* Amanero - Combo384 */
.....
case USB_ID(0x16d0, 0x0a23):
if (fp->altsetting == 2)
return SNDRV_PCM_FMTBIT_DSD_U32_BE;
break;
...
What are the parameters USB_ID at this DAC?

http://digitall.in.ua/dsd-native-support-dacs/

If you need, i can sent to you version volumio for PC with DSD_Native support!
Or u can try https://www.daphile.com/firmware/stable/CHANGES
2017-09-21 version 17.09 (x86_64, x86_64-rt & i486) changes:
- CD ripping metadata fetch uses now FreeDB if no other metadata is available
- CD ripping album cover fetch improved with Glyr
- DSD native mode support added for the following DACs:
- Oppo UDP-205 (USB ID:0x22d9,0x0461)
- New firmware of Amanero Combo384 (USB ID:0x16d0,0x0a23)
- SMSL M8A (USB ID:0x152a,0x85dd)
- LMS update to Sep 15th, 2017 Git version (d424bbe)
- Kernel update to 4.9.51 and 4.9.51-rt37
- Some updates and bug fixes

I have successfully played DSD files with my R2R 11 in both native and DoP with Volumio. I used both Raspi and PC versions. The only limitation is that it only works up to DSD128. I hoped it would work with DSD256 in native mode, but it didn't. Maybe an Amanero update is required.
Is there a way to find out the firmware version of the Amanero module?
I wonder whether AGD Amanero is customised and can only be upgraded with a special code only for it.

 

[norrest]

Really?
Kingwa was very friendly and responsive until I bought Audio-gd NFB-1S.
DAC at switching modes PCM / DSD shamelessly clapped. Plus, he did not want to work under Linux in DSD128 mode.
All attempts to obtain information and correct firmware (it's on the VIA chipset) have not been crowned with success. As a result, Kingwa said (I wrote from different mail services, because after the perturbations they stopped responding) that you need to buy a new version of the DAC, and there all problems are eliminated!
It was a few years ago!
It's amazing that I'm still reading about possible problems when switching formats now ! How many years have passed! Amanero have good support, and even me, when there was one question with the custom developer who used Amanero with AK4495, they sent a firmware in a week that eliminated all clicks when switching! In this case, I am a ordinary user, but Audio-GD developers and have the license of Amanero. Such problems should be solved very quickly. Amanero is not an ordinary chip, there is a lot of opportunity to solve problems at the hardware level ..

 

[norrest]

I have successfully played DSD files with my R2R 11 in both native and DoP with Volumio. I used both Raspi and PC versions. The only limitation is that it only works up to DSD128. I hoped it would work with DSD256 in native mode, but it didn't. Maybe an Amanero update is required.
Is there a way to find out the firmware version of the Amanero module?
I wonder whether AGD Amanero is customised and can only be upgraded with a special code only for it.

I think about all the problems (clicks, lack of format support), you need to write both Kingwe and in Amanero to mail info@amanero.com, sales@amanero.com
They (amanero) always answer!

 

[Elder]

I think about all the problems (clicks, lack of format support), you need to write both Kingwe and in Amanero to mail info@amanero.com, sales@amanero.com
They (amanero) always answer!

Amanero specs for DSD on linux is limited to DSD128. You can see it at Amanero web site: https://amanero.com/
There is no lack of format support. If Linux is able to stream DSD256 and DSD512, this must be very new. The module works with DSD256 and DSD512 on Windows, however DSD512 has issues (a noise appeards at this rate) and never worked well.
I have a Yulong Sabre DA8 DAC that also have the Amanero module. It only works with Volumio set to DoP. As it is old, I suppose it does not have the Amanero firmware that supports native DSD. Unlike AGD stuff, Yulong does have a custom driver because the module identifies itself as Yulong Audio device, not Amanero Combo 384. It is harder to get an update for my Yulong than for my AGD. I guess we can look for assistance from Amanero for AGD module but for Yulong it would be more limited.
Concerning the clicks and pops, it is a compromise to get the best audio quality. Kingwa did not put a mute circuit at the output. This would adversely affect the audio quality. I believe the new firmware would minimize the problem but will not eliminate it. I still have to upgrade my unit to find out how the fix works.

 

[norrest]

Yulong Saber DA8 DAC has ES9018 - there's no point in using DSD-Native

Concerning the clicks and pops, it is a compromise to get the best audio quality

I think this is just excuses, so as not to solve the problem ...
For MPD i helped with provide issue - "DSD: use 0x69 as silence pattern"
The problem is most likely in the other and for its implementation we need the joint efforts of the developers both alone (Audio-DG) and others (Amanero)
The second at least answer and provide solutions (I'm talking about Amanero)

 

[Elder]

Yulong Saber DA8 DAC has ES9018 - there's no point in using DSD-Native



I think this is just excuses, so as not to solve the problem ...
For MPD i helped with provide issue - "DSD: use 0x69 as silence pattern"
The problem is most likely in the other and for its implementation we need the joint efforts of the developers both alone (Audio-DG) and others (Amanero)
The second at least answer and provide solutions (I'm talking about Amanero)

I've just wrote to Amanero asking questions about the firmware for both Audio-gd and Yulong.
Despite the Sabre DA8 having the ES9018, it does support native DSD on Windows. It is the only way to play DSD256 and DSD512. I believe that what is new to ES9028 is its native support to DoP. I also have a NFB-11.28 that works the same way as the R2R-11 concerning the file format compatibility. The 11.28 has not clicks and pops, though.

 

[norrest]

I've just wrote to Amanero asking questions about the firmware for both Audio-gd and Yulong.

I've written to Kingve yet! Let's see what they answer!

 

[jam130]

Sorry to hear about your dac, one month of waiting without answers is not encouraging. I am aware that audio gd is a small business but they lack communication skills and customer support. I'll wait 2 more weeks and if i don't get any replies from them i will have no choice but ask for a refund or claim a dispute with paypal or my credit card.

@Kingwa why no response to our emails regarding support? You confirmed receipt of my DOA NFB-28.38 a month ago, but no communication since. I have sent you 3 follow-up emails to request update with no response.

Based on this thread it looks like there are others who have the same problem. Can you please let us know status? Thank you.