Jul 6, 2024 at 11:48 AM Post #1,351 of 1,581
I have not done the psu upgrade to the Node2. Wasn’t sure if it would make much difference on the coax digital output, which is what I use. Do you think it would?
SPDIF scales better to power/source than USB on my setup.
 
Jul 10, 2024 at 7:41 PM Post #1,353 of 1,581
@OCC7N

Given that I have a non-USB dac now, would converting from USB to coax just introduce nasties and jitter? Should I get a pink faun SPIDF/AES bridge and external power supply to avoid USB all together?
You could try this but I think its expensive vs a real pcie card.

https://www.m2tech.biz/products/usb-pen-devices/hiface-two/?lang=en

—-

But if you can find a used Corsair AX1600i that would be the best upgrade you could ever do, using a computer. This will even upgrade the sound of the USB on the motherboard.

—EDIT
Pink Faun SPDIF Bridge + powersupply is better if you got normal ATX/PSU. A iFi iPower X could be a good choice
 
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Jul 12, 2024 at 8:07 PM Post #1,354 of 1,581
USB Cable for R1NOS(headphone setup).....gaming and audio!

For those of you that would like the sound more pushed out(from in-the-head experience), more soundstage feel, like a landscape - Forza AudioWorks USB. This cable is amazing both for gaming and audio listening!

The special thing about the sound is somewhere between the upper mids and high notes. Completely silent in this spectrum, no fatiguing sound. This makes vocals pop out + layering is amayzing in the edges of the soundstage, the decays of the reverbs...
 
Jul 26, 2024 at 9:51 AM Post #1,355 of 1,581
Well you guys called it, the joy of listening to an oversampling DAC didn't last very long. I'm going to be looking to move on soon.

The thing that I've noticed the most is how much I really hate the sound of extreme imaging and soundstage. With the R1N I never even considered it being a weakness of the DAC, because it was all so pleasantly presented. When I switching to an oversampling DAC, I initially loved the precision and locked in positioning of every instrument. But extended listening has proven not so fruitfull and the magic feels gone.

I will keep my DAC running for a few days straight to make sure I'm not going mad.
 
Jul 26, 2024 at 9:58 AM Post #1,356 of 1,581
Well you guys called it, the joy of listening to an oversampling DAC didn't last very long. I'm going to be looking to move on soon.

The thing that I've noticed the most is how much I really hate the sound of extreme imaging and soundstage. With the R1N I never even considered it being a weakness of the DAC, because it was all so pleasantly presented. When I switching to an oversampling DAC, I initially loved the precision and locked in positioning of every instrument. But extended listening has proven not so fruitfull and the magic feels gone.

I will keep my DAC running for a few days straight to make sure I'm not going mad.
maybe try other headphones.

I just ordered another HE400SE
 
Jul 26, 2024 at 11:14 AM Post #1,358 of 1,581
Anyone here have or can link me to impressions of the R-1 NOS vs the R-8 mk3 or R-8 HE? Currently thinking about the R1N + DI24 vs R-8 HE since they are similarly priced.

After a couple hours of listening to my Adcom DAC this morning, I'm liking everything except the bass coming from the PCM1702 chip. It's so overly controlled and airy. Its difficult to hear the difference in certain bass tones from many different artists, something I didn't have a problem with when I had the R1N.
 
Jul 27, 2024 at 4:40 AM Post #1,359 of 1,581
Anyone here have or can link me to impressions of the R-1 NOS vs the R-8 mk3 or R-8 HE? Currently thinking about the R1N + DI24 vs R-8 HE since they are similarly priced.

After a couple hours of listening to my Adcom DAC this morning, I'm liking everything except the bass coming from the PCM1702 chip. It's so overly controlled and airy. Its difficult to hear the difference in certain bass tones from many different artists, something I didn't have a problem with when I had the R1N.
Get the R8 mk3. The 8 series with the right pairing of cables and source is better stereo image.

However if you can get the DI20HE + R1N for cheap. This combo on my system is something special, but only in this configuration:
SPDIF into DI20HE and I2S out to R1N.

R1N is better alone with USB from "my" motherboard than:
USB into DI20HE and I2S or COAX out into R1N.

(I have put a lot of work into my source, and divided it by 3 units. So USB from motherboard from "just" another computer wont be the same experience)

------

If you do not game on the computer and only listen to music, dedicated listening. Consider another source. I recall you are using a PC, correct?

@FredA and @Jandu have recommended some very good solutions here. Consider them!
 
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Jul 27, 2024 at 11:27 AM Post #1,360 of 1,581
Get the R8 mk3. The 8 series with the right pairing of cables and source is better stereo image.

However if you can get the DI20HE + R1N for cheap. This combo on my system is something special, but only in this configuration:
SPDIF into DI20HE and I2S out to R1N.

R1N is better alone with USB from "my" motherboard than:
USB into DI20HE and I2S or COAX out into R1N.

(I have put a lot of work into my source, and divided it by 3 units. So USB from motherboard from "just" another computer wont be the same experience)

------

If you do not game on the computer and only listen to music, dedicated listening. Consider another source. I recall you are using a PC, correct?

@FredA and @Jandu have recommended some very good solutions here. Consider them!

Audio-gd is out of my price range atm. Too much wishful thinking

I have purchased a used Gustard A22 dac from a user here. Dual AKM chips and discrete output stage. I have the most listening time historically with an AKM dac. I don't have the space for the Audio-GD gear I want right now.

Definitely in the future I will look towards a full Audio-GD chain.
 
Jul 27, 2024 at 4:52 PM Post #1,361 of 1,581
I have purchased a used Gustard A22 dac from a user here. Dual AKM chips and discrete output stage.
I don't believe it. The same is claimed for A26 and R26. As for the last one it is a lie. There are opamps in the audio path on the main board (probably active 2nd order filter) and additionally opamps on the output of a single-ended R2R ladder.
 
Jul 27, 2024 at 5:29 PM Post #1,362 of 1,581
I don't believe it. The same is claimed for A26 and R26. As for the last one it is a lie. There are opamps in the audio path on the main board (probably active 2nd order filter) and additionally opamps on the output of a single-ended R2R ladder.

Even if there are, it was an engineering choice from gustard. I don't really care, I'm not of the opinion that opamps sound bad. I just really hate rolling them. It's a well built unit and it will fill my needs. And if I get board with it a year from now I'll just move on to whatever new thing audio-gd comes up with. The audio world changes so much.
 
Jul 27, 2024 at 6:50 PM Post #1,363 of 1,581
Even if there are, it was an engineering choice from gustard. I don't really care, I'm not of the opinion that opamps sound bad.
I don't argue on the issue, personal preference. My comment is on false advertising which was unintentionally repeated in your post.
 
Jul 30, 2024 at 3:19 PM Post #1,364 of 1,581
Another 1m USB cable for R1NOS: Supra: https://supracables.se/datasheets/en/USB-cables/usb-2_0-a-b-datasheet-en.pdf

This cable is for the listener who does not give a damn about soundstage or the reverbs being endlessly long, but want the presence, the texture, the slam. Like the music is playing for the listener, for you.

It feels like the soundstage has been "vaccumed" out, not choked, but holographic and realism feels more physical, more presence. The music is right there, and not a landscape - or big soundstage.

Warm sound
Texture
(Saturated - with thick analog summing mixer effect. Vintage feel like LP/Vinyl)
Presence
 
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Jul 30, 2024 at 3:57 PM Post #1,365 of 1,581
Another 1m USB cable for R1NOS: Supra: https://supracables.se/datasheets/en/USB-cables/usb-2_0-a-b-datasheet-en.pdf

This cable is for the listener who does not give a damn about soundstage or the reverbs being endlessly long, but want the presence, the texture, the slam. Like the music is playing for the listener, for you.

It feels like the soundstage has been "vaccumed" out, not choked, but holographic and realism feels more physical, more presence. The music is right there, and not a landscape - or big soundstage.

Warm sound
Texture
Saturated - with thick analog summing mixer effect
Presence
very cool. Could it be that perceived soundstage gets larger the more signal degradation there is? Or to phrase it better, are the traits above inherent in most well designed data cables?

oh how I feel like I'm drifting into the pixie dust side of this hobby here lol

overbuilt stuff is bad ass
 

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