Audio-gd Reference 7 Loaner Program (USA)

[The Monkey]

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I'm just saying that for someone who might prefer the PWD, but can't afford to drop $3K, they don't necessarily have to settle. The PWD's retail price can also buy you a Theta or Levinson DAC, although I'm not sure they are worth the $3500 or so that they tend to sell for. Money is money, I don't really make a distinction between new and used. 

A good point.  Based purely on SQ, I would recommend a used PWD over the Ref7 if someone had a budget of less than $2k.  But I think there are plenty of people who would be happy with the Ref7.  To my ears, it's a nice sounding DAC.  Not necessarily my favorite sound signature, but still a solid piece of electronics.  At some point I'll get around to posting more impressions. 

 

[les_garten]

Would be great to hear your impressions of how it fleshes out on the continuum of DACs you've had.  You're in a good position for this due to how many DACs you've been exposed to.
 

 
Quote:

A good point.  Based purely on SQ, I would recommend a used PWD over the Ref7 if someone had a budget of less than $2k.  But I think there are plenty of people who would be happy with the Ref7.  To my ears, it's a nice sounding DAC.  Not necessarily my favorite sound signature, but still a solid piece of electronics.  At some point I'll get around to posting more impressions. 

 

[The Monkey]

I guess one thing I'm learning is the more DACs I listen to, the more they sound the same. 

  Kidding, sort of.  Will get to impressions soonish, I promise.

 

[SilverCans]

I wish you guys had the V5, now i'm on the fence, ref7 or not, hmm... Though even those on the forum on A-GDs website says it made a big difference.

 

[SP Wild]

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I wish you guys had the V5, now i'm on the fence, ref7 or not, hmm... Though even those on the forum on A-GDs website says it made a big difference.

Buy the PWD.  Problem solved. 

 

[SilverCans]

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Buy the PWD.  Problem solved. 

Not really, how do you know that the v5 dsp doesnt make the ref7 sound better then the pwd? I dont care for fancy features, just th e best sound. Something inherently tells me that 1 wolfson delta-sigma just cant beat 8 pcm1704, but thats a different discussion all together. What I read is that the v4 dsp sounds flat, muted, less lively then v5. Coincidentally the reviewer actually mentioned that was the weakness the of ref7 v4; instrument attack just wasnt as pronounced as it was on the pwd. Hence my being on the fence.
 
 
I vote for the ref7 to go back to The Monkey after v5 was installed.

 

[SP Wild]

But you get a nice touch screen LCD, full color, full resolution display and associated logic circuits thrown in for free with the PWD.  If only all components had such luxuries features that do not affect sound quality.

 

[K3cT]

Well, the PWD is so sexy-looking that I don't mind the premium really. It's just too bad that given my location and circumstances, I have to fork more than $500 for customs and freight and therefore I'm not sure whether it will still be worth it or not. 

 
Anyway enough ranting from me. Back to the regularly scheduled program of whether DSP v5 makes a hugeeee impact or not. 

 

[SilverCans]

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But you get a nice touch screen LCD, full color, full resolution display and associated logic circuits thrown in for free with the PWD.  If only all components had such luxuries features that do not affect sound quality.

why the sarcasm? a lcd display means nothing and is just eye candy that increases the price. sure its nice but simple switches would suffice. i'm after sound quality, period. the v5 dsp may change the playing field then again it may not; i'd like to know

 

[oqvist]

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Not really, how do you know that the v5 dsp doesnt make the ref7 sound better then the pwd? I dont care for fancy features, just th e best sound. Something inherently tells me that 1 wolfson delta-sigma just cant beat 8 pcm1704, but thats a different discussion all together. What I read is that the v4 dsp sounds flat, muted, less lively then v5. Coincidentally the reviewer actually mentioned that was the weakness the of ref7 v4; instrument attack just wasnt as pronounced as it was on the pwd. Hence my being on the fence.
 
 
I vote for the ref7 to go back to The Monkey after v5 was installed.

That is just about exactly what happened between DSP 3 to DSP 5 so it´s a possibility. DSP 4 I haven´t heard.

 

[lmswjm]

 
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I vote for the ref7 to go back to The Monkey after v5 was installed.

X2
 

 

[SP Wild]

Heres some more comparisons of the REF 7 to other high end dacs.  Its good that some operators own the dacs to be compared.  I am always biased to my own gear ... it is in my nature.

 

[The Monkey]

The DSP version is whatever it is.  Already I'm getting the sense of "well you need to try it with version X to REALLY know how it sounds."  That seems to be a convenient way to deflect non-rave reviews.

 

[SilverCans]

Quote:

The DSP version is whatever it is.  Already I'm getting the sense of "well you need to try it with version X to REALLY know how it sounds."  That seems to be a convenient way to deflect non-rave reviews.

Typically I'd agree with you, but given that many people (even on the chinese forum) said its a substantial difference, I'm inclined to think so. Thing is, if this was a hardware change like new caps, or better power supply, I'd say forget it because such changes make marginal differences. However, because the change is to the DSP algorithm I feel the possibility for change is substantial as the data is being manipulated; phase, etc all changes. FYI I do not own any A-GD product at the moment.

 

[The Monkey]

Fair enough.