Audio-GD Reference 7 - the new flagship DAC

[RedBull]

Quote:

I was under the impression that the Ref1 and Ref7 were very similar. The 7.1, if I'm not mistaken, has a different analog section.

 
I think so too, but different analog section can means a lot of things.

 

[lmswjm]

Quote:

 
I think so too, but different analog section can means a lot of things.

 Absolutely. I prefer the 7.1 over the Ref 1. The mids and highs are less fatiguing. I can play my speaker system louder with the 7.1, i.e., the Ref 1 has a little more shrillness with violins limiting the use of volume. That being said, those differences are small and went unnoticed initially. The Ref 1 is still an excellent performer for sure.

 

[RedBull]

Thanks.
Do you have impression Ref. 7 over 7.1?  or they are totally the same?

 

[lmswjm]

Quote:

Thanks.
Do you have impression Ref. 7 over 7.1?  or they are totally the same?

 Never heard the 7, but I expect the Ref 1 and the Ref 7 to be very close in sound. The 7.1 was the more significant change in design if I'm correct.

 

[RedBull]

Have you ever tried Ref. 7.1 in NOS mode?
I'm hesitant to unrack, change, open the cover, close cover test and do all over again,  if other said it's not worth trying.

 

[lmswjm]

Quote:

Have you ever tried Ref. 7.1 in NOS mode?
I'm hesitant to unrack, change, open the cover, close cover test and do all over again,  if other said it's not worth trying.

 Never have, others have mentioned that the default settings work out to be the best.

 

[RedBull]

Yes, that's what I read on John Darko review too, but some people said NOS mode is faster, more liquid, more liquid etc, hmmmm.

 

[shogo33]

I've listened to a friends rig running the stock settings on the DSP-1, and running it on NOS mode.  We tried it on various jumper settings, ie: disabled PLL, and then with disabled Dithering and so on.
 
Findings? The sound from the stock settings are much more smoother, refined than NOS mode.  NOS mode gave a more spacious, faster, more organic sound.  He preferred it like this, however I much preferred the stock settings.
 
He also tried it with a reclocker, i believed it was an Empirical Audio Synchro Mesh taking the SPDIF out  from his CD7SE to the input of the Synchro Mesh, which sends it out to the Reference 7.1 dac.  We re-ran the same songs again, this time with stock DSP-1 settings and then in NOS mode.
 
We were both very surprised!   We both definately preferred the sound in NOS mode on the Ref7.1 when used with the Synchro Mesh.  What this exercise proved to us was that jitter could be further improved from the CD7SE and the no oversampling sounds good with a low jitter source.
I believe he had the 44.1khz output Synch Mesh and not the one that upsamples to 96khz.

 

[DarknightDK]

Interesting impressions. Thanks! I should try the NOS mode with my DI-DSP sometime and see if I get similar results to the Empirical.

 

[RedBull]

Thanks for the impression.  So far, that conclude that Synchro Mesh upsample do a better job than the DSP1.  Currawong find the DSP-1 is limiting the performance of Ref. 7.1 too.
I didn't know about this product before.  This makes me start to think about having this Synchro Mesh and having my Ref. 7.1 run in NOS mode, so I'll have the benefit of both world, the fluidness and realism of NOS and spacious sound of R2R chip.  Good idea.
 
Darknight, appreciate you impression comparing SM to DI.  The thing about DI is it doesn't have Toslink input, I only use Toslink, unfortunately, don't ask me why. 

 

[lmswjm]

Quote:

I've listened to a friends rig running the stock settings on the DSP-1, and running it on NOS mode.  We tried it on various jumper settings, ie: disabled PLL, and then with disabled Dithering and so on.
 
Findings? The sound from the stock settings are much more smoother, refined than NOS mode.  NOS mode gave a more spacious, faster, more organic sound.  He preferred it like this, however I much preferred the stock settings.
 
He also tried it with a reclocker, i believed it was an Empirical Audio Synchro Mesh taking the SPDIF out  from his CD7SE to the input of the SyncJushro Mesh, which sends it out to the Reference 7.1 dac.  We re-ran the same songs again, this time with stock DSP-1 settings and then in NOS mode.
 
We were both very surprised!   We both definately preferred the sound in NOS mode on the Ref7.1 when used with the Synchro Mesh.  What this exercise proved to us was that jitter could be further improved from the CD7SE and the no oversampling sounds good with a low jitter source.
I believe he had the 44.1khz output Synch Mesh and not the one that upsamples to 96khz.

 
Just ordered a SM. 30 day wait. From their website:
 
"Typically, we recommend 96 output because most DAC digital filters for 96 sound better than the filter for 44.1. If you have an older NOS DAC that only takes 16-bit data, then 44.1 output is more compatible."
 
I'll query Kingwa

 

[RedBull]

Cool! Please update us your impression and Kingwa's comment. Thanks.

 

[lmswjm]

"I am gree higher sampling input make the sound better .
This is exist on most DA chips have this advantage  in technology.
But still want to audiotion, people have different taste."
 
Kingwa
 

 

[lmswjm]

Lifted from stereo.net.au :
 
 
Posted 09 August 2012 - 09:38 PM
The DI-V2 doesn't have the Alterra Cyclone DSP chip and therefore does not have the upsampling/reclocking/jitter reduction technology of the DI-DSP.
 
 
Posted 09 August 2012 - 09:45 PM
Thanks Pete. So if I'm not worried about upsampling the DSP still offers superior jitter reduction over the V2?

I see you use a SM. Have you used any of King Wa's DIs
 
 
Posted 09 August 2012 - 10:19 PM
Correct... I'd go for the DSP version any day of the week.

I've used the older DI extensively, in both standard form and with upgraded clocks, hex inverters, cables etc. It was my previous reclocker.

The DI is certainly good value for money at under half the price including the Class A PSU. However, the Synchro Mesh is a superior jitter reduction device/reclocker IMHO. If you want a top-notch reclocker rather than a USB to SPDIF interface, I'd try to save the extra dollars and go for the Synchro Mesh.

 

[lmswjm]

Must ignore Master 7  32/384 DAC......not that it would help my CD transport at all.
 
Kingwa's prolific output of products makes me woozy