[rawee]

Anybody change fuse? Where is the fuse in Ref7.1?

 

[No Disc]

Has anyone compared the reference 5.2 to the 7.1, or upgraded from the 5 series to the 7 series?  I'm curious the sonic differences. 

 

[Currawong]

Quote:

Anybody change fuse? Where is the fuse in Ref7.1?

 
The transformers have built-in overload+thermal fuses that can't be changed.

 

[maguire]

Well that explains why I could not find them..P

 

[LarsHP]

Quote:

Im looking forward to reading your findings of the  Audiophilleo-DIR9001 (which Ive got) input versus the TE8802 board that Ive never heard.
Thanks for doing the testing.
 

So was I, until I saw this review by John Darko:
http://www.tonepublications.com/macro/audio-gd-reference-10-2-dac-and-more/
 
It's on the Ref 10.2, but it's using the same DIR9001 and DSP-1 v.5 as the Ref 7.1 and then also sports the Tenor TE8802 USB input.
 
Here's a quote from the review:
"All too often with boxes like this USB ends up playing second fiddle to a good quality S/PDIF feed. For many multi-input DACs even a modest USB-S/SDIF convertor will best the sound quality of the in-built USB port can muster.  Improvements usually present as a more effortless presentation and less evidence of ash-tray grey in the treble.  Whilst the Reference 10.2 is no exception, the Tenor board is a sign that in-built USB (done right) can get close to its neighbouring S/PDIF input. In a broader sense it’s encouraging to see a manufacturer taking USB seriously.
However, end users of even this Audio-gd unit are still advised to go with a good USB-S/PDIF convertor if they want to drag the VERY best from their source PC/Mac. In my listening tests either a JKSPDIF MK3 and Empirical Audio Synchro-Mesh were required to juice the most vivid presentations of Lampchop’s Mr. M from MacMini and Squeezebox Touch respectively.  Both set-ups bested the Tenor USB implementation with jumpier micro-dynamics and broader believability."
 
In other words: If you already have a top high end S/PDIF output, then the USB route via the Tenor is a step down, not up.

 

[RedBull]

So Kingwa was right, suggest me to keep USB interface out of Ref. 7.1, not inside the DAC

 

[preproman]

Quote:

So Kingwa was right, suggest me to keep USB interface out of Ref. 7.1, not inside the DAC

 
 
So he said it's best to use the DI or something?

 

[RedBull]

He said better to use Audio Gd DI

 

[doobooloo]

Modified Reference 1 now completed and on its way! Thanks to Kingwa and his team!
(Click for larger images.)
 
1. Note the toggle switch on the front panel that selects among SPDIF, USB, and I2S:

 
2. New additions to the rear panel, very clean:

 
3. Inside, you can see the Tenor USB board as well as the I2S connector board, and I think the I2S input selector board is peeking out from underneath the main board:

 
4. Closeup:

 
Looking forward to comparing the inputs and posting some impressions here!

 

[lmswjm]

Nice!
 

 

[doobooloo]

Thanks!

So looks like I'll have the Ref 1, 7, and 7.1 together at the same time... the 7 and 7.1 being stock and all three running DSP v5. So much comparing to do!

 

[tim3320070]

That is crazy but I am envious for sure- all you need is the Ref-8 like I have to complete your Ref series DAC list.

 

[RedBull]

Is there a lot of difference between ref 7 and 7.1?

 

[lmswjm]

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.

 

[colour97]

i also want to know if Ref1 and Ref7 were very similar. last week
i got a used ref 1 and this is the 1st time i have kingwa dac and very impressive when paired with
solid state amp and tube amp.