[FredA]

How'd you know? Let me guess, you've talked to Kingwa or been reading his forums?

Greg's speakers are very easy to drive, I probably would've just stayed with my tube amp if I went with the Monument.

1000 hours would take me about a year! 300 sounds much more reasonable and from what I've read it's also the time it takes to burn-in the Dukes.

A friend of mine ordered a set lately. And you know who i am talking about.

Really, it takes an eternity for a non feedback amp to break-in. But a tough load should speed it up.

 

[FredA]

My only reference for class-a amplification is the Moon i-5 operating at low power. It's an excellent integrated, but the m3 is much better. Smoother, richer, more resolved, neutral and transparent. A lot better with bass control.

 

[Jackula]

A friend of mine ordered a set lately. And you know who i am talking about.

Hmm unfortunately I don't, I think you got me confused with someone else who coincidentally also bought a pair of the Dukes ha ha Glad to see the brand gaining popularity though.

Never listened to the Moon i5 specifically, however I have listened to a few integrated models of Moon, I also listened to the Moon 430HA before purchasing the HE9. Never been a big fan of Moon.

 

[FredA]

Hmm unfortunately I don't, I think you got me confused with someone else who coincidentally also bought a pair of the Dukes ha ha Glad to see the brand gaining popularity though.

Never listened to the Moon i5 specifically, however I have listened to a few integrated models of Moon, I also listened to the Moon 430HA before purchasing the HE9. Never been a big fan of Moon.

I was a big fan but they are so expensive now. I heard their 3k cd/dac last year and thought i prefered the sound of my r2r-11. Too colored a sound for me.

 

[FredA]

And just as reference, the r7-he makes this 3k Moon cd/dac look as ridiculously overpriced. It would take less than 10s to someone with an educated ear to designate the winner.

 

[Jackula]

I'm with you, Audio-GD makes everything look overpriced. Their R2R DACs seems to be their speciality.

 

[DACLadder]

With all these new updates, I wonder how the R7 compares to the Master 7. I love the PCM1704UK sound and can't demo audio-gd gear

@FredA 's comments summed up the R7/M7 differences very well. In the past few months I've upgraded the oscillators in a S7 (factory M7S) and my old M7S. We discussed these latest changes in this thread starting in late March 2019. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/new...tor-ladder-dacs.853902/page-254#post-14859538

But the old M7 is very capable and sounds better with the digital board and Accusilicon XO changes. However the latest changes only take the M7s so far. The R7 has less bloated bass, better highs, more detail, better vocals, and very transparent compared to the warmer M7 DACs. For me the R7 picks up where the M7 leaves off soundwise. The R7 though retains (thankfully) the M7-like dynamic presentation (AGD house sound) that makes rhythmic music come alive.

If I get nostalgic DSP NOS mode 3 on the R7 sounds much like the M7. Warmer sounding and prominent bass. As a result the R7 is more versatile than the M7 DACs. I was very shocked when I received the R7 (last summer) how much I liked it compared the the M7 DACs. Very easy transition if you are looking for more precision, clarity, and transparency.

 

[FredA]

@FredA 's comments summed up the R7/M7 differences very well. In the past few months I've upgraded the oscillators in a S7 (factory M7S) and my old M7 (2013). We discuss these latest changes in this thread starting in late March 2019. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/new...tor-ladder-dacs.853902/page-254#post-14859538

But the old M7 is very capable and sounds better with the digital board and Accusilicon XO changes. However the latest changes only take the M7s so far. The R7 is less bloated, has better highs, more detail, better vocals, and very transparent compared to the warmer M7 DACs. For me the R7 picks up where the M7 leaves off soundwise. The R7 though retains (thankfully) the M7-like dynamic presentation (AGD house sound) that makes rhythmic music come alive.

If I get nostalgic DSP NOS mode 3 on the R7 sounds much like the M7. Warmer sounding and prominent bass. As a result the R7 is more versatile than the M7 DACs. I was very shocked when I received the R7 (last summer) how much I liked it compared the the M7 DACs. It is a very easy transition if you are looking for more precision, clarity, and transparency.

The da-7 boards are now a few notches better then the 1704k, no doubt. But i realized that loosing the very rich midrange of the m7, you have to make adjustments to your setup if you want to keep a similar tonal balance. That is what the m3 brought to my setup. So pairing as always is very important.

 

[UsoppNoKami]

my acusilicon-upgraded Master-11 Singularity with PCM1704UK has been singing with gusto for just over 2 months. will never sell the M-11S

There is a promotion by AGD's official distributor here in Malaysia until end of the month. Tossing up between ordering an R8 or R7/R7HE. The latter is within reach, but this hobby is a black hole, and i really should just live vicariously through this thread.... but..... the temptation.....

 

[FredA]

@DACLadder

Scott, don't forget how much the transport matters with any of these dac. The m7 would react very positively to any improvement i make in that direction. Any of these big audio-gd can sing when fed a clean and well clocked signal. For one thing, i still use the intona in my transport chain, it makes a positive difference. Same for the usbridge vs a Pi. The usb cables also bring improvements, as the silver ones i just got off ebay.

Poeple who are thinking about upgrading their dacs should not forget how important the transport it.

 

[DACLadder]

@FredA I would throw in cables as well but the modded R7 doesn't seem as "tweaky" as the original R2R 7 when it comes to cables. Reducing the glare and grain with the original hardware was the aim at cable swaps. Thankfully with the latest mods I no longer have the 'itch' to constantly swap cables.

But its all about the the total package where the sum of the parts outweigh the the individual components. A good HDMI I2S transport makes a big difference with AGD DACs.- even the original M7.

 

[anroj]

@DACLadder

Scott, don't forget how much the transport matters with any of these dac. The m7 would react very positively to any improvement i make in that direction. Any of these big audio-gd can sing when fed a clean and well clocked signal. For one thing, i still use the intona in my transport chain, it makes a positive difference. Same for the usbridge vs a Pi. The usb cables also bring improvements, as the silver ones i just got off ebay.

Poeple who are thinking about upgrading their dacs should not forget how important the transport it.

Hi FredA, I am in the market for silver cables. Can you point me to which ones you got on eBay?

 

[FredA]

Hi FredA, I am in the market for silver cables. Can you point me to which ones you got on eBay?

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/0-7-Meter-H...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

This is the cable. It will sound a little bright at first but it instantly adds clarity. From the description, the data bus is very well isolated from the power line. It beats the Audiosensibility entry level cable easily.

 

[anroj]

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/0-7-Meter-HIFI-DIY-4N-Sterling-silver-DAC-USB-2-0-cable-Sound-decoders-Data-wire/132111568100?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

This is the cable. It will sound a little bright at first but it instantly adds clarity. From the description, the data bus is very well isolated from the power line. It beats the Audiosensibility entry level cable easily.

Thank you @FredA. I just ordered it.

 

[FredA]

Thank you @FredA. I just ordered it.

My friend and i liked it instantly. Hope you do too.