New Audio-gd R-7, R-7HE R-8, R-27, R-27HE, R-28 Flagship Resistor Ladder DACs and DAC/amps

[sajunky]

So you haven't compared the Yggdrasil 2 and the R7 HE MK2. It's correct? Who should I ask for this comparison?.

He compared it to the Master 7 DAC and there was comparison posted earlier to the R-7.

As for features, I need to add that Schiit DAC's are not NOS and DSP is tuned for a generic commercial customer. A marketting is focusing around DSP filtering.

A DAC chip is from Analog Devices, a ladder type - not R2R, but a segmented architecture. Similar to the Holo discrete implementation. It cannot compete with the best sounding chip ever - 8xPCM1704 in Master 7 (which a laser trimmed a pure R2R ladder) and is not marketed for audio, but for instrumentation.

 

[mark44]

He compared it to the Master 7 DAC and there was comparison posted earlier to the R-7.

As for features, I need to add that Schiit DAC's are not NOS and DSP is tuned for a generic commercial customer. A marketting is focusing around DSP filtering.

A DAC chip is from Analog Devices, a ladder type - not R2R, but a segmented archtecture. Similar to the Holo discrete implementation. It cannot compete with the best sounding chip ever - 8xPCM1704 in Master 7 (which a laser trimmed a pure R2R ladder) and is not marketed for audio, but for instrumentation.

Have you compared Yggdrasil 2 with the R7 HE MK2? Which of the 2 do you prefer?
Thank you I'm not a super expert.

 

[DACLadder]

So you haven't compared the Yggdrasil 2 and the R7 HE MK2. It's correct? Who should I ask for this comparison?

Yes, I have not compared the Yggdrasil 2.

There have been a lot of changes since Gen 1. The D/A chips changed, USB adapter flipped perhaps twice, the analog board changed. Hopefully a better DAC. What bugged me the most about the Yggy 1 was the excessive warm up time. It took days to warm up. A brief power outage would reset the clock. You should research that if you consider ver. 2.

Be patient. If someone has something to add they will post in the next 24-48 hrs.

 

[mark44]

Yes, I have not compared the Yggdrasil 2.

There have been a lot of changes since Gen 1. The D/A chips changed, USB adapter flipped perhaps twice, the analog board changed. Hopefully a better DAC. What bugged me the most about the Yggy 1 was the excessive warm up time. It took days to warm up. A brief power outage would reset the clock. You should research that if you consider ver. 2.

Be patient. If someone has something to add they will post in the next 24-48 hrs.

I have seen that you are using Audio-GD DI 20 HE with the Audio-GD R7HE MK2 DAC. If I'm not mistaken, the latest version of the Audio-GD R7HE MK2 already has the functions of the Audio-GD DI 20 HE integrated. If so, why are you also using the Audio-GD DI 20 HE. Thank you very much for your help

 

[DACLadder]

I have seen that you are using Audio-GD DI 20 HE with the Audio-GD R7HE MK2 DAC. If I'm not mistaken, the latest version of the Audio-GD R7HE MK2 already has the functions of the Audio-GD DI 20 HE integrated. If so, why are you also using the Audio-GD DI 20 HE. Thank you very much for your help

No problem and you are welcome. The reason I and many others use the DI-20HE rather than the onboard USB input is just simply we think it sounds better. Someone else may prefer internal USB. But the mk2/ 2021 synchronous USB input sounds best yet any of my four Audio GD DACs. Not far behind the DI20-HE. I need to try again. I2S input has always sounded best. May be different after a f/w change.

 

[Nicolas Yance]

Hello, first time posting on this thread.

Has anyone compared the Holo Spring 2 KTE vs the R7 2021/mk2?

I want to upgrade my Sony TA-ZH1ES to a dedicated DAC and I have always been curious about the R2R topology.

Maybe add a DI-20 in the chain.

 

[mark44]

No problem and you are welcome. The reason I and many others use the DI-20HE rather than the onboard USB input is just simply we think it sounds better. Someone else may prefer internal USB. But the mk2/ 2021 synchronous USB input sounds best yet of any my for Audio GD DACs. Not far behind the DI20-HE. I need to try again. I2S input has always sounded best. May be different after a f/w change.

mivarpet in Post #6,159 of 7,312 of this thead wrote:

Kingwa has released the 2021 versions of the R2R DACs -

New Features
R-7 (2021 version) feature:
1, USB and HDMI apply the separate isolators and isolate pure class A PSUs for avoid the interrupt from computer and HDMI sources. (New Feature)
2, USB apply the bidirectional isolator that can transmit the IIS signal to the FPGA processor and receive the clock signal from the FPGA processor, the USB interface without on board data clocks, the signal transmit is much exact, the sound quality get the much improve , similar to the last generative R-7 combine with DI-20 (But not DI-20HE) level. (New Feature)
3, HDMI input apply isolator for improve the sound quality . (New Feature)
4, Input signal sampling display .(New Feature)

 

[sajunky]

I have seen that you are using Audio-GD DI 20 HE with the Audio-GD R7HE MK2 DAC. If I'm not mistaken, the latest version of the Audio-GD R7HE MK2 already has the functions of the Audio-GD DI 20 HE integrated. If so, why are you also using the Audio-GD DI 20 HE. Thank you very much for your help

It is all about external noise entering a DAC. It is the best to fight noise at a source, but it is not possible, by example people use noisy PC USB interface, it is in common use. Regenerative power supply in R-7HE is blocking most of the noise, but not all. It is why daisy chaining DI-20HE reject more harmful noise. I think it is answer to the question. A short answer, as it is not covering how data is sent between those devices.

 

[Crow123]

I wanted to share a strange experience with the r8. I have been burning it in for 90 odd hours now.

Firstly I found it really good out the box I would have been happy with that performace relative to my old smsl m500.

But it has gotten better every day(most times incrementally) but last night it was very good.

I was listening to hallelujah by jeff buckley (which I have done often) and suddenly my wife remarked wow his voice is really beautiful I reminded her we had listened to it before and then she clicked and said the dac was good (a massive cliche I know but this was my literal experience last night)

Anyway at lunch today I listened and it was really flat and boring. I turned volume up but it just got louder not better so I was a little worried.

5 hours later it's really good again.

 

[gk2013]

I wanted to share a strange experience with the r8. I have been burning it in for 90 odd hours now.

Firstly I found it really good out the box I would have been happy with that performace relative to my old smsl m500.

But it has gotten better every day(most times incrementally) but last night it was very good.

I was listening to hallelujah by jeff buckley (which I have done often) and suddenly my wife remarked wow his voice is really beautiful I reminded her we had listened to it before and then she clicked and said the dac was good (a massive cliche I know but this was my literal experience last night)

Anyway at lunch today I listened and it was really flat and boring. I turned volume up but it just got louder not better so I was a little worried.

5 hours later it's really good again.

Great you are sharing your experience. Interesting findings. In my experience this is often caused by the “quality” of your mains. This is not always the same. During evening it seems to be better in my system. It also could be due to the ladder board temperature in your dac. Discrete R2R ladder boards are sensitive to its temperature.

 

[PLGA]

I wanted to share a strange experience with the r8. I have been burning it in for 90 odd hours now.

Firstly I found it really good out the box I would have been happy with that performace relative to my old smsl m500.

But it has gotten better every day(most times incrementally) but last night it was very good.

I was listening to hallelujah by jeff buckley (which I have done often) and suddenly my wife remarked wow his voice is really beautiful I reminded her we had listened to it before and then she clicked and said the dac was good (a massive cliche I know but this was my literal experience last night)

Anyway at lunch today I listened and it was really flat and boring. I turned volume up but it just got louder not better so I was a little worried.

5 hours later it's really good again.

That's because internal clocks are burning and they need at least 500 hs to reach their potential. I would say 1.000 hs even better.

You can ask kingwa about leaving it on when you are not using it as I believe internal clocks burn just leaving it on.

What is your source? It can really really shine with burning time + a rally good source.

 

[Crow123]

Source is the humble pie for now running ropieexl as roon bridge

 

[PLGA]

Source is the humble pie for now running ropieexl as roon bridge

Well, there you have room for improvement. For now, I would advice you to burn the R8 for some time and then, if you want, upgrade your digital chain with an audiophile switch, cables, antivibration, clocks, etc. The classic rabbit hole

 

[sajunky]

Great you are sharing your experience. Interesting findings. In my experience this is often caused by the “quality” of your mains. This is not always the same. During evening it seems to be better in my system.

I am second to that, we live in South Africa. It happen frequently on our overloaded power lines. One time after a power cut I picked up my old osciloscope, a sine was distorted. Once you see distortions on the scope screen, it is above 10%. This time it was also asymetrical, it carried DC component. Power was interrupted again before I took a picture, and after restoration it was like that for the next few days:

 

[FredA]

I am second to that, we live in South Africa. It happen frequently on our overloaded power lines. One time after a power cut I picked up my old osciloscope, a sine was distorted. Once you see distortions on the scope screen, it is above 10%. This time it was also asymetrical, it carried DC component. Power was interrupted again before I took a picture, and after restoration it was like that for the next few days:

Those added harmonics sure do not help.