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

[AudioAlex]

What type of music do you like?

Mostly instrumental and vocal (both male and female). Sometimes electronic.

With DI20HE - better separation and more refined sound, more bass (still better for electronic music)
Without DI20HE - more natural timbre, vocals are more lifelike (instrumental and vocal)

 

[OCC7N]

Mostly instrumental and vocal (both male and female). Sometimes electronic.

With DI20HE - better separation and more refined sound, more bass (still better for electronic music)
Without DI20HE - more natural timbre, vocals are more lifelike (instrumental and vocal)

EXACTLY what I feel seperation/3D. When we break the barriers of the entrylevels, it mostly becomes taste/preference.

What headphone do you use?

This is what I listen to now.

 

[AudioAlex]

EXACTLY what I feel seperation/3D. When we break the barriers of the entrylevels, it mostly becomes taste/preference.

I don't think my DI20HE is going anywhere anytime soon as I still prefer to be able to switch back and forth..

What headphone do you use?

Focal Stellia, HFM Arya Stealth, HFM HE-500

 

[OCC7N]

I don't think my DI20HE is going anywhere anytime soon as I still prefer to be able to switch back and forth..


Focal Stellia, HFM Arya Stealth, HFM HE-500

Don´t sell the DI20HE. It will be the last part leaving my setup. I have only experience with Matrix SPDIF2 which was quiet good, clean, the generic character. There is a sweet darkness/Black to the sound of DI20HE/R8HEMK2, its not that "veiled-muted-thing", there are layers/depth and seperation.

Reason for asking about headphones is that the impressions changes for every headphones. I really feel that overkill/power is the key, but in the right way. Because the DI20HE/R8HE MK2 is soo balanced and perfect, I really see it shines through my Susvara. This balance does not have a correlate outcome on Arya which lacks ALOT of mids, reason for it sounding so spacious. Thats one of the reason I keep the TT2, because it is mid- focused, Arya is a treat on it after longer sessions comparisons with AGD. Arya is too angry/beast on the AGD system(XLR4 pin), only Susvara can handle the AGD system.

 

[AudioAlex]

Because the DI20HE/R8HE MK2 is soo balanced and perfect, I really see it shines through my Susvara. This balance does not have a correlate outcome on Arya which lacks ALOT of mids, reason for it sounding so spacious. Thats one of the reason I keep the TT2, because it is mid- focused, Arya is a treat on it after longer sessions comparisons with AGD. Arya is too angry/beast on the AGD system, only Susvara can handle the AGD system.

With regards to the Arya, I have exactly the same feeling: they killed the mids to make it sound more spacious, which I don't like.. When I bought it, I hoped it would be a refined version of HE 500 with enhanced technicalities.. not even close.. HE 500 has better bass (the dynamics and authority of the old heavy magnets is outstanding), better mids and with the right settings quite detailed and delicate sounding highs.. I keep rediscovering these headphones over and over.. the timbre is just right.

With regards to the Susvara, I auditioned it a couple of times but not with AGD equipment.. I liked the sound a lot, it was so natural and effortless.. Tonality wise I felt that, although in different leagues, Susvara and HE 500 had more in common than Arya and HE 500 do..

Btw, the Stellia with custom pads, the right cable and right settings is quite close to Susvara tonality wise. It is very agile, spacious (despite the fact it is closed design), the bass is soft yet very detailed, the mids are sweet and natural (a bit forward) , the highs are a treat.. lots and lots of details.. Great match with AGD, in my opinion.. The stock pads may be bass heavy for some though..

 

[OCC7N]

If you have EQ option, you can make Arya more balanced by raising the lowend abit and mid, but also the high notes.

not my final adjustment yet but just showing as an example

I did also on RME ADI-2 buil in EQ. It actually seemed to push Arya a little more forward.

EQ is such a mastering tool in its self, it takes years to understand for me. It does not change tone, it raises/lowers levels. Its hard to understand sometime, and the logic behind raising the high note on that example above is the first thing I understood about EQs. Changing the lows will also effect the highs. If you change one thing, you change everything.

 

[Psilonaught]

I've been able to resolve my popping between tracks issue in NOS mode by fixing everything to 96hz.

I am now able to enjoy the delights of this 2020 edition in all its glory.

I'm planning two upgrades, an AfterDark OCXO Trifecta triple crown clock and an oyaide ar-910 AES/EBU cable.

I will then sell my LHY SW-8 switch and get the SW-10 and sync the DAC and switches together via the -118dBc tripe crown clock.

Sounds like a plan

 

[gimmeheadroom]

I've been able to resolve my popping between tracks issue in NOS mode by fixing everything to 96hz.

I am now able to enjoy the delights of this 2020 edition in all its glory.

I'm planning two upgrades, an AfterDark OCXO Trifecta triple crown clock and an oyaide ar-910 AES/EBU cable.

I will then sell my LHY SW-8 switch and get the SW-10 and sync the DAC and switches together via the -118dBc tripe crown clock.

Sounds like a plan

This sounds like you are not using WASAPI or preferably ASIO drivers.

What DAC is it (I have forgotten) and when was it made? Are you going USB direct to DAC or using a DDC?

 

[Psilonaught]

This sounds like you are not using WASAPI or preferably ASIO drivers.

What DAC is it (I have forgotten) and when was it made? Are you going USB direct to DAC or using a DDC?

Hi,

It's a R7HE 2020 edition. It is being fed by an Aqua LinQ via a NUC running Audirvana. It pops in wasapi or asio mode or kernel mode which I normally use.

To be honest I think the issue is the streamer as a) I don't get any issues when feeding the DAC USB directly from the NUC and b) I get the same pops when feeding my vintage Deltec NOS DAC from the 90's.

It's under warranty and going back to Milan for a check over.

 

[AudioAlex]

Has anyone experienced any significant SQ improvement by using a shorter USB cable ? I'm currently using a silver cable of good quality, 1.5m long, connecting the source and the DDC. Originally there was a reason why I chose this length.. now I can potentially shorten the cable to 0.5m. Is it worth the effort?

 

[OCC7N]

Has anyone experienced any significant SQ improvement by using a shorter USB cable ? I'm currently using a silver cable of good quality, 1.5m long, connecting the source and the DDC. Originally there was a reason why I chose this length.. now I can potentially shorten the cable to 0.5m. Is it worth the effort?

I have

1x Synergestic Research USB ACTIVE SE 1meter
2x Supra 1meter
2x Supra 5meter

This may come down to a taste/preference, but I like the Supras over the SR on AGD system, and I still have the 5meter connected to the DI20HE(about 400hours burnin so far). I have not yet compared them with SR on Chord TT2, but I have another 1meter Supra on the RME.

I am using the other 5 meter to a built-in usb hub in a monitor where also these are connected without any issue, Im pretty amazed.
Mouse, Keyboard, Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S61....and usb audio recording device SSL2+

Keep in mind I am using a JCAT USB XE + iFi Elite, which I think also should be credited for the audioquality.

 

[gimmeheadroom]

That I do not recognize. Here the DI20HE still means a considerable step up in that combo.

It's true that @FredA and others have said that the MK2 USB is better but without a DI-20/HE there is no good way to run IIS or AES off a laptop.

 

[OCC7N]

Random question: I think I have asked this before

On the HE-9 LE there are XLR L and XLR R output in the front.

1. These are for headphones right?

if so why did Kingwa implement if it is not that popular?
- I have a feeling the seperations of the channels might be better. Im wondering how it was designed intentionally. I could ask Kingwa but Im wondering why keep designing them if they arent used that much. There must be something about the design right?

I wanna buy a headphone cable for life for Susvara, because Im keeping my AGD system for a long time

 

[FredA]

Random question: I think I have asked this before

On the HE-9 LE there are XLR L and XLR R output in the front.

1. These are for headphones right?

if so why did Kingwa implement if it is not that popular?
- I have a feeling the seperations of the channels might be better. Im wondering how it was designed intentionally. I could ask Kingwa but Im wondering why keep designing them if they arent used that much. There must be something about the design right?

I wanna buy a headphone cable for life for Susvara, because Im keeping my AGD system for a long time

Yes, these are for headphones. Some cable could maybe benefit but IMO, it is more like a luxury feature. Some people may still have this type of cable configuration, so it is a nice to have.

 

[tumpux]

It used to be the default setup for balanced connection until it was replaced with the more economical 4 pin XLR.
You still can find the OGs using 2x3 pin XLR Cardas Clear balanced cable with their HD800s.

I personally prefer to see the mk2 amplifiers switched to the 4.4 mm Pentaconn jack. It’s more relevant with the current market.