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

[DACLadder]

The U16 is annoying and you are correct the SU-6 has slightly different presentation. Both are good and boils down to simply what you prefer if you can tolerate the U16’s quirks.

All the U16 talk now is using a low jitter 10Mhz clock connected to the external clock input. The U16 has two digital PLLs that convert 10Mhz to the familiar audio clocks and bypasses the internal Accusilicon XOs. Many users claim easily noticed improvements. I have a 10Mhz OCXO on order to give that a try.

So glad I am off the generic Windows desktop and listening with the Aurender. The U16 has less issues driven by the Aurender and sounds great. Even the Off Ramp 5 DDC works well with the Aurender. OR5 sounds middle of the road these days. U16/SU-6 are slightly better and SU-1/F1 not as good.

 

[comzee]

Between N100H, HDplex, and this list it would be nice to know what's competitive (price vs performance).
I just use a Macbook right now for SU-6, it would be cool to source that from a music server that supported Tidal, but nothing I'd be willing to pay over $500 for. I already squinted buying the $600 su-6.
I'm thinking something like this + this with an LPS would be a great, question is then, what are some well priced LPS that would work for it...

Going down the digital source rabbit hole can be exhausting.

 

[UsoppNoKami]

Between N100H, HDplex, and this list it would be nice to know what's competitive (price vs performance).
I just use a Macbook right now for SU-6, it would be cool to source that from a music server that supported Tidal, but nothing I'd be willing to pay over $500 for. I already squinted buying the $600 su-6.
I'm thinking something like this + this with an LPS would be a great, question is then, what are some well priced LPS that would work for it...

Going down the digital source rabbit hole can be exhausting.

I have a EGLOBAL mini PC as my Roon core server - i9 8950HK (6 core 12 threads), 32GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB NVME drive for OS and apps, and 2TB 860Evo SSD for my music library. Plugged into gigabit router, WiFi off and running headless. Cost was about $1k.

For playback, my primary audio rig is hooked up to an galvanically isolated windows PC, but I am thinking of repurposing an old 2012 2.6Ghz MacMini to run Roon client, see if I can hear any difference Vs Windows

 

[DACLadder]

@comzee The Allo Usbridge is another affordable streamer. Worked well with Roon and came loaded with Roon app.

Not bad for $131 US. But recently the Usbridge's CPU board (Sparky) is end-of-life and a replacement is being designed (I hear). But may be something to keep in the loop for consideration.

 

[DACLadder]

The R7 amazes me everyday. The past 5 months have been nothing but changes to my audio system. XOs, DAC boards, firmware, streamers, and DDCs. I don't like changes but has been a very rewarding experience. AGD DACs are tweaky but sound better every year so small price to pay for great sound.

The latest R7 find is DSD. With my used Aurender purchase I found 100 classical DSD64 albums on the internal drive. And this morning found almost as many DSD64 jazz albums. So have been given those files a listen. Now that I have familiar DSD titles to compare it sounds awesome on the R7. Overall depends on the recording but I wish PCM sounded this transparent and smooth. DSD transients are sharp as a tack, low background noise, and no grain. I see why classical listeners like DSD.

DSD is sounding so good that I may have to change my HeadFi handle from 'DACLadder' to '1-bit'.

 

[Chopin75]

The R7 amazes me everyday. The past 5 months have been nothing but changes to my audio system. XOs, DAC boards, firmware, streamers, and DDCs. I don't like changes but has been a very rewarding experience. AGD DACs are tweaky but sound better every year so small price to pay for great sound.

The latest R7 find is DSD. With my used Aurender purchase I found 100 classical DSD64 albums on the internal drive. And this morning found almost as many DSD64 jazz albums. So have been given those files a listen. Now that I have familiar DSD titles to compare it sounds awesome on the R7. Overall depends on the recording but I wish PCM sounded this transparent and smooth. DSD transients are sharp as a tack, low background noise, and no grain. I see why classical listeners like DSD.

DSD is sounding so good that I may have to change my HeadFi handle from 'DACLadder' to '1-bit'.

Wait till you do DSD256! But too bad thee Aurrender is no able to do that

 

[DACLadder]

@Chopin75 DSD was horrible with Foobar2000. It worked but loud pops when transitioning from PCM to DSD. J River MC is almost silent. Aurender is OK so enjoyment level of DSD has risen greatly. But learned that its is best with DSD to turn volume down a bit when transitioning to/from PCM.

Yes, DSD128 max for all Aurenders. I read Aurender customer support claims there is no marketing need for DSD256 and above. But those comments are from 2 yrs ago. It does seem for a high end Aurender that would be a requirement these days. The $131 Allo Usbridge can do DSD256 and even DSD512 in some cases!

 

[Chopin75]

@Chopin75 DSD was horrible with Foobar2000. It worked but loud pops when transitioning from PCM to DSD. J River MC is almost silent. Aurender is OK so enjoyment level of DSD has risen greatly. But learned that its is best with DSD to turn volume down a bit when transitioning to/from PCM.

Yes, DSD128 max for all Aurenders. I read Aurender customer support claims there is no marketing need for DSD256 and above. But those comments are from 2 yrs ago. It does seem for a high end Aurender that would be a requirement these days. The $131 Allo Usbridge can do DSD256 and even DSD512 in some cases!

It is rather absurd that someone paying $8000 would not take DSD256 seriously. I can see perhaps the lack of such demand on a $1000 machine or perhaps even the Lower end Aurrender. To me, they are just cheap. Even the portable Ibasso DX150 can play DSD256! From my experience DSD256 is not easy to play well. Euphony has made DSD playback much much better. J River is terrible on Mac. And the CPU needs to be pretty powerful, even for non-converted native DSD256 (ie not PCM-DSD), hence the lower power CPU can be used for low end server that won't do DSD256.
BTW there are hardly any recordings made in native DSD128 (except for numerous analogue tape transfer to DSD128). They are either DSD64 or DSD256. So it is almost pointless to do DSD128 (unless you upsample). Might as well go cheap all the way at DSD64 or go high to DSD256.

 

[DACLadder]

PCM is sounding good today as well (NOS)! I swapped the U16 back into the line up in preparation of connection of external 10Mhz OCXO next week. Everyone who has done this likes the results. Hope this is the last change I have to eval for a long, long while!

 

[Toni-Mang]

I tested upsampling, Nos, Os with ASY3...best solution imho is O4 and true redbook. I checked also my favorit, 88,2 and Nos...but with ASY3, O4 seems to sound better, please check the soundstage, the presentation, the high's,and the major change, the bass...what is your experience?
Nos is no alternative for me...the bass is weak and the highs are not as focussed as they are with O4. The soundstage is wider with os...not a headphone job here….

 

[Chopin75]

I tested upsampling, Nos, Os with ASY3...best solution imho is O4 and true redbook. I checked also my favorit, 88,2 and Nos...but with ASY3, O4 seems to sound better, please check the soundstage, the presentation, the high's,and the major change, the bass...what is your experience?
Nos is no alternative for me...the bass is weak and the highs are not as focussed as they are with O4. The soundstage is wider with os...not a headphone job here….

Remind me, are you using R7 or R8 ? V2 board ?

 

[Toni-Mang]

R8 V2 accusilicon...I2S

…and Gustard U16 or PS audio pwt

 

[DACLadder]

@Toni-Mang WIth Asy3 I like OS 0 and NOS best. They sound most open and honest with largest stage and fuller sound.

I'll try OS 4x again.

 

[ToddRaymond]

I love my SU-6; I’ve never had a single hiccup or otherwise with it. It’s not cheap, but mine has been bulletproof thus far.

 

[Toni-Mang]

i will check O0 tomorrow,,, i have allready given it a try, but the stage enlarges in my setup from 0 to 2 to 4 and 8 is not as focussed any more...as always a matter of taste...maybe a matter of trust...