[FredA]

Thank you Fred. Did you have any AC conditioning before changing to the HE version?

Any other fellow with a similar experience?

I had a balanced isolation transfo. But my r7 did not have the accusilicon upgrade nor the new da7 boards. @JaMo has a simililar experience upgrading his r7 to the 2021 r7he.

 

[PLGA]

Well, my R8 does have accusilicon upgrade and the new da7 board.

 

[FredA]

Well, my R8 does have accusilicon upgrade and the new da7 board.

JaMo also did.

 

[DACLadder]

@PLGA Ask Kingwa what he thinks about your power conditioning and HE power benefits. And if the exchange rates are not good and resell value down I would wait. If its holy grail then by all means purchase.

Sounds like you already have a great sounding DAC. Save your money for more favorable market. Give Kingwa 6 months and he will have possibly have something new and even more enhancements. The end of year discount is enticing though. In 11 months the sale will repeat.

 

[sajunky]

+1.
I saw other posts that having one common powerconditioner is a cost effective solution and adding conditioners on individual devices doesn't help anymore. You don't even need USB upgrade when using it with DI-20. Or get USB upgrade and sell DI-20.

 

[PLGA]

+1.
I saw other posts that having one common powerconditioner is a cost effective solution and adding conditioners on individual devices doesn't help anymore. You don't even need USB upgrade when using it with DI-20. Or get USB upgrade and sell DI-20.

Yes, but Kingwa said to me that power conditioning does not equal power regeneration in sound quality.

They have a dedicated AC line un their listening room and there is a noticeable difference between the regular and the HE models.

Anyway, I wanted to look for other experiences to help me decide.

 

[mudhole]

Hi everyone,
I need some opinions to make the decision between new R8HE, R7HE and HE7(1704).

I have had the reference 1 since 2009 . During the past 12 years, I upgraded my system from headphones to several levels of speakers, from integrated amp to McIntosh c500t + mc501s, but the reference 1 is the only component I never changed. I modified the input to HDMI i2s and the M7 firmware feeded by su1, u16 , diu8 and now Di20. I had a R2R7 2017 for couple months but felt the sound a little lean. Then I sold it. Due to the pandemic, I cancelled some vacation trips, then I have some money to upgrade the DAC.

My mean concerns are:

1, R8HE or R7HE can play DSD, HE7 is not. The R7HE has better with details and focus, is this a sufficient improvement over HE7? Are they bright or lean?

2, the R7 has external clock input, R8 is not. Dose the sound quality improve a lots with an external clock? I never use a clock before.

3, Except the clock, is there a sufficient sound different between the HE7 and HE8?

 

[JaMo]

Hi everyone,
I need some opinions to make the decision between new R8HE, R7HE and HE7(1704).

I have had the reference 1 since 2009 . During the past 12 years, I upgraded my system from headphones to several levels of speakers, from integrated amp to McIntosh c500t + mc501s, but the reference 1 is the only component I never changed. I modified the input to HDMI i2s and the M7 firmware feeded by su1, u16 , diu8 and now Di20. I had a R2R7 2017 for couple months but felt the sound a little lean. Then I sold it. Due to the pandemic, I cancelled some vacation trips, then I have some money to upgrade the DAC.

My mean concerns are:

1, R8HE or R7HE can play DSD, HE7 is not. The R7HE has better with details and focus, is this a sufficient improvement over HE7? Are they bright or lean?

2, the R7 has external clock input, R8 is not. Dose the sound quality improve a lots with an external clock? I never use a clock before.

3, Except the clock, is there a sufficient sound different between the HE7 and HE8?

I have a weak spot for the 10 MHz Masterclock input so I point to the 7 models. I haven't heard the HE-7 but with modern dataprocessing and optimezd timing, I am sure it will be a gem. I have the latest R7HE and I am more than pleased with it able to also playing DSD
/J

 

[mudhole]

In my honest opinion, I should choose the R7HE or R8HE+DI20HE, but it's hard to get ride of the 1704uk from my mind.

 

[sajunky]

Playing DSD should not be a factor when chosing the best sound. You can always convert to PCM in Foobar with SoX.

 

[DACLadder]

@mudhole Certainly wish we could audition these DACs to pick which we like best. Coming from the Ref 1 any DAC may sound leaner. Ref 1 has a tubby, exaggerated bass like old M7.

The 2021 M7S/HE7 probably sound more like the R7s today than the Ref 1. The 2021 models are new so I would hang around here for more reports. I only know one person with a 2021 DAC.

 

[Sebas75]

@mudhole Certainly wish we could audition these DACs to pick which we like best. Coming from the Ref 1 any DAC may sound leaner. Ref 1 has a tubby, exaggerated bass like old M7.

The 2021 M7S/HE7 probably sound more like the R7s today than the Ref 1. The 2021 models are new so I would hang around here for more reports. I only know one person with a 2021 DAC.

Yes I would really like to have feedback on the passage of the R7 from 2019 to that of 2021, especially with the changes on the usb and the new firmware

 

[mudhole]

I use an arualic Aries as the digital source. Unfortunately, the Aries only can convert DSD 64 to PCM.

In my opinion, the DAC should have the most natural, detailed sound signature, honest to the original records. I can add some flavors to the music by different amplifier, cables, or tubes. I use McIntosh preamp and amp which has a warmer sound. I should go with the R7HE according to most people's feedback in this thread.

But,. It's just hard to say bye with the legendary 1704 DAC which joyed me for 12 years.

 

[DACLadder]

Can you upgade the Ref 1 to new digital board and Accusilicon XOs? You can have the best of both worlds.

I listened to the M7S 2019 this morning and switched to R7 2019 a few hours ago. I am not missing anything on the switch. A little more detail and plenty of bass with the R7. DACs running Dop1.1. Both DACs have the classic AGD dynamic sound quality. And sound more alike than different these days.

The R2R7 was leaner from what I remember. Had lots of glare with the V1 DAC boards. It was a nightmare trying to pair cabling in attempts to tame the highs.

 

[mudhole]

Can you upgade the Ref 1 to new digital board and Accusilicon XOs? You can have the best of both worlds.

I listened to the M7S 2019 this morning and switched to R7 2019 a few hours ago. I am not missing anything on the switch. A little more detail and plenty of bass with the R7. DACs running Dop1.1. Both DACs have the classic AGD dynamic sound quality. And sound more alike than different these days.

The R2R7 was leaner from what I remember. Had lots of glare with the V1 DAC boards. It was a nightmare trying to pair cabling in attempts to tame the highs.

Thanks.

I don't want to torture the ref 1 and myself anymore. It was a nightmare when I mod the ref 1 to HDMI i2s. It spent me a week and had more than 30 emails between me and Kingwa. Kingwa really is the best seller with great patient.

I might get the new R7HE and ask Kingwa if he can do any upgrades on the ref 1. Or just sell the ref 1 and Di 20 together with tears.