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

[DACLadder]

Hi ,,
is there any Comparison , Feedback or Review between the
(HE-7 MK2 / Master-7 MK2) with PCM1704UK chip and (R-7HE MK2 / R-7 MK2) with R2R ladder DAC

Thanks Fred... Try here... https://www.head-fi.org/threads/aud...ced-dac-pcm1704.625793/page-288#post-16584864

Both of these DACs sound great. The HE7 mk2 is slightly warmer and forgiving. The HE7 mk2 can be a touch more dynamic but the R7HE mk2 is perhaps more accurate. With PLL_N f/w these two DACs sound more alike than different. I really don't think I could pick which DAC is playing in a blind test. As a test I can drop either DAC into my system and not have major anxiety about the change in sound. One difference is the R7HE mk2 internal USB sounds brighter but think it sounds great with the HE7 mk2 (compared to I2S with DI20HE),

The R7HE mk2 took months to fully break in. It sounded strange/ much different initially and will test your patience as progress is slow. On the other hand the HE7 mk2 sounded very good fresh from Kingwa's factory. So break in is milder with the HE7 mk2

And these MK2 DACs sound better than my older DACs (M7S, S7 2020, and R7 2019). The MK2 electronics is a game changer.

 

[GU1DO]

@DACLadder has posted some comments on this thread recently. He owns both in He version.

Thank you

 

[GU1DO]

Thanks Fred... Try here... https://www.head-fi.org/threads/aud...ced-dac-pcm1704.625793/page-288#post-16584864

Both of these DACs sound great. The HE7 mk2 is slightly warmer and forgiving. The HE7 mk2 can be a touch more dynamic but the R7HE mk2 is perhaps more accurate. With PLL_N f/w these two DACs sound more alike than different. I really don't think I could pick which DAC is playing in a blind test. As a test I can drop either DAC into my system and not have major anxiety about the change in sound. One difference is the R7HE mk2 internal USB sounds brighter but think it sounds great with the HE7 mk2 (compared to I2S with DI20HE),

The R7HE mk2 took months to fully break in. It sounded strange/ much different initially and will test your patience as progress is slow. On the other hand the HE7 mk2 sounded very good fresh from Kingwa's factory. So break in is milder with the HE7 mk2

And these MK2 DACs sound better than my older DACs (M7S, S7 2020, and R7 2019). The MK2 electronics is a game changer.

Trully apreciate your input

 

[newabc]

@newabc It's is a speaker amp, really but with the format and convenience of an headphone amp. Sort of an hybrid. Not pre out. Which makes sense.

Its introduction changed to "integrated power amp", the same phase as master 10. Nope, it is a hybrid.

I think it is a huge mod of master 9, or a huge mod of precision 2 with better digital display and without pre-in, to support both headphones (the hard to drive ones like HE6 series) and speakers (the size like some monitors which need stands or small floor stand ones).

 

[FredA]

Its introduction changed to "integrated power amp", the same phase as master 10. Nope, it is a hybrid.

I think it is a huge mod of master 9, or a huge mod of precision 2 with better digital display and without pre-in, to support both headphones (the hard to drive ones like HE6 series) and speakers (the size like some monitors which need stands or small floor stand ones).

Could even be big easy-to-drive floorstanders like my Osborns.

 

[Sebas75]

Hello,
I have à R2R7 and in March 2019 i upgraded the DAC:
- New R2R DACv2 Boards
- Accusilicon Clocks
- Front panel upgrade (menu mode)

Now, there is identical to R7 2020 ?

I don t know what firmware i have !

I see on audio gd site, there are bew firmware !
What firmware i must take?

I have a little pop , when i change input

 

[FredA]

Hello,
I have à R2R7 and in March 2019 i upgraded the DAC:
- New R2R DACv2 Boards
- Accusilicon Clocks
- Front panel upgrade (menu mode)

Now, there is identical to R7 2020 ?

I don t know what firmware i have !

I see on audio gd site, there are bew firmware !
What firmware i must take?

I have a little pop , when i change input

If you have the clock input, you can get the latest in section "R7 20 version and R7HE 20 version".

Otherwise, you have to take from section "R-7 ,R2R7,R7HE and R2R7HE (Optical on IN4)" or "R-7 ,R2R7,R7HE and R2R7HE (HDMI on IN4)" depending. No update was done after Nov 2020.

 

[Sebas75]

If you have the clock input, you can get the latest in section "R7 20 version and R7HE 20 version".

Otherwise, you have to take from section "R-7 ,R2R7,R7HE and R2R7HE (Optical on IN4)" or "R-7 ,R2R7,R7HE and R2R7HE (HDMI on IN4)" depending. No update was done after

 

[DACLadder]

Hello,
I have à R2R7 and in March 2019 i upgraded the DAC:
- New R2R DACv2 Boards
- Accusilicon Clocks
- Front panel upgrade (menu mode)

Now, there is identical to R7 2020 ?

I don t know what firmware i have !

I see on audio gd site, there are bew firmware !
What firmware i must take?

I have a little pop , when i change input

The 2020 firmware requires your old 2019 to be reworked (many wires) to be compatible with 10M input. And also upgrade the Altera f/w plus upgrade another Xilinx CPLD for external 10M operation. Lastly, upgrade the front panel again for external 10M clock control (and sampling rate display),

I think you still have a 2019 R7. You can verify by connecting SPDIF to IN3. If it plays OK you have a 2019.

 

[Sebas75]

Perhaps it s better to take this upgrade between update the firmware ?

https://magnahifi.com/fr/produit/audio-gd-r7-r7he-m7s-he7-2021-full-service-upgrade/

I think i have "R-7 ,R2R7 (HDMI on IN4)"

The latest version of this firmware between Nov 2020 is better than the older 2019 version ?

 

[DACLadder]

Perhaps it s better to take this upgrade between update the firmware ?

https://magnahifi.com/fr/produit/audio-gd-r7-r7he-m7s-he7-2021-full-service-upgrade/

I think i have "R-7 ,R2R7 (HDMI on IN4)"

The latest version of this firmware between Nov 2020 is better than the older 2019 version ?

Try Dop 1.1 f/w in the R7 IN4 HDMI I2S listings. I also used DSDCLK with success as well. But if you are playing DSD files recommend Dop 1.1.

 

[Sebas75]

Hello i use only PCM
The " R7 2020 N " (Nov 2021) on this list, is a good firmware?

http://www.audio-gd.com/Firmwaredownload.htm

 

[Sebas75]

For me, the goid firmware is :
http://www.audio-gd.com/Firmware/R7/R7tda_Asy_P_rmdsd_dop1.1.rar

 

[Sebas75]

The 2020 firmware requires your old 2019 to be reworked (many wires) to be compatible with 10M input. And also upgrade the Altera f/w plus upgrade another Xilinx CPLD for external 10M operation. Lastly, upgrade the front panel again for external 10M clock control (and sampling rate display),

I think you still have a 2019 R7. You can verify by connecting SPDIF to IN3. If it plays OK you have a 2019.

 

[Sebas75]

Yes you are right. my R2R7 is a 2019 R7 since the 2019 upgrade.
if I update my Dac with the Magna HiFi upgrade ( Full Service upgrade to latest 2021 models)
it would be equivalent to an R7 2020, with a new display. this update would therefore allow me to use the new 2021 firmware.
but is this upgrade a clear improvement?