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

[Currawong]

It's not surely less ideal. Board mounted connectors are a cost-saving measure. They stress the PCB and can lead to breakage over time. When I see a device with board mounted connectors I look for something else.

BS. The connectors cost about the same. Go price them on Mouser or Digikey.
Board mount connectors often screw into the chassis, making concerns about stress redundant. That being said, I've never had an un-secured board-mount headphone socket fail in the 30 years I've been using headphones.
Heck, have you seen inside any pro-audio gear designed for strenuous use? Everything is board-mounted and screwed to the chassis.
If Kingwa prefers to keep his "hand-built" look, that's up to him, but my point still stands: Hand-built hi-fi may be attractive in Asia, but it's not so much so in the West.

I couldn't agree less with your view of that other, non-competitive company. Their stuff sells because it's cheap, commodity gear. It will be a cold day in hell when they can outdo Kingwa's designs and builds.

You'd think, from this, that Kingwa is the only person in the world who knows how to do what he does. It's a good thing he doesn't have such an attitude.

 

[gimmeheadroom]

I'm not saying the price of the connectors is different. I'm saying board mounted sockets save money over doing it correctly i.e. case-mounting.

I'm in the west and I still prefer his tank-like builds over the crap that comes out of the commodity-fi companies.

 

[FredA]

If Kingwa prefers to keep his "hand-built" look, that's up to him, but my point still stands: Hand-built hi-fi may be attractive in Asia, but it's not so much so in the West

This went pretty much unnoticed but Kingwa uses mostly pcb-mounted connectors on the recent products. He has been for 2 years on the top dacs (only the acss out, optical out and hdmi out are not directly on there respective pcbs).

 

[spw1880]

Hi Guys,

I have 220-230: AGD he9 mk2 HPA/preamp in the classifieds if anybody is interested. Will ship anywhere. I love the sound to bits, just too large for my new listening space. Had to give up my previous office room for my kids study room. need a more compact rig now. PM me if interested.

Thanks

 

[Louisiana]

I am curious about this comparison.

Sorry for the bad picture, photography is not mine…

 

[OCC7N]

I am curious about this comparison.



Sorry for the bad picture, photography is not mine…

Which one is new, and which one are you use to the most?

 

[OCC7N]

Now that the R2R-11 is out of stock. Could we see a new “entry” R2R model soon with headamp for smaller setups?

 

[FredA]

The r2r mkii probably did not sell well enough. And maybe was not profitable anymore. Don't know.

 

[duffer5]

Hello Gents,
The R7HEMK3 arrived today and is installed. I will refrain from giving any audio impressions since the breaking in period has just begun but I can speak to the quality and craftsmanship of the build and I am impressed. This is on par with DAC's costing twice as much. Very much the beast but with the regenerative power all that space is obviously needed. I will post more updates as I log the hours. Technically DSD and PCM are working without issue via i2s and USB. No DDC but direct from Hifi Rose RS130 to the R7HEMk3.

 

[Louisiana]

Which one is new, and which one are you use to the most?

I have had the R28 for a year and use it daily, i bought the R28 unplanned, thanks to a good offer, and since then I love the device.
I got the Rockna on loan, as well as a Pontus 2, since I want to upgrade my R28.

After I have heard a couple of days the Pontus 2, both with the OG firmware, as well as the 1.4, i think Denafrips is not my cup of tea.
From a technical point of view a great device, but gives me when listening to music just not the feeling like my R28.

I will use the Rockna this week, then write my impressions on the weekend.

 

[Currawong]

Now that the R2R-11 is out of stock. Could we see a new “entry” R2R model soon with headamp for smaller setups?

I reckon that unless Kingwa is willing to make an all SMD, single-board DAC, or DAC/amp like the Schiit Modi Multibit, and use a simpler chassis, it wont happen.

 

[FredA]

Yeah. Kingwa's designs use many cplds/fpgas. It hurts the costs. The r2r mkii did not seem to sell much either. Too bad, at the price point, it is a great unit. Very refined. I really enjoy mine. It is perfect for a second setup. And also could be an endgame combo for many.

 

[Pygmalion]

I love my r2r-11 mkii too! Thanks to you @FredA for suggesting to Kingwa to build it !

 

[FredA]

I love my r2r-11 mkii too! Thanks to you @FredA for suggesting to Kingwa to build it !

Thanks.. I wish it had had more success.

 

[Currawong]

The R1NOS might, as there is some interest from people who want a "pure" DSD DAC to use with HQPlayer. I did ask Kingwa some time back if he had tried HQPlayer with his DACs, as I find the results to be fantastic, which I'm sure I've mentioned before.