Non oversampling DAC options

[studer]

After extensive experimenting, there are many things about the NOS DACs that makes it more appealing for me.
If you had the chance to compare/test please share your thoughts -
I wish I could listen/test before buying, but they are quite rare and sometimes expensive and not easy to source - thanks!

 

[buke9]

Have not heard them yet but Audio GD makes several NOS dacs. You might ask @Monsterzero as I think he still has a R2R 11.

 

[studer]

Good to know! thanks - R2R owners that compared to other designs might have interesting listening experiences

 

[Monsterzero]

Yep,still have mine.I also have regular d/s DACs too.I like my R2R-11.Very good bang for the buck performance,but not without its quirks.

 

[studer]

Would you mind sharing the quirks - the one I have is a little dark but closest to the reel to reel sound

 

[Monsterzero]

Sure,they def sound more analog vs.D/S DACs,and as an older guy who grew up listening to vinyl,it just sounds "correct" to my ears.
The quirks I mentioned are specific to the R2R-11 design(and perhaps others).There is a small pop when bitrate changes occur,e.g. going from 320mp3 to 24/192FLAC.
Many members have been overblowing the significance of the pop,which is actually more like the sound of dust on vinyl,rather than a POP.
Adding in a Schiit Eitr completely eliminated the pop from my system,as well as other members as well.

I think @JoeDoe is still selling a very nice NOS R2R DAC and matching amp.If I wasnt buying a new OTL amp i probably wouldve snagged his rig already.

 

[buke9]

Have met Joe a couple of times at meets in Nashville solid dude.

 

[studer]

I found that using SE triode amplification after the NOS DAC brings everything together - the pop you have mentioned never happened to me with my DACs.
The Amarra player, the Rockna NOS and SE triode amps are closest to my best recorded tapes (copied direct from master tape).
Tapes still sound better though, but not by far.

 

[studer]

Anyone listened to the Audio Note line of DACs?
They use the 18 bit AD1865 chip which is a great performer.

 

[buke9]

Well might have to give a NOS dac a try sometime and see if it best my Yggy as I believe i have a SET amp (Amps and Sound Kenzie). Have liked all the Audio GD stuff i have heard.

 

[studer]

SET amps are a joy to use with quality headphones - Amps and Sound must be a great amplifier, having the impedance options allows correctly matching the cans with the amp - congrats! I personally never listened to Audio GD but I heard good things about them.

 

[buke9]

Have to agree there. Love it with my Ether-C’s and HD-800’s and does quite well with The Abyss also. Will also rock HE-400 ,500 and AKG 240 Sextetts.

 

[kvik]

There are a couple of relevant threads already, depending on budget and inclination (vintage/new). The last link contains a list of currently available R2R DACs (a lot of them are NOS DACs, but not all)


https://www.head-fi.org/threads/vin...-discussion-insight-and-review-thread.777597/

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/mhdt-labs-r-2r-nos-tube-dacs.798259/

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/all-things-metrum-acoustics.799682/

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/starting-point-systems-portable-nos-dac.709720/

https://hoved-fi.dk/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=2845#p51472

 

[studer]

There are a couple of relevant threads already, depending on budget and inclination (vintage/new). The last link contains a list of currently available R2R DACs (a lot of them are NOS DACs, but not all)


https://www.head-fi.org/threads/vin...-discussion-insight-and-review-thread.777597/

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/mhdt-labs-r-2r-nos-tube-dacs.798259/

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/all-things-metrum-acoustics.799682/

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/starting-point-systems-portable-nos-dac.709720/

https://hoved-fi.dk/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=2845#p51472

Thank you

 

[studer]

There are a couple of relevant threads already, depending on budget and inclination (vintage/new). The last link contains a list of currently available R2R DACs (a lot of them are NOS DACs, but not all)


https://www.head-fi.org/threads/vin...-discussion-insight-and-review-thread.777597/

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/mhdt-labs-r-2r-nos-tube-dacs.798259/

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/all-things-metrum-acoustics.799682/

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/starting-point-systems-portable-nos-dac.709720/

https://hoved-fi.dk/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=2845#p51472

About the M2tech - I owned an Ad Labs Mars for a couple years and it worked wonders between the computer and the NOS DAC - must be pretty similar