2. digital
  3. 141218-96706

It's time to replace my 2009 factory-modded Wadia S7i with a current R2R DAC.


Having finally emerged from the rabbit hole of review leading on to review (doubting I'd ever come back),  I found that most  assess their DAC's performance based on source input from computers or servers. 

But I have a collection of cd's that I wouldn't live long enough to load  into a server, nor do I foresee streaming from commercial libraries or using USB/HDMI connectivity.

So, my question:: do present-day machines perform equally as well using native mode PCM hard discs played from a transport ?

Oh and ..have any lovers of the Wadia house sound found  equivalent sound in a R2R DAC ?

Thanks,

- John
 
128x128dr-john
dsper
271 posts
 
John,

I may not be on point here, but I had a Hegel HD20 DAC and moved to an old Theta Pro Basic 3 R2R ladder for $500.

The Theta gives a lot of detail and is the best DAC I have had in my system.

Thanks for listening,

Dsper




georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
dr-john
If you like me, cherish your PCM Redbook cd collection, then yes stay with an R2R dac. As nothing does PCM like an R2R ladder dac.
The only trouble is now the major audio dac converter chip manufactures don’t make them anymore, way too expensive to manufacturer a R2R dac chips compared to today's DSD Delta Sigma dac chips.
Hopefully the manufactures will wake up and see that now R2R lovers are buying today's discrete R2R dacs, then maybe they’ll start making them again.

If you search, I have listed somewhere a list of hiend discrete R2R dacs.
Here’s just a couple of many out there, I suggest you look at these very good sounding R2R dacs, which will make your DC’s sound the best. And you have a great transport in that Wadia S7i, maybe use it?
MSB "The Discrete DAC"
Denafrips "Terminator" (level 2 or 3)

Cheers George
shakira
45 posts
 
Try Mojo Audio R2R Dac
More to discover