AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Cheap and Cheerful HiFi => Topic started by: restrav on 26 Feb 2018, 02:24 am
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(https://i.imgur.com/KV9uYmx.png)
weary and tired (http://blackmice.com/my/public/style_emoticons/default/costum/152fs163359.gif) of Delta-sigma dacs sound, I turned to far east in search of a wallet and ear friendly digital to analog conversion apparatus.(http://blackmice.com/my/public/style_emoticons/default/costum/hessam4.gif)
Audio-gd R2R 11 achieves this not by using a DAC chip, has a fairly powerful headphone amp, and can function as preamp so I believe that it meets the cheap and cheerful criteria considering that by addding a headphpone or an active speaker you will be all set and ready to go.
i placed the order more than 2 weeks ago and expect to receive the unit in 2 weeks so in total a month would a typical waiting time to order from audio-gd (http://blackmice.com/my/public/style_emoticons/default/costum/pashe.gif)
i intend to use it mainly to drive headphones but if it impresses as a DAc then maybe it will be also used in my stereo (currently Nuprime IDA-8 + woofer augmented Omega speakers)
I will be posting review/impression for the pairing of R2R 11 with these headphones:
Audeze LCD-3
Hifiman HE400i
Vmoda crossfade
Superlux 668B (aftermarket pad)
Monoprice Retro (aftermarket pad)
Sennheiser HD599
Status audio CB-1
Marantz MPH-2
Monolith 1060
Foxtex 50RP (with various pads)
the two glowing video reviews on youtube are created by two literal morons (http://blackmice.com/my/public/style_emoticons/default/costum/145fs78038.gif) and the reviews on SBAF are particularly harsh so i decided to see for myself. (http://blackmice.com/my/public/style_emoticons/default/costum/dontknow2.gif)
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If this doesn't work out, a very good value in R2R DACs is the Schiit Modi Multibit at $249. Had one for about a year now and very pleased.
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If this doesn't work out, a very good value in R2R DACs is the Schiit Modi Multibit at $249. Had one for about a year now and very pleased.
definitely. I am hoping for good results ... bit if not Im ready to move on from them so fast as i have an arsenal of great headphones and no time to waste on a crap DAC
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I have decided to turn this into a review/imprssions topic for a variety of budgest eadphones with various mods if necessary
I have in my arsenal:
$30 over ear open back headphones Superlux 668B (+ 30$ Brainwavez memory foam protein leather XL pads)
$30 over ear closed back Monoprice retro (+ $15 generic aftermarket memory foam protein leather XL pads)
$50 over ear closed back Marantz MPH-2 (stock pads are good)
$50 over ear closed back Status audio (stock pads are soft but leak too much)
$100 over ear closed back Vmoda (stock pads)
$150 over ear semi open Fostex T50RP Planar (+ $30 Brainwavez angled memory foam protein leather pads + mods)
$200 over ear open back Hifiman planar 400i (Focus pads)
$300 over ear Open back planar monolith 1060 (stock pads which are delicious)
$200 over ear open back Sennheiser HD599 (aftermarket silver cable)
+
$2000 LCD-3 over ear planar (+ $500 worth of aftermarket cable, sheepskin earpads)
so im gonnna take the LCD-3 out of the comparison to comply with the C&C guidelines and do a value focused shootout. using Sabaj DA3, Signstek, Audio-gd.
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Hmmm... would you be interested in adding an HE4xx into the mix?
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Hmmm... would you be interested in adding an HE4xx into the mix?
Actually I was so close to buying the HE4XX and HD6XX instead of buying the Monolioth 1060 and HE400i and the only reason that I didnt was that the shipping date from massdrop required some patience that I did not have. Now I have been told that HE4XX is possibly identical to HE400i, if that is the case then there is no reason to add it to the mix, but if it is not, then yes I am actually very curious about more hifiman cans. the HE400i has some good characteristics but the narrow soundstage kinda hurts them. anyway what is your opinion, do you think that the cans are different? for starters does the HD4XX have the same earpad?
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Updatde: i took the status audio out of the mix on account of its headband being uncomfortable to the extent that it doesnt even matter how good it sounds. it also leaks so much sound that it defeats the purpose of going close back. it is also all plastic and sits loose on the head. it does sound very good for the price of 45 bucks on ebay but the marantrz MPH-2 is so accomplished (for the sale price of 40 bucks which happens multiple times a year) that status CB-1 is rendered irrelevant. so i wont be comparing the status CB-1 to the rest.
https://imgur.com/ozRv2ng
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the marantz is an exceptional value. everyone should own one. with sabaj DA-3 it has kickass bass, nice enough midrange, good clarity and detail, and a very nice presentation overal good for classic rock all the way to trip hop. this combination is my recommendation to anyone at the total price of 140 USD.
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I've got a few better headphones around now, so I put aside the Superlux 668B that I own. I wasn't too pleased with the comfort - that headband design! and the stock earpads didn't seem to have much padding after I'd worn them for a while. I did try some replacement pads but they are/were too small to provide a good fit. I didn't try the Brainwavz XL pads, but that was good info... especially since it is likely that if those fit the 668B, they should also fit my old AKG K240 Sextett.
So, I will be interested in hearing your comments about that "668B" test in particular. If you made any other mods/improvements to them, beyond the Brainwavz XL pads, maybe you could mention those as well. I still doubt that they will replace my better headphones, but I would be interested in hearing your opinion(s)/results.
Thanks, Ron
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I've got a few better headphones around now, so I put aside the Superlux 668B that I own. I wasn't too pleased with the comfort - that headband design! and the stock earpads didn't seem to have much padding after I'd worn them for a while. I did try some replacement pads but they are/were too small to provide a good fit. I didn't try the Brainwavz XL pads, but that was good info... especially since it is likely that if those fit the 668B, they should also fit my old AKG K240 Sextett.
So, I will be interested in hearing your comments about that "668B" test in particular. If you made any other mods/improvements to them, beyond the Brainwavz XL pads, maybe you could mention those as well. I still doubt that they will replace my better headphones, but I would be interested in hearing your opinion(s)/results.
Thanks, Ron
the only earpad that i was able to find to fit the 668B is this (you can see it on the 668B in the picture that posted in this thread):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076SGPZ2D/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I bought the protein leather version but it has been removed from amazon from th second that i ordered, i guess i literally got the last one. but the bybrid is a very good and i recommend it.
it improves the comfort by %500 (seriously, an uncomfortable headphone becomes very comfortable. also for the headband you can buy a headband cover this headphone is worth it).
(http://i.imgur.com/ozRv2ngb.jpg) (https://imgur.com/ozRv2ng)
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Thank you, Dadbeh.
I will add the Brainwavz XL pads to my "must buy" list.
Looking forward to hearing about how you find the R2R functions as a DAC.
(fyi - my best headphone amp in current use is the Schiit Lyr, so I'd probably lean towards a Schiit DAC, as suggested by dB Cooper, for my system. However, the favourable reviews of the Sabaj, etc., have caught my attention. So I will be interested in your comparisons.)
- Thanks, Ron
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Thank you, Dadbeh.
I will add the Brainwavz XL pads to my "must buy" list.
Looking forward to hearing about how you find the R2R functions as a DAC.
(fyi - my best headphone amp in current use is the Schiit Lyr, so I'd probably lean towards a Schiit DAC, as suggested by dB Cooper, for my system. However, the favourable reviews of the Sabaj, etc., have caught my attention. So I will be interested in your comparisons.)
- Thanks, Ron
I have never been a fan of their DAC's sounds even though modi 2 multi bit + magni represent great value, i think that in case this chinese DAc does not preform, I will go straight to Chord Hugo or mojo. While I am considering their Joutenheim to drive LCD-3 in balance mode, I probably will not be considering their DACs. It seems like for digital domail the purist approach does not amount to much and the hi tech digital filters are the answer.
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Now I have been told that HE4XX is possibly identical to HE400i
You are right... the measurements (innerfidelity) are basically identical. I haven't heard the HE400i but there seems no reason to think it any different.
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(https://i.imgur.com/P4VMef3h.jpg)
burning in
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Cool, so you got the Audio GD.
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Cool, so you got the Audio GD.
its been burning in for the last couple of days.
it is possible that ive gone a bit overboard with my DAC/amp & headphone shootout but since then I have added: Sonus Faber Pryma, Sennheiser HD6XX and Chord mojo to the mix. The reason for buying the HD6xx was my positive experience with HD599 which i impulse bought after Wishlu mentioned them. turns out that I love sennheiser sound and it is what i was trying to make every other headphone sound like by changing DACs.
so far I have found a few winning combinations with good synergy that i will list when i get a chance.
Also I had my most profound experience with burn in. Hifiman HE400i went from not bass impact/slam and absolutely zero, zilch, none, sub bass, to an amazingly detailed, present, and precise bass with sub bass right after 60 to 70 hours of playback. A truly audiophile grade Bass. I was kinda taken aback by the magnitude of the difference. Turns out Hifiman HE400i is a proper audiophile offering marred by Severe QC issues.
secondly R2R -11 is pretty great. the negative reviews on SBAF are beyond false, they are just irresponsible lies, R2R11 is preforming very well and I intend to review it in detail.
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Dadbeh
Keep up the good work, I'll be following this thread with interest.
I just purchased one of these (R2R11) and currently burning it in using a Beyerdynamic's T1.
I have about 40 hours on it so far and it sounds pretty good.
I got this primarily for when I travel I can use it to listen to music on my computer.
Anyway enjoy the journey and keep us informed on your progress.
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I know this is a shootout with this dac, and it would be nice to see some internal build shots if at all possible. I am always curious to whats inside the "box" being an avid DIY'er etc...if you can take the covers off (without power!!) take some pix, if not thats fine.
Good luck in your comparision.
Alex
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I know this is a shootout with this dac, and it would be nice to see some internal build shots if at all possible. I am always curious to whats inside the "box" being an avid DIY'er etc...if you can take the covers off (without power!!) take some pix, if not thats fine.
Good luck in your comparision.
Alex
From experience, I think it's safe to say the AudioGD DAC will outright shame the Schitt DAC for build quality if you open the hood.
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This wasnt meant to be a look at the insides for a "hey, this thing is better than that thing"...its just a DIY'er curious about the internals....
I did take a look at the box on the audio gd site and it looks very well built / layed out etc....
As we all know a box that is layed out to look "nice" may not play nice....regardless of the OEM.
Looking forward to the results of this comparison...
All the best
Alex
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A slight detour in the process, but how much was the shipping? I looked it up on
their website and it was $82 which raises the price into the 400's.
Hibuck...
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I've had the top of the line audio-gd preamp and amp in the past and it was VERY nice. I would still have it if I hadn't become such a tube-head.
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........
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A slight detour in the process, but how much was the shipping? I looked it up on
their website and it was $82 which raises the price into the 400's.
Hibuck...
no 82 but it was close to 50. mine ended up being close to 430. because they also add some fees like paypal fees and whatnot.
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chord mojo and ifi nano iUSB 3.0 in da house!
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Ive been ABing all day between Chord Mojo and Audio-gd R2R11. the audio gd is so brilliant. i have a mojo for sale if anyone is interested.
ps: at comparable perceived loudness, the mojo has a very pronounced emphasis on high frequencies. at lower volumes it translates into a ton of detail and space, but loud enough, it turns into ear piercing annoying shoutiness. even though mojo sounds pretty excellent with LCD-3 down to Superlux 668B, audio-gd sounds simply the best i have ever heard any these cans. also when i want loud, mojo does get loud (with audeze lcd-3 and fostex t50rp) but also gets shouty which tells me that it is being pushed beyond its limits. Audio-gd is the keeper.
ps2: mojo + senn HD599 is a very very nice pairing
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chord mojo and ifi nano iUSB 3.0 in da house!
:beer:
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:beer:
I have great hopes for the iUSB 3.0 .... looks very promising and since i have u here do i need to add the other USB products like the defender to this or are all those products integrated into this?
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I always give audiophiles a hard time for having a fetish on their gear, but let me tell you that unboxing this Sonus Faber Pryma was quite a delightful experience.
(http://i.imgur.com/YOx2yXTl.jpg) (https://imgur.com/YOx2yXT)
(http://i.imgur.com/nqBQI8bl.jpg) (https://imgur.com/nqBQI8b)
PS: i need to clarify that even though this headphone seems antithetical to C&C mantra, but they are in HD600 territory and since they have a rolled off high freq response and slightly pronounced but tastefully done bass response that does not bleed into mid range aT ALL (ACTUALLY IT IS JUST PERFECT) they are actually like a beautiful and very nice sounding closed nack version of Senn HD599 or HD650 which makes them a wise choice in my opinion. case in point how unintrusive (is that a word?) and smooth they sound with Sabaj DA-3. they got a lot of flack for being fashion cans but at half the price they are perfect all Sennheiser replacements for all kinds of music. they are the perfect sampler for sonus faber sound. One of my best buys i'm keeping them.
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The Sonus Faber headphones are a tad over C&C guidelines when bought at the eBay prices, but not so much that they can't be mentioned. Especially since its a DAC thread with the phones as a sideline. They look great and I like that there's lots of color options, well reviewed too.
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I am in the process of building my own Soekeris board. I ordered a shortcut power supply and output board from China so I didnt need to surface mount. Well, I got the boards yesterday. Enjoy the soldering on the regulators.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=177540)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=177541)
Bridges all over the place. So now to figure out if they were done meaningfully.
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so im studying for an exam and listening to music and Audeze lcd-3 hurts my neck, as always. so i put the 40$ marantz + angled memory foam on and Came's Rajaz came up ... i had such emotional experience with the song that I completely forgot that i had the dirt cheap headphone on. it was excellent. it blew my mind that this headphone could sound so good. the aftermarket earpads completely cured the bass boominess.
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other than the power on/off switch being in the back and the orientation of the box being inconvenient this thing is perfect. smooth as silk highs and deep precise bass and luscious mids. very nice indeed. even the amanero USB implementation is flawlwss. the only sub $1000 DAC/amp that bettered Chord mojo for me and it is quite a feat for a budget dac/amp to be almost as quiet as a battery powered DAC like mojo even tho with no music playing and volume all the way up and with extra sensitive IEMs it does have a background noise but so what? it is not even designed for IEMs with its powerful amp. it drives Audeze LCD-3 to murder level loud on 12 o'clock position and LCD-2C (my favorite planar probably favorite headphone ever) at 11 oclock.
the winning combinations are LCD-2C + R2R11 (on neutral)
Senn HD599 + R2R11 (on neutral confutation)
HE400i + r2r11 (on warm configuration)
M1060 + R2r11
im modding the M1060 right now but even stock it is 90% of LCD-2C at less than half the price. just the mids sound a little less beautiful and the bass has an ounce less impact even though it is there just doesnt hit as hard.
Monoprice M1060 is a real winner for the price it is also lighter than LCD-2C even though it is flimsier but i can live with that.
For a budget option marantz mph-2 with brainwavz angles memory foam pads is the best I have found and I literally tried twenty different headphones. The ear pads resolved the issue with the boomy bass and muddy mids and now this 40 dollar headphone plus the 30 dollar pads sounds proper.
I'm so impressed with audio-gd that I'm getting their balanced preamp + headamp to be the heart of my stereo.
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(http://i.imgur.com/8Hk2CR1l.jpg) (https://imgur.com/8Hk2CR1)
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Ok just to sum it up
Marantz MPH-2 (on sale for $40 if you get very lucky + brainwavz angled memory foam pads $25) => best value (detailed, great controlled bass, pretty decent mids)
note: MPH-2 without those pads is overly boomy, bass bleeds into mids, V shape. not very good. note that MPH-2 is the same as lynx and akai which sell for $25 to $35 do not overpay.
Superlux 668B (~$40) + Brainwavz XL round pads ~ $25 + ZMF pilot pads $30) => 2nd best value (decent bass, decent mid, decent highs, detailed airy sound). it is light and you can abuse it as much as you want just does not break. i have stepped on it and nothing. a lot of burn in necessary.
note: without these pads very uncomfortable.
Monoprice Retro (~25 bucks) awful for any music with vocals, folk, classic rock, just good for instrumental modern bassy electronic music. overly bassy with dreadful thin sounding mid range. uncomfortable with stock pads. not only i had to add ear pads, i also had to mod the headband with 3m stick on real leather pads and not worth it. not recommended although the headband mechanism which is similar to AKG 701 is the best that there is. it just conforms to head of any size or shape but the headband is cheap awful plastic instead of nice feeling leather or fabric. so it is a weird combination of good design and bad material. does not feel good.
The Sonus faber Pryma is not recommended if you just consider sound. it does not sound any better than the marantz or superlux after 50 hours of burn in. not very comfortable either even though it is light.
the hifiman HE400i is the opposite of the HD6XX's silky smooth and relaxed presentation. it has high energy high freq but it also has sub bass. at $150 these days and after 100 hours of burn in it is absolutely recommended. it is a very good example of planar sound on the cheap. it is not bassy but it has sub bass. for me it was eye opening. 100% recommended at the price that is sells now ~150. thank you hifiman for selling it at this price even though it has documented QC problems still buy it and when it breaks just email hifiman and get the parts and replace them yourself.
audeze lcd-2 classic is all the planar anyone ever needs.
Hd599 and Audeze LCD-2 classic, marantz MPH-2 and superlux are the ones that i decided to keep, even though Hifiman HE400i and monolith M1060 are better values than Audeze i just had to have the world class bass with good mids that classic has and i just wanted to own an audeze.
AGD R2R11 is the bargain of the fucking century and chances are there will be no more centuries after this one so dont make babies instead buy Audio-GD R2R11.
lol
Dadbeh out.
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AGD R2R11 is the bargain of the fucking century and chances are there will be no more centuries after this one so dont make babies instead buy Audio-GD R2R11.
Maybe but after I read this other review I have big doubts with the DAC performance.
Review and Measurements of Audio-gd NFB-27.38 DAC and Headphone Amplifier
https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-audio-gd-nfb-27-38-dac-and-headphone-amplifier.2486/
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB-27.38/NFB27.38EN.htm
USD1688 (Exclude shipping cost ,With remote control) >> USD350 (Exclude shipping cost), AGD R2R11
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i was aware of those measurements and others when i bought it. i dont know how to explain it but i do know that i prefer R2R11 to topping DX7s.
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What kind of music do you listen to?
Classical, jazz... very good recordings with high DR or commercial music (bad recordings and low DR).
MP3, FLAC 16/44 or 24/96... ?
If the music is badly recorded, maybe a less decisive DAC may help to cover up its deficiencies and the sound like more.
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could be. in my library i have everything from DSD 256 to 128kbps mp3 and I listen to everything from led zeppelin to underground isreali extreme metal bands to nusrat fatih ali khan but the bulk is classic and progressive rock and singer songwriter stuff. proper audiophile recordings are 5% of my listening time and no vinyl.
but i do have a lot of DSD albums. including every pink floyd remaster available. also have a lot of flac 16/44.1 like hundreds. .
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anyway AGD R2R11 gave me so many eargasms. it sounds awesome for CD quality falc and pretty good for hi rez too. on top of that the headphone amp is top notch. it is a great product.
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Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, good world music!
I have earrings to rip them again, but now with foobar2000 and FLAC 0 12024 kbps.
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oh for reference this is my current setup:
Audeze LCD-2F and LCD-2 Classic | Sennheiser HD6XX | Sennheiser HD599 | Superlux 668B (Brainwavz XL) | Monoprice Retro (Sheepskin Angled) | Vmoda Crossfade LP | Marantz MPH-2 (Brainwavz Angled)
DAC/AMPS: Audio-gd NFB-1AMP | Denafrips Ares |
aLL BALANCED with the Audeze and senn and Se with the rest.
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I only have a cheap chinese Takstar ts-670, tweaked by me (much better sound). I prefer to listen to the music with my cheap tweaked KEF Q100 coaxial speakers (I LOVE them).
ifi Micro iCAN v2 and with AVR Marantz SR4500, both cheap tweaked.
USB DAC: ODAC, cheap tweaked.
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https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=157417.msg1686754#msg1686754
[IMG] http://maty.galeon.com/WP-imagenes/foobar2000/foobar2000-Nusrat-Fateh-Ali-Khan-Qawwal-party.png
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Maybe but after I read this other review I have big doubts with the DAC performance.
Review and Measurements of Audio-gd NFB-27.38 DAC and Headphone Amplifier
https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-audio-gd-nfb-27-38-dac-and-headphone-amplifier.2486/
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB-27.38/NFB27.38EN.htm
USD1688 (Exclude shipping cost ,With remote control) >> USD350 (Exclude shipping cost), AGD R2R11
also these masurements are so comically bad that i am suspicious.
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I only have a cheap chinese Takstar ts-670, tweaked by me (much better sound). I prefer to listen to the music with my cheap tweaked KEF Q100 coaxial speakers (I LOVE them).
ifi Micro iCAN v2 and with AVR Marantz SR4500, both cheap tweaked.
USB DAC: ODAC, cheap tweaked.
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https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=157417.msg1686754#msg1686754
[IMG] http://maty.galeon.com/WP-imagenes/foobar2000/foobar2000-Nusrat-Fateh-Ali-Khan-Qawwal-party.png
i have extensive expereince with both ifi iDAC and ODAC and both of them are remarkably less refined than r2r11.
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Off course. After my cheap tweaks they sound better. I always look for the weaknesses and try to solve them by spending as little as possible. I like the hardware porn. :D
I am aware that the ODAC is the last? bottleneck. That is why, after buying a new amplifier, I had planned to buy the RME ADI-2 DAC. And then, after a while, build the DIY Aksa's Lender preamp, setting the level of the H2 that I liked the most. All connected in balanced, with star quad cables and good but not audiophile connectors.
But I have not bought the planned poweramp, so ...
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IMO, from my experience, a modded ODAC (the original, not the newer 'OL DAC') will at best sound like the old 2012 Dragonfly. There are $30 Dacs that sound better now (IMO). That's a heck of a bottleneck.
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- Off topic -
If you listen to my second system, so cheap, you can not believe how good the music sounds. That such small boxes, 5 ", perform so well with an orchestral mass does not cease to amaze me.
Off course, the condition must be that the voltage does not reach 238 Vac, because then the sound is quite another, to turn off the equipment.
There is another very important factor to get an excellent sound, which very few take into account: optimize the operating system and software players for a better sound / image. Well, if the computer is the source.
- End off topic -
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One words more.
What is the point of using a better, more expensive DAC, if we do not have optimized the soft?
By the way, one of the weakness of the ODAC, like many others USB DAC (cheap and expensive) is to work with a noisy USB power.
Instead of spending more money on a specific power supply, I decided to try to better filter the noise that arrives (one of my tweaks).
My computer has a silent PSU with big fan, that has low ripple at 5Vdc (USB). From Germany, Bequiet! And cheap.
You know, specs, measures, maths... are things that I have very much in mind before I spend the money. If I have a doubt, I do not buy.
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my psu is no fan (100% silent) 1000W Seasonic X series and massively overbuilt and overspec still my USB noisy as hell. also whatever i did to foobar was not as impactful as switching to jriver. i dont know how but it sounds so much better specially for DSD.
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< € 50 years ago.
https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/zardon/bequiet-pure-power-l8-400w-review/all/1/
Look at AC Ripple (mV p-p) table.
That' is why I bought it, for silent and low ripple at 5V. And for being German (and not a cheap generic SMPS).
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so I am A/Bing the $888 Denafrips Ares and the $28 Signstek DAC. I like te enafrips a lot but damn this Signstek is good. it gets the tonality right and that what really matters. wushu knows whats up :D
(http://i.imgur.com/0noAsLpm.jpg) (https://imgur.com/0noAsLp)
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so I am A/Bing the $888 Denafrips Ares and the $28 Signstek DAC. I like te enafrips a lot but damn this Signstek is good. it gets the tonality right and that what really matters. wushu knows whats up :D
(http://i.imgur.com/0noAsLpm.jpg) (https://imgur.com/0noAsLp)
Have you had a chance to try the Ares in your stereo system, or any of the other dacs you’ve auditioned? I’ve been looking at the Ares as a possible second dac.
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Ares is excellent (good all around with excellent bass, both impact and finesse) but i still would take R2R11 at less than half the price. its midrange is thicker and meatier. i prefer that sound. no all my testing with the variety of headphones. all my speakers are packed in boxes and my amplifier is sold as the renovations are still going on and i have no space.
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Gotcha, thanks for the reply!
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I currently am using LCD2c's with a Chord Mojo and absolutely love the sound. I was curious since I am also considering moving to a different amp, did you try using the Chord Mojo as just a DAC and use the Audio-gd as an amp only? I'm curious if that combo would be killer or not.
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First of all, I am looking for reviews on the R2R-1 and I stumbled upon this thread, so I decided to leave my 2 cents as I own the R2R-11. I only have two pairs of headphones ( I am not really a headphone guy) Senn HD598 and Phillips SHP 9500 - both for then I cannot play the music on the stereo because wife needs a break from my annoying noise.
So! I had the Schiit Uber as DAC before as my first "real" DAC. I had no idea this could improve so much digital sound (never got a sweet sounding CD player really - I did not believe it was possible and I was not willing to drop 2k + for a CD player), and I gave it away to a friend so he could find out for himself. Schiit Modi is a steal. Anyways, I wanted to get multibit DAC to see the difference, but I also wanted to try DSD (as digital came back under the radar big time), so I didn't go for the Multibit from Schiit due to the incompatibility there. As a result, I got the Chord 2Qute and it was a great improvement over the Modi. However, 10 times the price for an improvement on timbre sounded ridiculous, but I kept it against all odds. I was charmed by the sound of wood against wood, or flutes the DAC was portraiting. However, I was not quite happy with the sound I was getting out of the headphones as I was becoming spoiled. I decided to find my self a DAC + Headphone amp... and I wanted to retain the DSD capabilities. This is how I got the R2R-11. Now, my headphones sound really nice now (it's been about a year with it) to the point I tried to focus on drawing or painting, but it's very hard sometimes... I find myself zoning out into the recording... it's so mellow and the soundstage is just nice. Now, this is where it gets interesting. The DAC happen to have RCA outputs and an option for Fixed output, so I figured I will test it on the stereo gear.
Results? I sold the Chord 2Qute in a heartbeat. The membranes of the drums, the inner detail of the cymbals, the decay on the echoes... This R2R from Audio GD is fantastic. I mean, I listen to almost anything and everything, but it is because the R2R-11 I am finally engaging fully into classical music. Salsa, Latin Jazz, Afrobeat is exhilarating! I enjoy mostly rock, punk, and raw metal... but since I got the R2R-11 I am heavily tipping over my listening sessions towards those recordings I rarely play, and I found myself getting to buy a lot more Audiophile music because the experience is fantastic! Is that good, if anyone wonders. When I am home alone I take the extra hassle to set the speakers based on Cardas Nearfield setup specs just because the timbre is so nice it's absolutely worth to rearrange the living room for couple hours (before the wife returns and beheads me - Although she also tried once and she was floored with the experience, but no-one wants to walk around expensive speakers and wires. Actually, I quote: "If we move, we might want a studio where we can have the stereo set like this. This is so cool!").
I am looking for reviews on the R2R-1 because I want to know if the "upgrade" is worth the extra buck... If Audio GD R2R-11 is good? For the price is unbelievable. Whoever says it's crap I have no idea what music they listen to. Chamber music, live acoustic performances, and dynamic music is just delightful. Poor production never was so boring. Oh, and well produced Electronic music is very "trippy". Little sounds float all around the wall... great DAC. I cannot picture anyone being unhappy with it.