DAC Question: Delta-Sigma vs R2R

Thanks for the feedback and some explanation, I do have the same challenge that many have in that I need to drive hundreds of miles and take a day off of work to find an audio store where I can listen to some quality DAC's and even then I am quite limited. An education really helps to not be steered the wrong way by an overzealous sales person.

One other thing I saw today, Border Patrol, good reviews and nice price point (at least my price point being of modest income). They say they use a R2R DAC chip. This seems to be somewhere in the middle, is it a hybrid design?

Being an older guy with Tinnitus, I tend to listen at lower levels and anything I buy cannot have a sharp top-end as it sets off the tinnitus pretty bad and then I am out of business for a day or 2. I know the overall design is what wins the day, but in general would this fact guide me more towards a R2R or a delta-sigma DAC?

Again, thanks for taking the time to educate me. 

I have learned more from this thread than my goggle search's, Thanks,

I should have provided more info, my bad, sorry..

Budget: somewhere around $1500

System:

- Cambridge Azur 851N Streamer

- Rogue perseus magnum peramp (good nos tubes)

- Rogue st-100 (also nos small tubes) amp

- Gravesen 3WC-15 speakers, the speakers are amazing and it is what has me upgrading

So I do have alot of tubes to get rid of the harshness, most of my listening is acoustics, mild rock, jazz, indie, lots of female vocals. I listen 50% Qubuz and 50% from my NAS.

I think my next big step up is a good dac and I think it is not a good time for an integrated streamer as DAC's seem to be making big strides and there is going to be a lot of changes in the streaming software coming due to DAC improvements.

So I am looking for a good standalone DAC that will last me a long time.

My biggest challenge is there are not many audio stores in my area and the ones here are very limited with DAC's. Therefore, I may need to do mfg trial periods and I think it is unfair to the manufacturers to do it as a fishing expedition so I want to be very sure with the one(s) I try out.

Hi All,

First off thanks to everybody who took the time to provide me feedback/advice, this was invaluable and I have researched everything sent my way. Especially thanks to fellow tinnitus folks. Getting quality advice about my specific situation was important and I don't know of anywhere else I could have receive that input.

Based on these discussions and what I learned from researching I think my path is:

1) I really needed to do more critical listening to my system to understand strengths and weaknesses, I am not a critical listener, I just melt into the music. I am not sure I am in a good position to do this right now as I've been listening to the same system for a long time. I think getting a different DAC in will lead me to learn much more about my system.

2) I need to have a better understanding of what is important to me. Been doing this since the thought first started rolling in and I have learned I am not a detail hound. I have learned that what really excites me is having natural tones and depth of tone to my music which puts me in a realistic setting. That combined with a broad and well defined sound stage to paint the picture. Those are 1 and 2, all else is great icing on the cake.

3) I have created a short list of components to try based on what I heard here and learned from my research. I am looking to try the following as they seem to fit my budget, system cost and unanimous praise:

• MHDT Labs Orchid
• Merason Frerot
• Border Patrol
• Denafrips Ares II
• Shiit Gungnir

The challenge is finding ones to listen to. I basically live 100+ miles away from quality audio stores and the cost to drive there and back, the lost day, and then not hearing it in my system, not in my room, and all that is probably not optimal. If I can get a fair deal, I listen to one for 2-3 months if I like it and then resell it and probably will cost me less than a tank of gas and provide me a relevant experience. It also allows other to move up the food chain while I nibble at the bottom.

What I think makes sense is to just pick up the next good deal used and see what it does, and then for some of the items such as the Schiit or Denafrips, if I really dig it it could lead me upstream. So take the path of opportunity.

So honestly, this may all sound like an obvious path, but this discussion has given me the confidence to take it.

Thanks and Ill probably chime back in soon for more advice once I learn more.

Much appreciated

Jonwatches,

I have a friend who really loves his Benchmark3. It is a little out of my price range right now. But like all audio purchases, I always seem to end up outside my price range. So I am watching for what pops up.

Thanks for the recommendation.

Hi Guys, An update for those who gave me the great advice.

As I said, I have no audio stores nearby and if I started driving to them I would be wasting a ton of money in gas and still not know what it sounds like with my gear and in my room. I decided the prudent option was to buy used at a fair price and listen for an extended period of time and all transaction fees will be less than gas and travel time.

About 6 weeks ago I was lucky enough to score a Denafrips Ares 2 from a great seller, one of the DAC's on my list. I was blown away, now I didn't want to come on and proclaim the win while in the "shiny new toy" phase, so I waited for a while, kept listening, I can officially say I am blown away. It actually caused me to also go get a Innuos Zen Mini and LPSU to pair with it, like I said wow, even better now.

What happened is a match to how I listen to music, not so much this DAC better than that DAC. What I noticed is when i am really relaxing and listening, I am 50% brain on whole song and the other 50% just tuned into one specific performer trying to experience the song through their performance. I also noticed that is how I listen to live music.

What seems to be the most important to me is not all the detail, but the natural and accurate tone of the instrument I am listening to, if that makes sense. It does to me and I am now in a much better position to know what I am looking for, not just DAC but in all my gear.

So is it the Ares 2 or is it just the high quality DAC?, is it synergy, I don't know, but I think I am gonna continue watching for another of the items on my short list and try flipping the Ares to see, but I am in no rush as I am still paying it off and I am loving it.

Thanks again for all you guys for pointing me in the right direction. It is very much appreciated.