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DAC shopping - Trying to sift through the Hype. Can I trust the reviews these days ??

Hi All,

Well I've been reading a ton of threads about DACs. This is a very complicated endeavor, trying to find a new DAC. My 1st question is: Can I trust all the Youtube reviews these days ?

Seems like everyone is promoting the same DACs. I'm looking into a R2R Dac. Tons of hype for Holo May,Cyan,Laiv Harmony,Denafrips. Are these truly great Dacs or are they just the flavour of the month ?. There is almost zero negativity towards these Dacs. It's kind of like when the Eversolo streamers came out. Seemed like every reviewer was pushing the Eversolo. So searching for a new DAC online almost seems like sponsored ADs everywhere, am I wrong in feeling this way ?

That all being said here is my criteria for a new DAC (Probably searching the used market to get best value)

I believe I want to go with a R2R Dac, but it's not a dealbreaker.

My budget: $1000-$3000

My system: Bryston 3B Cubed, VTL(tube pre),Bel Canto 3.7 Dac(with upgrades), Antipodes Ds-3(player/server).

I really enjoy my Bel Canto 3.7, but it doesn't have USB input and I'm curious how much better a DAC sounds in 2024, compared to an older Bel Canto,. My BC has an upgraded linear supply. Once again this DAC sounds beautiful, but when its not compared to anything......Maybe I'm depriving myself of a better DAC. This is the only DAC I've had with existing equipment.

I know plenty of you will say go audition as many DACs as you can, but that is difficult unless it's hooked up to my gear. Won't help going to a store with a DAC being hooked up to different gear.Plus I want to buy used. I can buy higher end with a bit of a discount.

 

From my research these are the DACs I'm thinking of pursuing:

Laiv Harmony

Denafrips Pontas ii

Holo Cyan

 

You can tell from my choices that I've been buying into the hype.

Please add to my list of DACs and please dispel any extra hype over the most talked about models.

Cheers.

bunkertoy

Showing 2 responses by decooney

decooney
2,326 posts
 

@bunkertoy going slightly in a different direction from some responses here, I’d share your BelCanto 3.7 is quite nice as-is. You might have to spend quite a bit more $ than some of the lower cost R2R dacs mentioned to beat what you have now = which is known to be smooth sounding dac with nice presentation.

Having also tried some of the lower cost R2Rs myself just for fun, and compared against my own prior dacs. designed and built around that exact same BB TI/PM1792 chipset, I enjoyed those dacs too. If you have a chance, go for a top shelf R2R true resistor ladder dacs to make it a more helpful and compelling comparison, ime. Interested to see what you end up trying, testing, comparing if you do proceed. If not, enjoy what you have now which is very nice too yes

decooney
2,326 posts
 

@bunkertoy ...You know how this stupid hobby is... It sounds great, but maybe I can change it up. What’s the deal with R2R...? everyone is talking about it. :).

 

When comparing a good delta sigma dac to an equivalent quality R2R resistor-ladder dac, some people tend to focus on these topics. Sharing a few of my own notes, and I learned not all R2R dacs are created equal. There are other members here on Agon who’ve tried far more dacs than I have, and they will likely chime in more. Sharing some of my prior Industry notes and comments collected fwiw:

The preference for R2R (Resistor-to-Resistor) DACs over Delta-Sigma DACs often comes down to sound quality and personal preference. There are a few reasons why some people favor R2R DACs:

Sound Signature: Many audiophiles feel that R2R DACs produce a more natural and musical sound. They often describe Delta-Sigma DACs as sounding a bit more clinical or sterile in comparison.

Linearity: R2R DACs are known for their high linearity, which means they can reproduce audio signals with less distortion.

Simplicity: R2R DACs have a simpler design compared to Delta-Sigma DACs, which use complex algorithms and filtering. This simplicity can translate to a more straightforward and transparent sound.

Resolution: Some listeners believe that R2R DACs offer better resolution and detail, especially in the midrange frequencies.

 

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