From an MHDT to an Audio Mirror, quick impressions

@wlutke which connection type are you using? (AES, SPDIF/Coax, USB, Toslink)

I’m experimenting with another non-tube dac that formerly utilized a similar AD chipset and now on to something different. It’s good to read you are having favorable results with this proven r2r multibit chip design in this dac. Found some of these dacs are better than others by the connection type alone. Some not as good with USB compared to others. Not a big USB fan here.  What’s your preferred type on this dac so far?

When I upgraded my MHDT Orchid with top-shelf Mundorf coupling caps and Tesla 6CC42 or GE 5-star Triple Mica tubes - the speed, sound stage depth, tone/texture brought it to a new level. In my rig the Tesla is very nice.

Comparing to other dacs, this Orchid holds its own. The company owner is very supportive and responsive. Sure, spending at least ~3x in order to surpass it in some ways seems about right. Maybe 4x. DAC technology is on the move again past 2-3 years. The Orchid is a nice baseline stable reference to keep and compare what is better or just different. Swap back and compare once in a while if possible.

Enjoy the new dac!

@wlutke Nice - I’m an old fan of digi-coax myself, I bet it sounds even nicer once everything settles in like @tvad mentioned. Enjoy!

@wlutke not to digress too much but curious to know if your prior Orchid dac had the stock coupling caps in it from MHDT, or if they were upgraded?  Reason for the question is the stock caps are fairly smoothed over. Nice, yet can be optimized notably.  Several colleagues and I upgraded Orchid dacs with really nice caps and other tube options. Achieved an increase in sound stage size, width and depth, nice tone, texture, and retaining gentle detail. If you still have your Orchid it can be a keeper too fwiw. Enjoy the new dac! 

@wlutke @decooney Thanks for the heads up. I’ve tube rolled the Orchid including 6922 family to some effect. Per my last post the biggest reason for moving on from the Orchid was predominant glare. How is your output cap mod in that area? It would be an absolute long time keeper for me (second system.) Love the musicality.

While its all "system & speaker dependent" and varies by individual and rooms of course...Three things I found with Orchid. Mine is very sensitive to input cables/types used. Results can vary greatly. Tried all, prefer high quality digi-coax with this dac. Using Analysis Plus Crystal or Cardas Digital. As for tubes, the Telsa 6CC42/2C51 was a great midway tube, smooth. My favorite in this dac, as I have an all tube system. May vary for those with SS preamps/amps. Tried two highly acclaimed (many like them) Western Electric 6CC42/2C51s, even smoother, a bit too much so for my taste in my system, speakers. Back to Tesla as my preference. Nice balance. Liked it so much may have a fully custom dac built next year, as tbd.

As for coupling cap upgrades in this dac, yes, it makes a rewarding difference. The stock MHDT caps are plenty good as-is for 95% of the people out there. I went with familiar top shelf Mundorf Silver Gold Oil caps in mine, and so did a few friends. Definitely picked up nice tone, texture, expanded sound stage. Rewarding results, yes. A long break-in and forming with these caps before they settle in, heads-up. Can be aggravating first 1-50hrs, better at 100hrs. Totally worth it once they form and settle. 

@wlutke would be so hard to advise on this not seeing or hearing your system. The factory caps are good too, and I did not experience glare with my Orchid in stock form before upgrading the tube and caps.

btw, Are your speakers toed in or faced perfectly straight forward? How big is the room?

@wlutke are you utilizing the exact same digital input and output cables on the AM dac as you did with your Orchid - in other words did one cable/type change by chance?

Also did you ever try the other Tesla -or- Western Electric optional/recommended tubes in your Orchid dac?

The reason for asking is friends across forums shared notes about MHDT Orchid and Pagoda DAC findings with particular cables and tubes to fine tune results even more. Of those half changed caps to get even more out of the dac.

@wlutke Got it. And, so it appears you’ve not tried the other factory prescribed tubes (Tesla 6CC42 or Western Electric WE396/2C51) for the dac many have found to gel well the Orchid and no glare. The standard non-triple mica GE 5670 tube in that dac can be bright or seem like glare in detailed systems. Not sure which Mullard you are referring to - - unless you’re running some kind of 6922 adapter which can lead to other voltage issues in that dac. I have 6 friends with MHDT Orchid dacs, none report issues with glare. Its a soft analog sounding Philips TDA1541 r2r ladder dac chip in there too. Pretty mild in my system and friends too. Something else going on there I would suspect. Best of luck.

@wlutke hehe, unfortunately not totally the case. It’s one of many dacs in a stable each of us keep. I’m back down to 2 dacs and some other colleagues keep 4-5 around. Might be a sign each of these dacs offer something different to rotate in occasionally, or likely cases of hoarding the good ones, haha. Enjoy the AM dac in your stable :)