HiFi Rose RD160 DAC

Has anyone here compare the sound of HiFi ROSE RD160 DAC and McIntosh MCD12000 (running as DAC)?

I am currently considering buying either the McIntosh MCD12000 (to be used as DAC for my Technics SL-G700M2)

or buying the HiFi ROSE RD160 DAC and pair it with their RS130 streamer.

The HiFi ROSE RS130 + RD160 combo looks to be technically superior when it come to connectivity with the Fiber USB, however, the McIntosh MCD12000 has the tube output.

Hoping someone here had listened to both of them and can give their perspective.

Good luck - hope someone responds to your query. But the RD160 is very new.

As for me, I got the T+A DAC 200.

I’ve been eying the DAC 200 for quite some time, as well as the M3, and Sonnet Pasithea. With the DAC 200 I’ve heard that HQ Player and DSD is the way to go, but I’ve also read extremely good things about PCM with this DAC. @milpai happy so far with the DAC 200 and how it’s integrated into your system? Curious what pushed you over to the DAC 200 vs the M3 as these are the top two DACs I’m currently considering.

@toro3 ,

”happy” is not the right word. “Ecstatic” would come close, along with joy. When I initially used it with Foobar, it easily trounced the Oppo I was using as a DAC. Then I decided to demo the HQ Player. It took me under 30 seconds to decide that it was time to move on from Foobar. Immediately placed order for the license. With HQ Player upsampling FAPLAC to DSD 256 or 512, this DAC is completely transformed.

At the same time I think users are doing disservice to this DAC, by saying it is optimized for DSD. In my experience it is an excellent PCM player as well. I play Spotify on this DAC and it is a completely different and pleasure-inducing machine. I am constantly surprised how a DAC can be so clear without sounding harsh. I had  previously associated “cleaner” with “sharper”. My perspective changed with this DAC.

As to why this one over the Bricasti - I am a huge fan of DSD and T+A’s DSD implementation is very unique. It also supports higher DSD rates compared to the Bricasti.

I play Spotify on this DAC and it is a completely different and pleasure-inducing machine. I am constantly surprised how a DAC can be so clear without sounding harsh. I had  previously associated “cleaner” with “sharper”. My perspective changed with this DAC.

Greatly appreciate this part of your response which says quite a bit about this DAC. Not too often that a component can literally change our perspective, especially amongst more experienced enthusiast like yourself. Very insightful data point for people like me attempting to make an informed decision. 

@toro3,

Good to know that my feedback would be helpful. My decision was based on tons of reading user reviews (not professional) and reaching out to folks 1:1 on PMs. Most people will be helpful in providing their perspective. And it helps even more, when you know what their system comprises of. I checked your system and see that we had interacted before. That is a classy system and either the T+A or the Bricasti will take your listening experience to a completely different level.

I cannot say anything on Bricasti, because I have not listened to it. But user reviews have been favorable. You might want to reach out to someone at futureaudiophile site, since they have reviewed both - but by different reviewers.

Do you know a funny thing? When Steve Huff came up with his "My Favorite HiFi Audio of 2024 from Budget to Exotic", on the very first day he had accidentally mentioned the T+A DAC 200 between the Mid/High DACs and Exotic end DACs. Then he took it down the next day, because (I think)  it was reviewed last year or before.Not that it is a validation on my purchase, because my order was put in before that. One more thing that pushed me over to the T+A is the excellent forum on AudiophileStyle. I know at least one more member here who is thrilled with this DAC and is on that forum.

Let me know if you have any further questions on this DAC or the HQ Player -  will be glad to help out.

Thank you for the generous compliment! I read the suggested reviews on futureaudiophile which were well done - I really like the structure and formatting of their reviews over there. I’ve also been following that audiophilestyle sub on the DAC200 for a while which dives pretty deep into HQ Player and the various filters, which at times is a little over my head. It’s been a great thread to follow.

Steve Huff gets a lot of flack, and his other YT channel is rather “interesting.” Nonetheless, I always appreciated how he articulates characteristics of SQ and differences he hears within his system. I think he does a really good job in this department.

I suspect at this juncture I probably can’t go wrong with either of these DACs. It’s going to come down to subtle characteristics of system synergy, preferences, aesthetics, and feature set. Never know until I make a decision and I try, which will hopefully be sooner rather than later!

Congrats, @milpai  on your T+A 200 dac. 

Does it sound better direct or through your separate pre-amp?

Thanks in advance.

Jon

Thank You @jon2020 

I will not be using the DAC as a preamp.