Hans' not-so-much-hype comments was not isolated. Passion for Sound had some reservation too, but both of them mentioned the I2S connection renders the best sound quality. I personally will appreciate honest critiques rather than hype. Remember, the latter still complemented it by saying "sound quality scales from very, very good to outstanding depending on what you're feeding it with."
Showing 13 responses by lanx0003
I recently came across feedback from a user mentioning that the resistors used in the LAiV have a 0.05% tolerance, compared to the lower tolerance resistors (0.005%) used in other designs like those from Musician. Could the company’s designer (if you’re following this thread) provide some clarification on this information and explain how resistor tolerance might affect the sonic performance of the R-2R DAC? For reference purpose, here is some more information provided from google search. The typical tolerance of resistors varies depending on the type and application:
The choice of tolerance depends on the application's required accuracy and stability. Lower tolerance resistors are used in circuits where precise resistance values are critical, such as in high-quality audio equipment or precision measuring instruments. |
@sns Thanks for sharing. I am used to hearing capacitor leaks but not resistor drifts. There are a few hundred of them in r-2r dac. Time/effort measuring and replacing them might be overwhelming. I am no expert in this and definitely not custom to learn r-2r dac might become a potential maintenance item after one spends a few thousand dollars with it. In term of sigma delta dac, my preference is always Akm over Ess primarily because the two Akm based Dac I had sound more smooth than Ess-based. And ironically the only Ess-based one I had is the most expensive one which sounds a bit dry and edgy. I knew the implementation determines the SQ not the chip itself. Hope the 9038pro chip which can only be found in higher end dac will sound better. But I were sort of leaning toward r-2r dac when it comes to higher spending on a Dac until leaning drifts issue from you... |
Okay, Bourne, now we’re labeled obsessive neurosis (ON). Yes, metal film or modern carbon composite resistors are resistant to aging drifts, as you said, but they can still suffer permanent changes in value if subjected to temperature or electrical overloads/high voltage gradients. Maybe with good surge protection, this won’t be an issue—but who knows? (another ON thought) |
@campo007 congratulation. How does its soundstage, particularly the depth, compare to the R26 in your room? |
@campo007 That means you'll need to put on 7-8 hours of music every day within the 30-day window if you're considering a return. Thanks for sharing your feedback. I believe Harmony will be an amazing DAC once it fully opens up. |
Anything for the good of the group? Thx. |
No, this is all about you. You made an informed decision by going through the trouble of procuring and comparing. That was a smart move. I’m just surprised by how quickly you acted—it suggests that the disparity between Harmony and May is so obvious that it swayed your decision. Nevertheless, the outcome aligns with what I had researched before. Congratulation. |
According to Hans’ rating scale, the Cyan 2 seems like a sweet deal but a no-frills, barebones product. With no buttons or remote control, I consider it the poor man’s May. More relevantly, it offers true NOS but lacks an OS option. However, you can still do oversampling using software like HQPlayer if that’s something you’re craving.
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Most audiophiles here claim they hear a significant improvement from adding a DDC. Do they have better ears than audio engineers, are they exaggerating, or do they simply want to justify their spending? |