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R2R Ladder DACs or All in One Streamer Solutions

I am soon to own a Pass INT 25 integrated amp. I also own an Oppo 205. 

I am now searching for a separate DAC to replace/improve the DAC in the Oppo.
Budget $2k. Used preferred.

I like the R2R ladder sound and want a tube inside for a little balance with the Solid State gear.
My current source is the Oppo 205.

I am also shopping for a Streamer/Ripper/Storage device. Roon friendly and DSD capable.
Budget also $2k. Used Preferred.

It seems that the few offerings of these all in one solutions all contain a DAC.
My thought is that the DAC included will not be any better than the Oppo so it is of little use.

Has anyone been down this road lately? 

Am I missing something?

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!
chorus

Showing 6 responses by abraxalito

abraxalito
93 posts
 
...he’s still going and using I think an R2R d/a conversion still, the one AMR also uses in their DP-777 dac the TDA1305 which was originally made by Philips for Discman use!!!!
Looks as though you've confused UDA1305 with TDA1305. The former is most likely a re-marking of TDA1545 (or something similar like TDA1387). An earlier design than TDA1305 which has some lack-lustre opamps on-board. TDA1305 is definitely not R2R (oversampled design) but UDA1305 probably would qualify as that.
abraxalito
93 posts
 
How did a DAC that was way behind the times 30 years ago (TDA1541) magically become good?
I’m no believer in ’magic’ but seems to me that times changed in the direction of better numbers (THD, SNR) and not in the direction of better sound. So ’behind the times’ is just a piece of propaganda - in fact TDA1541A is the best measuring 16bit DAC chip out there.
abraxalito
93 posts
 
They DACs they enabled sounded bad 30 years ago.
Do you have examples to share where the bad sound was the fault of the DAC chip?
abraxalito
93 posts
 
By using the comment "cheap no name Chinese DAC" you are showing yourself to be the real racist
False - rather racism is shown by projecting it onto others in the absence of evidence. Which @georgehifi did do in this case so my conclusion is the same as yours.
abraxalito
93 posts
 
Get off your racist pulpit sunshine, of course the Chinese are extremely capable, just like anyone, just look at a few these days Holo Denafrips, etc etc
T'aint racist to critique Taobao DAC offerings - I've bought plenty and implementations in general are poor. You did specifically say 'no name' and now you've introduced names. I would agree that the named guys do a much better job than the el-cheapo Taobao DACs designed by spare-timers. Early on there was one called 'raindrop_hui' but that was the name of his reseller - he was relatively clueless as regards EE but that didn't stop him selling tons of TDA1541 DACs.
abraxalito
93 posts
 
 ...I point out that it was not too long ago that DACs based on the 1541 were not considered good, but suddenly they are again.

Have you noticed that implementations of the 1541 have changed in the intervening time? My first CD player used LM833 as I/V and filter stage. Seen any recent designs going that route?
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