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R2R next? Don't like ESS

Can you recommend a good 'starter' R2R dac?  I've been through a number of ESS Sabre dacs and they're not for me.  IMO, they lack a certain transparency that I'm after.  Point of reference:   The *only* dac that I've heard that is decent to my ears is a 10yr old Maverick Audio D3 w/ Sparkos OpAmp swap.  *This* was great.  Alas, I sold it because I thought I could do better with something newer.  

Geshelli's offerings have piqued my interest - the J3 in particular - but it's an ESS chip.  Wondering if I should make the jump to something R2R - Denafrips, Broder Patrol..  thoughts?

128x128martinman
erik_squires
16,407 posts
 

Implementation matters a lot but I tend to gravitate to AKM chips.

Not experienced enough with R2R to compare.

mooncrikit's avatar
mooncrikit
48 posts
 

+1 for the MHDT Orchid...

+1 for the LAiV Harmony...

period, end of search...

martinman's avatar
martinman OP
96 posts
 

OP here again:

thanks everyone for the recommendations.  MHDT seems like a good place to start.   

I’m quite sure based on the forum experience that there is nothing wrong with ESS.  My findings are subjective and are my own, in my room, with my setup.  

mksun
542 posts
 

+1 for Denafrips. I have been extremely happy with my Pontus II which sounds superb using the I2S connection to my Jay’s Audio CD transport. If the Pontus is outside your budget then checkout the Ares, their entry level model.

dclone
11 posts
 

I really like Gustard R26. Not expensive and the sound suits me perfect. I listen to music through analogue sources primarily my turntables and reel to reel Revoxes and Studers. I use Qobus and Tidal only to find new music and after owning around 10 different dacs I found Gustard R26 and it sounds most "analogue" to me which suits me perfect. (I can´t listen to ess dacs I get headache after 20-30 minutes. To "sharp" sound)

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