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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
desktopguy
388 posts
 

I tired of delta/sigma DACs years ago. Too edgy, bright, and non-musical.

Ever since it has been a succession of R2R (multibit) and NOS (multibit that is non-oversampling) DACs. All are quite an improvement on the delta-sigmas.

My advice is to start low and slow, Keep it at or under $1K and check out the basic multibit and/or NOS sound, live with it awhile and see how it suits you.

Examples:

  • Schitt Bifrost (multibit)
  • Schitt Gungnir (multibit)
  • Musician Audio Pegasus II (NOS)
  • Black Ice FX DAC (NOS)
mattw73
76 posts
 

@hilde45 thanks for clarifying your point of view with me

nitewulf
428 posts
 

It’s not transparency you’re after as Sabre chips and well built dacs that use them are transparent beyond human audible range. 

nitewulf
428 posts
 

Oddiofyl doing god’s work to turn a generation of South Korean salarymen and their children against audiogon forums. 

mattw73
76 posts
 

Though not R2R i figured I would just ask in this thread first...Does anyone have any experience with the Fezz Audio Equinox tube dac.."Empowered by Lampizator"? 

Any Fezz Audio product users in this thread? 

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