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Sold My Ayre QB-9 DSD - Help Me Choose A New DAC!

I’m looking for help in choosing a new DAC.

Here’s my DAC history…

About seven years ago I purchased an Ayre QB9. It was the original non-upgraded 24/96 version and I absolutely loved it. A few years later I had it upgraded by Ayre to the QB-9 DSD.

While I loved the original QB-9, I never completely loved the upgraded DSD version. The QB9 DSD was smoother and more detailed, but lost some of the musical immediacy and excitement of the original - at least for me.

To be fair, I never had the opportunity to compare the original QB-9 to the QB-9 DSD. In hindsight, I still really enjoyed listening to the QB-9 DSD, but had hoped for even more magic from the upgrade.

Right about then I started traveling extensively for work. Since I would not be home much, I sold the QB-9 DSD and bought a Audioquest Dragonfly Red - for the road.

Fast forward three years. I am no longer traveling for work as much and have the time and opportunity to set up a new home DAC. I’ll start with the Dragonfly Red, but I want something better.

My stereo system is comprised of a highly-modified Eico HF81 tube amp (EL84 for 14-watts) and a pair of highly modified Signet SL260 speakers. I also have a pair of Falcon LS3/5a speakers.

I listen to just about everything. Electronic to Jazz - with some classical. Depeche Mode to Miles Davis. Jack Johnson to Talking Heads. Rolling Stones to Yello. Steely Dan to Kraftwerk. Seriously, I’m all over the map in my musical interests. That’s the fun!

As for sound, I really want to hear people and instruments in the room. I really want to hear a 100-percent natural sound. I also want to hear meat on the bones of instruments and voices. No delicate wispy outlines. Real solid instruments and humans rendered naturally in three-dimensional space... please.

I can’t stand hardness or brightness. I can’t emphasize this enough. That’s why I tend to skew towards tube amps. And yes, I have an extensive vinyl collection - but that’s off topic.

I listen to a lot of full-res Red Book 16/44. I also have a deep collection of 24-bit high-res, and a Tidal HIFI subscription. I switch between all of the above.

Over the past few weeks I have researched what’s out there right now in DACs. Based purely on online reviews and forums, I’m leaning heavily towards a R2R DAC.

Ideally, I’d keep my purchase price under $4,000. That might mean buying used for a few of my selected DACs. Less expensive is better.

Here’s my current preferred R2R DAC list:

Schitt Yggdrasil
MHDT Labs Orchid
MHDT Labs Pagoda
Audio Mirror Tubadour III SE
HoloAudio Spring DAC 2
Rockna Wavelight
Metrum Orchid
Denefrips Ares II
Denafrips Terminator

And two non R2R DACs I’m considering:
Lampizator Amber 3
RMA ADI-2 DAC FS

And yes, I could go back to an Ayre QB-9 DSD, and possibly upgrade it to an Ayre QB-9 Twenty - but so much has changed in the world of DACs. Why not take a fresh look at what’s new - right?
If you have any suggestions or insights based on experience with the above DACs - and my stated sound preferences - please chime in.

Thank you!









eicoeico

Showing 3 responses by eicoeico

eicoeico OP
3 posts
 
Thank you for all the feedback.

helomech - I looked into the Topping D90 and the reviews celebrate the DAC’s accuracy, detail and incredible value - but suggest it leans towards a cold and analytical presentation. Of course this is from reading a review or two, not personal experience.

tomic601 - I’ve owned the same Eico HF81 since the mid-90s and modded it to ridiculous extremes. For example, the power supply is on a separate chassis. For my personal sound preferences, it’s stunning. I’d love to hear your friend’s Eicos!

Eric - I have read - but not heard - about Mytek’s Brooklyn and Brooklyn II. That might be a step too far outside of my budget, but I’ll take another look in the Mytek direction. Thank you!

Does anyone have a favorite sanely-priced R2R DAC?

Please keep the feedback coming. It’s truly appreciated.
eicoeico OP
3 posts
 
Lancer705 - Thanks for the tip on the Bakoon. I’ll look into it.

creditingkarma - Thanks for the tip on the Sonnett Morpheus. I hadn’t even heard of that brand.

bjesien - Your QB-9 specific question would be great for a new thread. I would like to hear more about the QB-9 Twenty myself.

I may have made an error when I used the word, "natural" to describe the sound I prefer. When I say natural, I mean true to life. That’s in stark contrast with "accurate" sound which tends to be analytical and cold.

The only reason the RMA ADI-2 DAC FS is on my list is because some online reviews have said it’s natural in it’s presentation. This is compared to the Benchmark DAC2 and DAC3 which are universally praised as cold and accurate. That’s not for me.
eicoeico OP
3 posts
 
Thank you for all the feedback! I have looked into every DAC that’s been suggested, and added the T+A Dac 8 to my list.

I’m also now seriously considering something not mentioned yet - the Burson Conductor 3 Reference. What has me looking at this new DAC are a number of recent off-the-charts reviews, and its remarkable versatility.

Several reviewers claim it’s near state-of-the-art as a DAC, pre-amp and headphone amp. And it has a remote, Bluetooth, and two additional analog inputs. At $1,800, that’s quite a proposition.

At the other extreme, the MHDT Labs Orchid is also tugging at me.

Who says you can only own one DAC? I already have two sets of speakers that I love - for very different reasons.

Thanks again for all the information. Truly appreciated.
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