The Six Moons.com review on the Mhdt Labs Orchid DAC just went up

@teajay has been finding and telling us best price/performance equipments and yet he still get criticized for recommending a cheaper DAC with better performance. Hmmm OK:)

No need for the over priced Cardas adaptors, just buy the Neutrik ones online or at places like Guitar Center.  

Soix thanks for the tip , I will see if I can find a XLR to rca adapter, I think cardas makes a couple.
Will this improve the sound?

The mods were done by the original owner. Some resistor and cap replacements. I don't have the details on hand right now, but will post them on Monday when back at work.

Oz

ozzy62
What mods were done to your Pagoda, and who did them?

I had a Havana for several years and upgraded to a heavily modified Pagoda a few months back. I am very happy with this DAC. MHDT has always offered high performance products at very reasonable prices. I am sure the Orchid follows suit.

Oz

@cheche9 -- I recently got a tip from Emprical Audio that you should always run a balanced digital cable and use an SPDIF adapter if you’re not going balanced. According to him, and I haven't verified this but he knows what he's doing, digital cables can't be optimally terminated with SPDIF connectors, hence you're better off with RCA adapters from a balanced termination.  If you can, why are you not just using the balanced connections?

Is this DAC supposed to sound better than my balanced Havana? 
I am not using it balanced right now but have for many years!!
thanks

I purchased an Orchid about 4 months ago. I read the avaiable reviews, corresponded with the designer and evaluated what I wanted from a reasonably priced DAC. I think I would have been satisfied with several out there. I was also intrigued by Metrum products. The Orchid seemed to be the best deal for me, and I liked the TDA1541 chip and the tube buffer. I am really pleased with the unit. I also like the ability to roll a single tube to tweak the sound. Right now I am finding the Tesla 6CC42 tube to be a nice match for me. The Orchid is also a nice match in my system of Exposure electronics and Harbeth speakers. I am not sure I could do better for the price in my system, in my room, with my preferences.

Oh hey, i got a response form the man himself, Terry London. How about that. Let me clean my response up a tad. First of all, for those that don't know, (and no one on this site knows) i have a bit of a dry sense of humor. So, I was not really overly bothered by the review and was more or less popping off about the irony of how things can turn out. Shortly afterwards I felt and was able to see this new turn of events (Terry's review) is something that could definitely turn out in my favor (and others as well if they were in the market for a new DAC) so it was a "good thing" as the saying goes. In short, i know reviewing is a tough and maybe a thankless gig at times so i am thrilled at folks that put it all out there for the benefit of novices like myself. To sum it up, i am impressed by the fact Terry is impressed & I have been to MDHT's website and now know the prices and avenues to acquire an Orchid which is via Mirco Zolt website/ or eBay). Now all i have to do is wrestle with the remaining ambivalence before i click buy.... 
PS, Terry, i just retired from a position from a Tri-County Probation Department in Texas as a LCDC. I immediately noticed from your bio you have accomplished quite a bit by becoming an instructor at/for Albert Ellis institute. Cognitive is invaluable in treatment of substance use as you must know..     
don

Hey Mrdon,

How did you know that I was married three times!

I find this somewhat amazing.  About a year ago I review a DAC (Lab12) that was at least the equal or better then DACs that  were in the 10K to 20K price range for around 2K.  I then review a DAC (Mhdt Labs) which is half the price of the first "giant killer" which is even a better performer and you sound upset with me for being honest.

As a reviewer I'm always looking for products that give the greatest ratio of performance/build quality vs cost.  Nothing stays the same, including great new products in high-end audio.

What you refer to as the "curb", were the Lab12 DAC-1 was placed is a terrific reference level SET based system and the Lab12 sounds great in it (take a look at the review again so you can see a picture of the system that we are talking about).  The Lab12 DAC-1 is still a wonderful piece, just because it was bested by another DAC does not make it worthless/inferior.

I never claimed that either DAC is the "BEST" in the world.  Based on performance vs price the Orchid is terrific, and for my tastes offers a higher level of performance then the Lab12 DAC-1 for less money. I would assume this is information that would be helpful to my readers.    

Magister. Could you please post a link on that dac you mentioned. Thx 

Ok, i just read Terry London's 6 moon review on the MHDT Orchid. It's a good thing he doesn't have the same propensity with women as he does with audio equip. What i mean by that is, it wasn't all that long ago he reviewed the Lab 12 and pronounced it one of the best, if not the best (or something to that effect) DAC he has heard in quite some time and proceeded to buy it.  I see now after Terry listened to the "MHDT Orchid" the Lab 12 is now in the upstairs listening room via the curb.. Early on I was pretty well sold on the Lab 12 but had not yet pulled the trigger, and I now see that it is a good thing i didn't.. So, in the end I suppose no harm, no foul. Anyone else have any experience with this unit that might shed some light on its worthiness?   

I got mhdt labs pagoda in balance configuration, you gotta give it a listen , some say it not romantic like orchid but to my ear it was so natural and sweet , soundstage is wide and tall , the detail is unbelievable real and lifelike presentation when pair with my Nola boxer s2 , only one thing I dd not like was it is too much gain in the voltage in xlr input I have to switch to -6 dB on my amp but it is perfect sounding if u using rca input , right now I have to find another set of xlr to match my system , the fun part of it is finding the perfect tube for your taste!

Teajay
I haven't read the article you posted about just yet. However, if i understand you correctly you are saying a DAC like the Lab 12 is an authentic DAC or superior to an upsampling DAC? I ask this only because i have been trying to sort through this very issue... I would greatly appreciate any of your insight with this issue. I am headed to the 6 moons website now... 
don

I have the Stockholm2 MHDT, how does the Orchid compare?

Here ya go: https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/mhdtlab/

Do you have a link? because I can't find the Orchid review on thewebsite.

Oops! I had the french nos dac of Starting point systems (bid on ebay for peanuts) his sound is 3 d imaging with a naturalness of timbre unheard of by all my other dac...It is so good that any upgrade will be foolishness...This is my own review ...For newcomers without big money,dont kill yourself buy it...

I have a few DACs, some much more expensive, some with MQA, and I think they all support higher sampling rates. The Orchid is my favorite. 

i have the DSD of pink floyd Wish You Were Here
even thru my 80 dollar dac it sounds wonderful
i am down with the hype ¡!¡!