Too many choices for R2R DACS--opinions appreciated

Has anybody heard the Jay's Audio DAC2-MK3 yet? There is scant information about it so far, and I'd be interested to hear some firsthand experiences. There's one for sale here on Audiogon at a rather tempting price. 

@wlutke oh boy I am way behind in my acronyms.  I didn't know that NOS was not really NOS anymore :-)

I am having great results with an Audio Note 0.1x coupled to my dCS Network Bridge - this DAC sounds superb - AN have been in the ladder DAC game from the beginning.

Im in the same boat, but yesterday I watched a YT review from PassionforSound, an Auzzie who compared Spring 3 KTE (R2R) to the Shiit Yeggy, but preferred it, even though it isn't R2R. Keep in mind Mike Moffet has a long history in dac design

hth

First exposure to r to r was la scala.  Way over my budget.  Went through reviews of the Chinese manufacturers and they all seemed good.

Liked the reviews from hans b on you tube for the audio gd r7 mark 2. Multiple matches of nos to uosampling.  The interface is behind the time.  Given lapses of audio memory, have no desire for my original choice.  You can order through underwood which has the benefit of a repair center in Georgia rather than sending it back to China 

Oh, and meant to mention: I don't really need the DAC to include a preamp, though many do. Just need it to do what it's designed to do, namely convert digital to analog. 

Many thanks to everybody for the very helpful information, but now, of course, I'm faced with even more choices than I started with. I'll have to give some thought to the tubed DACs. My AMR DP-777 has tubes, but in general I haven't been (up to now anyway) a tube enthusiast. Some of the suggestions are significantly in excess of my budget, though. At this point, I'm leaning in the direction of Denafrips, and possibly Sonnet. I'm still open to further suggestions and opinions. 

Consider those with a tube.  It's another level of adjustability and mine only needs one.  $30 to maybe $150 per tube.  Lots of choices in them.  Impart sound from lush and warm to crisp and dynamic.  Tubes in this device startled me as to how much they affect sound.  Non-tube units have one voicing.  My favorite tube was $30.  I'm using a Grannyring modded, MHDT Orchid.  With mods and a few extra NOS tubes all-in about $1700.  Amazing sound.  Seen reviews place the modded unit in the $3000 class.  Buy more music!  If you mod it you'll get it back, door to door in 7 to 10 days.  Also seen WTB modded units for close to 100% of cost so nearly no risk.  

I have the Audio Mirror Tubadour III SE and as a tube based DAC, find incredibly musical. Just Google the reviews or look on this sight for DAC comparisons. They have had a strong following here.  Extremely musical, analog sounding without being too forward or overly digital sounding. Or if possible buy on used market SEII for around $2k. Enjoy the journey 

@larryincmh

You got bamboozled because "ladder" was ignored.

BTW Otari BQII and Teac 1230 for me.

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I second the Border Patrol DAC & really like it. Sounds very natural, not all fatiguing & very similar to my good turntable. Reasonably priced & made in Maryland. 

TUBES!  MHDT Dacs are wonderful

The only two R2R DACs that I've owned are the MHDT Orchid (in stock form, no mods) and the Aqua La Voce S3.  The Orchid might be the most "analog" sounding DAC I've owned, very easy to listen to, perhaps just a little on the "warm" side. 

I give huge props to MHDT Labs and Jiun.  I bought mine second hand and the USB input wasn't working.  I contacted MHDT Labs about getting it fixed, being very up front about the fact that I wasn't the original owner and that it wasn't under warranty.  Jiun sent me a new board free of charge.

The La Voce S3 provides a lot more detail and dynamics, without sounding "digital".  It seems very true to the music, however you want to interpret that.  I have owned a number of other DACs and the La Voce S3 is the best I've had to this point.  It's out of your budget new, but TMR has an open box one for under $4K.  If you're patient, you might find a used one within your budget.

I have an MHDT Orchid, upgraded by Grannyring with good capacitors and resistors. It competed quite admirably with the Holo May DAC at 5x the price. 

I saw a Terminator for 3K on US Audio Mart. Would try it. If you didn't like it you could sale and not take a huge hit. I have the Plus and Gaia but a lot more money. I know and have heard Audio GD's R8-HE and it sounds very strong. Kingbarbuda may just have a bad match-up with equipment. I have owned several Audio GD pieces and thought for the money they are very hard to beat. Not sure who he is talking about as his dealer because Audio-GD sales direct. If he means they person selling in the USA, I can only say I bought from China and had no problems. Good luck.

mbmi +1

larryincmh,

Not only is R2R not R2R, neither is NOS!  (Non Over Sampling) 🌀

Denafrips Terminator…love it. It slightly exceeded my budget but I thought it stomped on every other Dac I had listened to in the $2K-$3500 range (used), of course ymmv. also keep in mind your choice of connection can have a significant impact on some Dacs and your wallet. I slipped into the U$B cable rabbit hole and luckily was able to escape haha, I stayed with digital coax.

So disappointed, I thought this thread was going to be about R2R (as in reel-to-reel tape deck of which R2R is the common abbreviation) and I was interested to see which decks everyone had (mine is a Teac X300)! Sigh. LOL

Look at the new Sonnet, called the Pasithea. It is amazing. Then go on the ASR website and tell them you bought an R2R Dac and listen to them howl.

I really love my R2R DAC Rockna Wavedream XLR Sig, but it is out of your budget. Try Rockna Wavelight, it is about 4000.

R2R Is the most "musical....You have all good choices. Denafrips makes you forget about your gear and just enjoy the music. Beautiful....

I got a MSB DAC (Platinum Signature) from my wife for Christmas: never looked back! Smooth and yet well delineated sound, deep sound stage, great and focused bass, and zero sibilance. The music comes through, and I forget about any gear. Isn't that what we all are looking for?

I'll be replacing a DAC that I actually really like, an Abbingdon Music Research DP-777

According to AMR's blurb that has a multibit 16bit DAC. Which nowadays is encompassed by the term 'R2R'.

For R2R DACs here is my opinion on some of the options:

1. Audio-Gd. Not impressed. Not impressed with their dealer either. 
2. Denafrips: All their DACs are highly reviewed. I own a Terminator Plus and a Gaia DDC. I love them and working with Alvin from Vinshine Audio is a dream! 
Pick the DAC in your price range. You can’t go wrong. 
3. Border Patrol: I went to the room with Border Patrol at AXPONA and I was impressed. Also not terribly expensive. Definitely worth considering. 
4. Also agree that Holo Audio’s DACs should be considered. 
You have some very good options at different price points. 

Used Mojo Mystique' 3 is probably 3-3.5K....... if found.  Quite musical and dynamic with a very complete soundstage.

op

mhdt or soekris, both are excellent, high performance, high value entries

I own a MHDT Orchid DAC using an adapter and the  NOS 6922 Dgetter tube and it's good.  I have not performed the capacitor upgrade yet but it's supposed to make it even better.

Still in your price range,  on Ebay there is an Orchid with the 6922 socket and it also includes the TDA 1541 S2 chip.  It's a pretty good deal as a real TDA 1541 S2 are quite expensive (if you can find them)

Aesthetix Pandora is my choice for a new DAC

I'm not sure just how much it is, but you may want to look at the latest version of the Holo Audio Spring DAC.... 

What about Border Patrol? They base their entire dac line up on R2R...