Thinking about getting a R2R DAC

@jjss49

I am thinking of giving the Jolida Black Ice a try. Was curious if you tried the headphone output on it. I'm currently using a Qutest/Headphone amp combo right now and I am thinking of downsizing and pairing the Black Ice with an easy to drive headphone. How does it compare to the Qutest? Any other DAC's that stand out on your list? How about giving us a ranking and blurb on each?

@thaluza, I just picked up an R2R Mojo Audio Mystique V3 Balanced and after going through a list of DACs over the last 6 months in my system have liked it the best as well.   I've owned the SimAudio 380DSD (kept for 5 years), Bricasti M3, RME ADI 2 FS (which I still own), Topper D90, and now the Mojo.

I find the Mojo incredibly musical and to me it simply sounds more like live music than the others.   It also packs bass and dynamics that I wasn't expecting (which is what I liked best about the M3).   I find the high frequencies good but not as detailed or as forward as some of the others.   To me, the high frequencies do not offend and sound very natural, but it is not the last word in detail retrieval.   Personally,  I'll take the musicality vs the mega detail retrieval.   The D90 was amazing at detail retrieval but I found it forward and too fatiguing for me to listen to after a short while.

@ddafoe, my perception of the Mojo and high frequency detail was upended when I bought a pair of Altec Lansing Valencia speakers last month. The horn based Valencias have their faults, but their presentation of cymbals has been revelatory to me. I give the Mojo at least some of the credit for the clean, full bodied, unforced sound I hear. I would bet that some of the other dac’s I tried, or the Topping D90 that you owned, would not be so friendly with the Altecs. The Mojo is a fine example of a well implemented R2R dac.

Dollar for dollar vs. Delta Sigma, R2R DACs win all the time. They tend to have a much pleasant sound to the ear. Less fatiguing, and closer to well done analog. And don’t listen to the keyboard jockeys who tell us we cannot hear the difference. These are the same guys who always say we cannot hear a difference from anything.

Now.... they are R2R DACs and R2R DACs. They are not created equal. To my ears, MSB DACs are the best sounding. They don’t often come for sale in used market, if at all, other than previous generations from a decade ago.

I’ve got the BlueSound Node2. About 2 weeks ago I purchased the MHDT Orchid. I use Tidal Hi-Fi exclusively. The Node2 does all of the MQA unfolding and then sends it to the Orchid via digital coax. I opted for the upgraded Tung-Sol 2C51 tube that Linear Tube offers (total of $1,300). I couldn’t be happier with my choice. I’m into musical much more than analytical. I listen to music literally all day long every day and the last thing I want is ear fatigue. Before purchasing I spoke to Nicholas with Linear Tube Audio, Jiun the main designer of the Orchid and Terry, the 6Moons reviewer whose review turned me onto the Orchid. They were all great and Terry provided me with many great tube options and sources. He’s tried everything under the sun. In his opinion, the Orchid is his favorite DAC at any price point. He’s reviewed many over the years, including very expensive units. Feel free to message me directly. I know everything you would want to know about the Orchid (as well as the balanced Pagoda if you are wanting balanced XLR for 2x the price of the Orchid). I also thoroughly researched the Border Patrol DAC which Linear Tube Audio also happens to sell (tube is on the power supply stage instead the analog stage like in the Orchid).