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Thinking about getting a R2R DAC

Dear community,

I currently have a chord qutest DAC. I like it a lot, very full sound, accurate detailed and exciting.  However, whenever I go back to vinyl (with a well-recorded nice pressing) I find the sound so much more satisfying.  There is a warmth, yes, but there is a presence, a 'there-ness' that I just don't get with the digital.  I'm wondering if an R2R DAC would get me closer to that?  my budget would be around the same as the qutest.  I was looking at the MHDT Orchid or the Border Patrol.  Don't get me wrong, I really like the Qutest.  I am thinking of putting it in the upstairs system to pair with the Node2i I have up there.  Any thoughts?  Will analog always just be a different animal than digital?

Currently in the main system I have a Sonore uRendu feeding the Qutest which is going to a LTA MZ2 going to a Pass XA 30.5

thanks!
adam8179
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Yeah same, I borrowed an early Holo Spring L2 discrete R2R dac and was blown away at how good everything sounded from my CD collection, real "meat" on the notes, especially on the midrange, very dynamic and transparent, then I switched it to NOS mode and things got even better. It better my Linn CD12 R2R and that was very good.

After I sent it back to the the owner, I got myself a MSB discrete R2R and same thing again and have never wanted to upgrade the front end again.
Note: these discrete R2R dacs show up CD transports, you need to have a good one.

Cheers George
adam8179 OP
68 posts
 
So I got the MHDT Pagoda today and put it up against the Qutest.  I know I need to let the Pagoda break in so it's not quite a fair comparison yet.  It was very interesting.  I like aspects of both.  

The Pagoda has a fuller richer tone.  More meat on the bones.  The soundstage is broader.  There is an analog character to it that is very appealing.  Mids are rich and broad and colorful without any sense of bloat

The Qutest is more resolving.  It's a leaner presentation.  Going back and forth it feels like the mids got sucked out.  However the highs and high mids are more present and give a much more 3D soundstage.  The Pagoda is big but more 2D in comparison.  The Qutest feels faster and more nimble whereas the Pagoda is like a big steak dinner.


I am quite shocked at how different these 2 DACs sound.  I really like both but I am leaning toward keeping the Qutest in my main system as I miss the 3D soundstage that the Chord provides.  I might have to sacrifice richness for soundstage.  

My girlfriend who is also a musician preferred the Qutest

I'm going to keep breaking in the Pagoda and maybe roll a different tube in there at some point and see what happens.  Thanks again everyone for your help!
sjeesjie
51 posts
 
Breaking in is bullocks man. Just keep your Qutest allright. Check Andrew Robinson on YouTube, he busts the breaking in myth.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,815 posts
 
The Pagoda has a tube. Is there much debate about tubes needing break in? Mine definitely changed over first 40 hrs.  
jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,610 posts
 
don't know if you call it break in... but tubes definitely take a few hours to settle into a circuit

dacs do have distinctive sounds... they are the 'voice' of the digital front end, making the digital bitstream real analog music again

as much as the cartridge and phono stage is for an analog front end...
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