2. digital
  3. 170912-165315

Different R2R DACs

Several months ago, I bought a used Hono Spring Level 2 DAC to see how R2R would compare against my Mytek Brooklyn DAC+. I like the Brooklyn+ a lot, but, given the other components in my system, I'm thinking about building in a bit more warmth (without losing significant detail). I'm not looking for sweetness or holography. Unfortunately, I was thoroughly unimpressed by the way the Holo Spring Level 2 smeared the music. I returned it within two weeks. Perhaps the unit I bought was defective (though I bought it from a highly reputable seller of used equipment), but it started me wondering how much of the hype surrounding the newer generation of R2R DACs was just that, hype. However, I keep seeing so many glowing reviews of reasonably priced R2R DACS from Denafrips, Aqua, Lampizator and others. So I'm wondering whether I should give them another try. Unfortunately, where I live the only real (suboptimal) option is to audition by purchasing one DAC at a time. Before I start down that road again, I thought I would ask the collective brain of Audiogon about how much of a difference I might expect, as against the Holo Spring level 2, from a new Denafrips Pontus II or used Terminator II, a used Aqua La Voce or Lampizator, or some other R2R DAC under $5K. I don't require require resolutions greater than 24/192 (beyond which I discern no difference). I do like the option of MQA decoding, but it's not a deal breaker. 

The rest of my system (source components aside), at present, include a Parasound JC2 BP preamp, a pair of VTV Purifi mono amps, and Harbeth C7ES-3 speakers.

audio-satisficer
ghasley
2,439 posts
 

@charles1dad its a fun hobby with wonderful people (mostly LOL). There has never been a better time to be in the hobby. There has never been more amazing products available than today and I can't wait to see what's over the horizon. I utilize some seriously old tech and some seriously new tech and never has high end gear been better built, better sounding or more reliable. All the best charles.

m-db's avatar
m-db
939 posts
 

metaldetektor    Back to the topic at hand -- reasonably priced R2R dacs -- I've put the Sonnet through its paces and it's great. Accurate and nuanced timbre, balanced from top to bottom, no digital edge. Is it as good as my reference DAC that costs three times as much? It is not. I could go on at length as to why, but what's the point -- they're in very different price brackets. I have yet to find this mythical thing called a giant killer. If you think you've found one, you're looking at the wrong giant. But if I was searching for a DAC in the $3-4k range, it's a wonderful DAC I could happily settle down with.

Thanks for this followup it's much appreciated.

M 

 

 

 

sleeeepguy
27 posts
 

@ghasley 

I was fortunate to have come across Performance Hifi in Copenhagen on holiday this week who had the Merason DAC1 in their store and it sounded phenomenal there. I have been on a journey to finding a DAC w these qualities but don’t understand enough about what hardware I need to Source/Stream to the Merason. I currently use a Bluesound Node as I use this ecosystem in my home.  What will be missing using the Node to Stream? What other streamers should I look at?  This DAC is at the TOP of my range and there isn’t much room for adding a new Streamer, but LOVED the musicality of this DAC in the setup I saw,

ghasley
2,439 posts
 

@sleeeepguy 

I'm not experienced with the Bluesound but a general rule of thumb might be to buy the Merason and know that it will not be the weak link in your system. It will continue to scale ever higher as you upgrade your streaming in the future. I don't see how you can go wrong if you liked the sound you heard.

sleeeepguy
27 posts
 

Great point.  What are you using as a streamer?  Don’t know if I will hear a marketable improvement if my weakest link shutters any improvement.

More to discover