Audio-GD Singularity 19 DAC - Comprehensive Review and Impressions

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Hands, Mar 23, 2017.

  1. PacoTaco

    PacoTaco Friend

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    This is kind of....shocking in a way. They usually do make good shit for the price. The NFB-11 (the last revision...not the new one) had a great DAC section for the price [too bad about the amp,] the NFB-28 was excellent, their wolfson shit was always on point, and the NFB-27.38 was one of the best Sabre implementations per-

    Oh. I just noiticed the pattern here. It seems like, with the exception of the Master 7 (though that was from Marv's DAC list...which has been around for awhile now,) I don't think ADG has done anything "well" as far as the R2Rs and PCM chips are concerned. Their standalone amps are the shit, their entry level stuff is usually the shit (with the exception of the R2R entry level from what I've heard,) and they do the sabre chips well. But, for some reason, they're not handling their other two chip-sets well at all.

    It's a shame too. With their good shit, they keep up with Schiit's stuff (and do better against Schiit's solid-state amps if I'm honest...with the exception of the entry-level amps in the combos.) With their bad shit....well, I hate the Element, and I'd rather listen to that.
     
  2. Walderstorn

    Walderstorn Friend

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    It's hard to guess why it is so. The thing is they should just do better with their budget friendly dacs and even more they shouldn't release crap, that goes for any company but, unfortunately, it's not always what happens.
     
  3. PacoTaco

    PacoTaco Friend

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    It's making me consider rebuying the Bifrost Multibit in January, and get a ADG C-2 with it. Or just roll with the NFB-28.38 again and never touch ADG's R2R shit.
     
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    The NFB-27.38 was not bad for its time, but ultimately it was surpassed by the Matrix X-Sabre for quite a bit less money (and less weight and less parts). I think the problem is that AGD has been a one trick pony (same circuits, same set of designs, cut and paste over many product lines) and now things are finally catching up to them (PCM1704s much actually be in short supply, the TOTL designs have translated poorly into the more cost-effective mid and low end designs, some types of circuits turned out to be not ideal with certain products, etc.)
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2017
  5. stacksmasher

    stacksmasher New

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    Do you have a list of all the stuff you (SBAF) buy and test?

     
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    No list. Maybe look in the loaners subforums to get an idea what SBAF has purchased and passed around.
     
  7. Hogcryat

    Hogcryat New

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    Noob here, you mean your DAC should be on 24/7?
     
  8. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    Generally speaking, yes. Multibit dacs especially.
     
  9. lm4der

    lm4der A very good sport - Friend

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    Yeah, the general advice is to just leave your DAC on 24/7. This is apparently pretty important for the multibit DACs, that need to reach thermal equilibrium to sound right. I'm not sure it is as important for D/S DACs, but the advice still holds.

    Edit: Funny, crossposted with @Elnrik
     
  10. Walderstorn

    Walderstorn Friend

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    IMO yes, even for DS it's important. For example, in my Gungnir and Gungnir Multibit both beneficied from it. Everytime i went on vacations, and because of that i unplugged everything, and that treble was not something that i would call super pleasant, even more on the DS one.

    Edit - both were just shortly together so no, i am not crazy.
     
  11. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    We only have your word for that, obviously.
     
  12. Walderstorn

    Walderstorn Friend

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    Well i am still in friendly terms with my ex, which is not so common in the world so take it for what it is... :)
     
  13. FallingObjects

    FallingObjects Pay It Forward

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    Oh look, he's speaking in tongues!
     

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