Audio-gd R2R 7 DAC

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by GanGreinke, Jun 30, 2017.

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  1. GanGreinke

    GanGreinke Friend

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    It looks like Audio-gd released a new high-end DAC:

    http://www.audio-gd.com/R2R/R2R7/R2R7EN.htm

    As is par for the course, there are a lot of buzz words, like "built in FPGA processor" and "native DSD support." It does not use the PCM 1704, so perhaps they really are serious about having a shortage of chips and needing to develop an alternative. Interestingly, they are using a different chip than what is in the Singularity 19, which, based on everything that has been said about it here, is a good thing. It feels like an admission that the DA M1 modules in the S19 couldn't cut it or perhaps that they weren't meant to be used in "high-end" DAC's in the first place, which still doesn't excuse the poor performance.

    Maybe Audio-gd gets closer with their 2nd attempt at their own proprietary chip?
     
  2. Mshenay

    Mshenay Barred from loaner program. DON'T SEND ME GEAR.

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    @Hands @atomicbob hope you guys are able to get your hands on one curious to see how this one compares to the competition, and other AGD products
     
  3. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    jeepers already? Audio-gd has DACs breeding faster than rabbits. I'm sure that's a good thing.
    i'm already in pre-ejac phase hoping that @Hands releases a turd jpg as summarized review post. again.
     
  4. Erroneous

    Erroneous Friend

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  5. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    I have a hunch that Audio-GD and discrete resistor DACs of ANY kind are just not their forte...No matter the design or compensation used for their discrete resistor DAC design.

    I will test it if someone pays for it AND covers shipping both ways.

    I also have my doubts their power supply and analog output stages are all that transparent. Another hunch.

    Also I still have shit in my ears from the S19.
     
  6. GanGreinke

    GanGreinke Friend

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    You know that they are going to release at least another 3 models strictly from the new chip (I'll call it now: look out for the R2R 11, R2R 7-Singularity, and R2R NOS 7 to be released in the near future).

    I'd love to see an honest review from the likes of @Hands, @Marvey, @Torq, and others, but I know that this is in a whole other price bracket. While the S19 was not cheap, this is close to 3 times more expensive, and I'd hate to see someone spend that kind of money only to find that it was an even bigger turd.

    Speaking of turds (excuse my childish humor), could this be turned into a subjective scale of crappiness? In medicine (though usually more in pediatrics than in adults), the bristol stool chart is used to help physicians and nurses better understand the problems people might be having with their GI systems. That is to say that there are degrees of turds, with some being more concerning than others. A reviewer could just post up a jpg of a turd, and we'd be able to quickly tell whether they though it were perhaps just overpriced or completely irredeemable. Is that too disgusting (I'm surrounded by people in the medical community, so I sometimes lose track of what the average person would find disgusting?
     
  7. Mshenay

    Mshenay Barred from loaner program. DON'T SEND ME GEAR.

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    Marvey used to [or still does?] hand out a Golden Schlong [or was it Schlongee] award... that was exactly as it sounds. I don't think were a crowd that's easily disgusted
     
  8. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Nobody's even heard this thing yet and discussion is already in the fecal fetish stage.

    Getting a woodie over anticipation of poo I find rather disgusting :eek:
     
  9. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I call BS on this unless they can provide INL / DNL plots or others from which these could be derived. These would be needed anyway for FPGA based correction / calibration.
     
  11. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    User manual is now available:

    [​IMG]
     
  12. Aklegal

    Aklegal Friend

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    I guess I am an idiot for expecting that their first non-1704 R2R flagship DAC would cost less than the perpetually in-stock but "in an emergency shortage" 1704 based version.
     
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2017
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    1ru6kr.jpg
     
  14. Scubadude

    Scubadude Almost "Made"

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    I've heard the NOS 11 and NFB 11. Fine products both. The NOS I rate as the best single-box DAC/amp I've heard, and the NFB I prefer over many FOTM's (read Jot). So no problems with AGD's products. What I do find troublesome is the obscure product hierarchy (both listed examples have 11 in their names but pitched at opposite ends of the market ... WTF?) and constantly changing product lineup.
     
  15. JeremiahS

    JeremiahS Almost "Made"

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    A good friend is using Audio-GD flagship amp and DAC to power his headphone, mainly the HiFiMan HE-1000. I think I can see there is a point about members here expressing doubts because their operation is hit-and-miss: he had to send his amp (if I remember right it's the Master 9) back to fix some minor problems and mod the bias so it runs in pure class A and his DAC (Master 7 I think) he also had to send to China to perform digital upgrades into the latest version that is using FPGA. At the very least Kingwa the owner is friendly and communicative.

    Once everything is running tip-top though the sound is quite phenomenal. Our small local community generally agree that it's competitive to the flagship Schiit Ragnarok and Yggdrasil, offering a less aggressive and more spacious sound. In terms of pricing though the Audio-GD is a sure winner since Schiit operates here in Southeast Asia via dealers so their offerings are significantly more expensive than the original US prices.

    Now I just need to convince him to try the R2R 7 DAC...

    Regards,
    Jeremiah
     
  16. Aklegal

    Aklegal Friend

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    Yeah I own the Master 3 amp - which I have directly compared to many other well reviewed multi-thousand dollar amps in the audio systems of my friends. The end result was 3 out of 4 of them bought the Master 3. I used to use the Master 9 as a pre but I have regulated it to headphone amp status so I could use a upgraded Wyred STP as a pre.

    I just poo on Audio GD nowadays when it comes to their 1704 dacs and their dacs in general. I've heard 7-8 audio gd dacs and 4 different preamps, 3 different headphone amps and 2 different stereo amps. Its odd to me that the one thing they are most known for (dacs) are arguably the thing they are the worst at. Stereo amps are easily the best equipment that they make. And they used to make amazingly great low priced preamps. If you ever see one of thier P-2 preamps for sale snatch it up.
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2017
  17. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    OK. Can someone link me to NFB1 product page? Also need pricing on it. Also can't find price on NFB-11.28. Overcome with frustration and about to snap my Pixel phone in half because I'm too dumb to navigate that POS website.
     
  18. insidious meme

    insidious meme Ambivalent Kumquat

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    Why wait for some SBAF guy to review this when Currawong is on the case!

     
  19. Daveheart

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  20. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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