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Audio-GD Singularity 19 DAC - Comprehensive Review and Impressions

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

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  1. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 6, 2023
    Hands, Mar 23, 2017
    #1
  2. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    First, you owe me a Scotch ... as the one I was drinking is now all over my monitor.

    Second, are you saying that if they produced a version of the Singularity 19 with an ethernet input that we could classify it as a "Steamer"?
     
    Torq, Mar 23, 2017
    #2
  3. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Ahahahahaha picture worth a thousand words...
     
    cskippy, Mar 23, 2017
    #3
  4. meloman

    meloman Acquaintance

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    Oh really? Weren't you the one who couldn't tell apart a Stereophile Class A+ rated Antelope Zodiac DAC and a measly Class B rated Schiit Yggdrasil? :D
     
    meloman, Mar 23, 2017
    #4
  5. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Nope, I did one blind, A/B test of those DACs and got it right. No further testing needed. I have the best hearing, objectively. :)
     
    Hands, Mar 23, 2017
    #5
  6. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    What are the reasons for AudioGD's failure though? We have to speculate.
     
    Psalmanazar, Mar 23, 2017
    #6
  7. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    A cheap-ass discrete ladder DAC with 5% resistors and 20% capacitors (just coz :rolleyes:), all in free air.
     
    Clemmaster, Mar 23, 2017
    #7
  8. eastboundofnowhere

    eastboundofnowhere Almost "Made"

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    Shit! I almost impulse bought this. Thanks for the "review". Really.
     
    eastboundofnowhere, Mar 23, 2017
    #8
  9. HitmanFluffy

    HitmanFluffy Hoping to see real genitals someday!

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    Something about a picture and a thousand words
     
    HitmanFluffy, Mar 23, 2017
    #9
  10. Feuergeist76

    Feuergeist76 New

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    Excellent ... I was afraid it is like that.
     
    Feuergeist76, Mar 23, 2017
    #10
  11. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    But does it play anime well?
     
    Elnrik, Mar 23, 2017
    #11
  12. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    Its SNR must be good enough for gramophone records. Maybe cassette tape, if we're lucky.
     
    Clemmaster, Mar 23, 2017
    #12
  13. mscott58

    mscott58 Friend

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    Heard it rocks 8 tracks hard...totally.
     
    mscott58, Mar 23, 2017
    #13
  14. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    Can AGD Singularity resolve Burzum using telephone headset as mic though? Narrowband muppet voice frequency range?
     
    Psalmanazar, Mar 23, 2017
    #14
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    OMFG. I just looked at and commented on the measurements, and now I see this!

    f**k, we spent near $800 on SBAF funds on this piece of shit and will probably recoup $150 now. I don't know if half the folks in the loaner will drop, or if they will stay on just to see how bad it is. I should have listened to my gut, per @Torq on this one.
     
    purr1n, Mar 23, 2017
    #15
  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    This must be really bad. I've known @Hands for a while now. He's usually super fair and if anything very polite in this reviews, straddling the lines. Wow.

    You burned in the TXCO XO ABC OPA, etc? 48 hours right? Maybe 400 is needed.
     
    purr1n, Mar 23, 2017
    #16
  17. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Nah, if you want you could sell it on head-fi and it will get eaten up like hot cakes. Also, RIP Audio-GD.
     
    cskippy, Mar 23, 2017
    #17
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I dunno. People are smart. They read this site. I haven't been able to get rid of that shitty Parasound A23 amp. Some potential buyers remarked "Hey, aren't you the guy who wrote that review on that site that said this amp is a piece of shit?"
     
    purr1n, Mar 23, 2017
    #18
  19. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Hahaha, okay. Good for them. I wish more people did their research before wasting their money on inferior products. You never know though.
     
    cskippy, Mar 23, 2017
    #19
  20. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    I didn't have high hopes going in. Wanted to catch a new AGD DAC while it was still hot news or whatever. Hard to do with their frequent releases, but we got it this time. Also figured it might be a new day, with the new modules and other DSP crap. Still, I had tempered expectations and a clean slate, and boy was this still ultra disappointing. Hell, I feel like I made a mistake voting to try it!

    I don't even know where to start describing it...

    I think my only good thought was that it didn't sound lean and weak. And some jumper settings had OK tone. But the bass is pretty bloated and lacks real extension. Soundstage is super small, forward, and lacks depth. Absolutely no semblance of an ability to present nuances and intricacies whatsoever. Forced sounding. Everything sounds crunchy and distorted (much like the face I made on first listen). Jumper settings vary which species the shit came from, but shit is shit.

    Can it really be this bad? Are we in the Bermuda Audio Triangle where we get broken gear all the time? f**k, even my cheapo, NOS 1543 DAC is better than this, even ignoring my affinity towards NOS and that sort of old school Philips or BB multibit sound. The S19 might top my list for worst DAC I've ever heard. I am in a sort of disbelief about it, actually.
     
    Hands, Mar 23, 2017
    #20
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