Audio-GD

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Luckbad, Oct 14, 2015.

  1. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,408
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Holly Springs, NC
    Been listening to my Reference 5 and Roc for hours. The DAC has been on for about 36 hours now.

    I thought it sounded great on day 1. Some warm-up time and changing the jumper inside from "Soft" (Warm) to "Neutral" and this baby is shining.

    Incredible sound using ACSS between the two and balanced out to my Sennheiser HD650s.

    http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/dac/RE5/RE5EN.htm
    http://www.audio-gd.com/pro/headphoneamp/roc/rocen.htm

    Anyone else rocking Audio-GD gear? It's the best I've ever owned (we'll see how it compares soon to the Schiit Bifrost Multibit).

    Pardon the grubby fingerprints that I'm going to go ahead and blame on my toddler.

    20151014_235145.jpg
     
  2. n-a

    n-a New

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Looking good :)
    Well i like the Audio-gd gear and allways loved the warm Audio-gd sound. I tried different max.2000 euro dacs, but liked my Reference-7 and SA-2 sound most of them until...
    I did find the Theta Gen V-A. And that was my latest and greatest full size dac. Wonderful 3D sound, with bit of warmth. Now i have downsized my gear, but allready missing the megacomboburrito taste ;)
    I am looking forward for your Ref-5 vs Bifrost MB impressions.
     
  3. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,268
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I concur the jump from M7 to Gen V is awesome!
     
  4. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,812
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Dijon / Burgundy / France / EU
    Seems the Jump from anything to the Theta Gen V is always awesome then :D
     
  5. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,408
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Holly Springs, NC
    I'm really enjoying the Reference 5 + Roc stack into my partially-modded HD650s (I've only pulled the foam out from behind the driver so far).

    I'm back to trying to find a way to get a Master 11. With its Amanero USB input, it can apparently be used properly in NOS mod, which I also find very attractive.

    According to Kingwa, the Master 11 is basically the single unit version of my stack + 2-3 generations of evolution.

    It can still accept input and will output balanced, so I'm not 100% locked into that as my only combo if I get one.
     
  6. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,408
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Holly Springs, NC
    As resident Audio-GD fanboy, I figured I'd update this thread.

    I run a Master-11 at home now. It's absolutely amazing.

    For work, I just bought a used NFB-2.32.

    Dual Wolfson WM8741 chips with selectable filters sound pair nicely with my Garage1217 Project Sunrise III and Google Music. It's basically a DAC-19 using Wolfson chips.

    http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/dac/NFB21/NFB2.1EN.htm

    I still want a DAC-19 for work one day, but this should tide me over until Kingwa updates that baby again.
     
  7. brencho

    brencho Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,978
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    LA
    That's good to hear! I was/am tempted by the master 11. I have a dac19 on hand that I want to compare to the Bifrost Multibit and Gungnir Multibit and we'll see which one stays with me vs goes to work vs gets sold to someone else. Nice thing about the master 11 is you don't have to think about amps anymore :) right now running these into a liquid carbon, we'll see how it goes after I move into a new place in a few weeks.
     
  8. Dukja

    Dukja New

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    OK, US
    Home Page:
    Eagerly waiting for your DAC19 (assumed 10-yr anniversary version) vs Gungnir Multibit results...

    Or I'll get one to compare if impatience gets better of me. :D
     
  9. brencho

    brencho Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,978
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    LA
    Yeah, it's the 10th anniv edition one. Haha, the only reason i have them both is because i got impatient and because i'm an empiricist at heart (maybe, but probably justifying my impatience :)
     
  10. mtoc

    mtoc SBAF's Resident Shit-Stirrer

    Banned
    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2015
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    28
     
  11. SpaceLaser

    SpaceLaser Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    145
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Raleigh, NC
    I've got a NFB28 working as the main DAC/amp in my desktop rig right now. It's a powerhouse and hasn't let me down yet.
     
  12. zeissiez

    zeissiez Turn that Schiit down - acquaintance

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2015
    Likes Received:
    136
    Trophy Points:
    33
  13. Gravity

    Gravity Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2015
    Likes Received:
    168
    Trophy Points:
    43
    This is what it says on their webpage though:

    "Please note the HE series products are upgrade from Master series, even though the price had a big rate increased but the sound quality had not same rate improved."
     
  14. SpaceLaser

    SpaceLaser Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    145
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Raleigh, NC
    Yeah, that price is kind of silly.
     
  15. PacoTaco

    PacoTaco Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,474
    Trophy Points:
    93
    If you want to deal with the Chinese funstuff that comes with chinese audio companies, Audio-GD gives Schiit a run for it's money as far as its midrange options go (like the NFB-28, NFB-11, ect.)
     
  16. Kevin Bryner

    Kevin Bryner New

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2016
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Any progress with the comparison? I messaged @Luckbad but would love to hear thoughts from others as well. TIA!
     
  17. Dukja

    Dukja New

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    OK, US
    Home Page:
    Yep, waiting for the update, please!
     
  18. Madaboutaudio

    Madaboutaudio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    545
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Singapore
    The downside of Audio-gd products resale value isn't as high as Schiit especially for CONUS markets. Shipping cost for international repairs(after 1st year warranty) can get pretty expensive for heavier units like M7/M11/M9.

    The advantage of M9/M11(over Schiit) is that it has remote control for volume control, muting and switching sources.
     
  19. Ash1412

    Ash1412 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    667
    Trophy Points:
    93
    At that level, I'd rather use a potentiometer. Nothing beats the feeling of turning that knob. BTW, don't headphone listeners sit right next to the amp/DAC most of the time? I certainly wouldn't like dragging headphones around the house and looking like an ass.
     
  20. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,408
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Holly Springs, NC
    Another reason I have a Master-11 instead of Gungnir Multibit is that you don't have to leave them powered on. It only takes 30-90 minutes to reach its sonic potential instead of days.

    With a toddler who loves messing with my gear, I have to be able to turn it off when I'm at work.
     

Share This Page