Hands's Non-Oversampling DAC Comparison Master List

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Hands, Mar 3, 2017.

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Unfortunately zero stock on Flint and Orchid right now. Will wait...
     
  2. Slade01

    Slade01 Almost "Made"

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    I would wager the same though if the Flint is running DAC2 chips…might be more interesting. Too bad there isn’t an orchid or flint around to battle around Pokémon style…
     
  3. lehmanhill

    lehmanhill Almost "Made"

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    Kinda a late reply. Sorry.

    I owned a Flint when it first came out. I had an early Gungnir and was reading Hands warnings that some people like NOS and other don't. So I bought a Flint as a representative of NOS sound. I liked the overall character enough that I replaced the Flint with an Onyx and eventually found a used Pavane L3. As far as the early Gungnir, I like the Flint better, but I guess I am one of those who like the NOS sound overall.

    If my early Flint experience is representative, my guess is that the MMB2 and Orchid would be better than the Flint, although I haven't personally compared them. I would describe the Flint sound as having many of the things that some people dislike in NOS dacs. As I moved up the Metrum food chain, I found that the extra channels cleared up high frequency, improved clarity, and opened up the sound stage. Your experience may vary from mine.

    An alternative suggestion is the Gustard R26. It's a bit more expensive than the Orchid, but can be compared in NOS mode. I haven't heard it, but lots of positive vibes in the webverse.
     
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  4. RedFuneral

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    The EF400(and possibly 600) from Hifiman would also fit into the same 'classic R2R' soundcamp as the Flint. They're both OS/NOS switchable and include amps. They'd be an interesting comparison to the MMB2 & B2 which are also switchable.

    Unfortunately I haven't owned a Flint in years and I'm more enjoying fast sounding D/S gear ATM but I can say the Flint got more listening time while it was here than the EF400 is getting now. I remember the Flint seemed good with the transients despite being warm/dark where the Hifiman is clearly round, bold, & bloomy(read too slow & polite for metal) on top of the warmth. This is true with or without NOS mode.
     
  5. bobboxbody

    bobboxbody Friend

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    I really like the design of the Promitheus Audio tube DAC and emailed them about making me a version with AES input and the possibility of a different USB input card and separate power switch for the tube stage so I could leave the chips on all the time but not unnecessarily burn up tubes/electricity/heat and didn't receive a reply. I might order it anyway and try to do the mods myself.
     
  6. caute

    caute Lana Del Gayer than you

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    whoa interesting DAC... TDA1545. fml tho, why do mfgs always have to use 6922s in the output tho? there are so many other good-sounding dual triodes that don't cost half as much as the DAC does for a good matched pair.

    if you get it, def make a thread and do impressions, comparos! which other NOS DACs have you used before?
     
  7. bobboxbody

    bobboxbody Friend

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    I've only ever had 2 DACs, the og Modi MB and the Gungnir MB, which started as A1 gen2, then gen5, then A2 Unison.
     
  8. caute

    caute Lana Del Gayer than you

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    oh boy... modern hifi multibit to... NOS TDA1545... you're takin' quite the leap lmao. luv it. you should get it imo. and then if u actually do, ill send you ecc88 Herleen Valvos for shipping to play around w.
     
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  9. Qstik

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    I've found a Gustard R26 in NOS mode with an external 10 MHz master clock to be exceptionally good sounding in my system. There is a significant improvement with an external master clock.
     

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