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WillysWonka
16
Apr 14, 2020
Ok all, I'm in the market for a DAC for my 789 THX and CTH and need some input from you all as so far you haven't led me astray yet. So far I have been using my Fostex HP4a as a DAC and I'm not even sure either one of these would be an upgrade but I'm down to two. the Massdrop x Airist Audio R-2R DAC or the Grace Design Standard DAC Balanced. I'm leaning toward the Grace as it's balanced for the 789 and your reviews say the unbalanced out of it are almost as good as the balanced. But the resistor ladder technology has me thinking it has to be the better sounding DAC. So talk me into staying with the HP4a or if you have any better choices I've left out but It needs to be in the price range of these please. Any and all feedback welcomed and taken with a grain of salt. headphones used are HD660's, HE4xx's, and Fidelio's for the most part.
schmick0
36
Apr 17, 2020
WillysWonkaI'd say you're probably better off looking at another set of headphones with a different sound signature than getting another DAC. What do you think is missing sound wise from your current setup?
Igor123456789
17
Apr 20, 2020
WillysWonkaR2R is love. R2R is life. Although I haven't heard the Airist, but there are tons of people who dislike it. Based on that, I wouldn't try my luck up that alley. After that, you'd be looking at either a Schiit Bifrost 2 (R2R based on chipset) or the Denafrips Ares II (R2R based on discrete components). They are roughly the same price, although the Ares II definitely costs more to build. I went with the Bifrost 2 two or three months ago and boy, what a difference. I was using an SMSL M100. I find it very hard to describe differences here and there, but there are certain songs where it feels like they changed the musicians, the instruments, and the person behind the studio desk. Being that said, if you can stretch your budget and get it, I can whole heartedly recommend it based on personal experience. My headphones are the Senns HD6XX, DCA AEON 2 Closed Back, and JVC HA-FX750.
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