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Eli38
54
Jun 17, 2019
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is it better than topping d70? Initially I wanted to get Grace design balanced dac for my 789.
Fayne
2586
Jun 17, 2019
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Eli38Better? Yes and no, and also that is a preference call.
The D70 is balanced, uses fairly good Delta-Sigma DAC chips (AK4497) as well as not horrible opamps (OPA1612). You get filter options, remote control, XLR out, RCA out, USB in, Coax in, AES in, Optical in, and HDMI IIS in; the whole shebang. Plus it gets fairly good reviews, for the price point that is. You can run it at a much higher resolution (not that it matters much), and it does natively support DSD, which has some sonic benefits (the filters). Spec wise, much much better overall.
The MassDrop x Airist on the other hand is super simple in what it comes with and does. You get usb, optical, and coax in with only unbalanced out. BUT you also get a fairly good sounding (from reviews) R-2R (resistor ladder) DAC. Most ladders are not cheap, as they require higher quality/precision components, and going to a balanced ladder would be very much more expensive. R-2R gives a more 'analog' sound, or so people state; YMMV there, total sonic flavor preference thing.
I don't personally plan on using the Airist with my 789, that is staying with the balanced Topping DX7s or TEAC UD501. I mean, I'll try it out on the 789, because holy crap that is the best can amp I've used, but I'm expecting to use the Airist primarily on the CTH. I'll probably give it a round of listening through the LCX and Dot 1+ as well, totally for the giggles.
ls13coco
79
Jun 18, 2019
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FayneBe interested in hearing what you think of it paired with the 789 is like. I have a AKM dac, looking to get another as I have 5 amps and one dac once my 789 arrives. Torn between audio-gd r2r11 and this Airist dac. The reviews that mentioned small soundstage worry me.
DarkKratoz
50
Jun 18, 2019
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ls13cocoI have an R2R 11. I love it, it's really good. Plenty of power out of the amplifier, and the sound from the DAC is just slightly warm, but still balanced and detailed. Just make sure you download the proper drivers off of the Audio-Gd website.
ls13coco
79
Jun 19, 2019
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DarkKratozDo you own this Airist R2R also? I don't need another amp, but the R2R 11 is still a contender of my decision. I do tend to like warmer sound so that's good to hear at least
Fayne
2586
Jun 20, 2019
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FayneSo, first day I used the Airist with the CTH. That is a great match. Very nice for classical (Beethoven and Chopin) and classic rock (Yes, The Moody Blues, and the Beatles, etc.) . But some of that nice is just because certain musics always seem to sound better through a tube. Them harmonics with strings and distortion, yum. I found that the Drop x Meze Noir 99 were a touch too sensitive for the CTH, while sounding great, the volume was only 10-20% and still excessive. The Drop x Sennheiser HD6xx and EMU (Detachable Cable) Teak on the other hand were extremely pleasant, and by far the best for my Airist + CTH listening.
Today I've been listening to generally the same music as yesterday, but through the 789. The first thing I noticed is that I had to turn the volume up on the 789, versus what I normally get from my DX7s (also TEAC UD-501 or Behringer XR18). That is probably related to the 2Vrms on RCS versus the 4+Vrms of the XLR units. The transparency of the 789 definitely shows off what the Airist can do, as well as any bit error imperfections (that analog topology on the Airist). All my cans are great on the 789 with Airist, but the Drop x HiFiMan HE4xx is a bit tiring. The Meze Noir 99 really shine on the 789 + Airist with Classical (Beethoven Symphonies No. 1 &2; TIDAL has a MQA version, worth a listen.).
I didn't notice any problems with sound stage size. Everything I've run through the DAC has been perfectly acceptable. It handles the detail in the PCM stream rather nicely too.
All my listening was driven by Roon, DAC at a fixed 100% volume, with sample rate at max PCM via power of 2. R128 was enabled (because fark the loudness war and excessive compression of audio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_war ) and a binaural crossfeed (using Chu Moy's settings) was used to make it a touch more like listening to speakers.
Would I suggest using the Airist dedicated to the 789 if you've got a CTH? Probably not, I feel it is better on the CTH. That said, if you do have a 789 or LCX and get the Airist, it won't disappoint... or really any highish quality amp that takes RCA (Schiit for example).
Does the Airist sound better than my Topping DX7s or TEAC UD-501 when used with the 789? Yes and no. I like the sound it produces a bit better than the DX7s for the most part (the ES90xx series always seems a touch sterile). The TEAC UD-501 still sounds the best to me as a general purpose DAC, especially on an amp like the 789 which benefits when used with balanced low noise sources.
(P.S. EDM sounds great on the Airist with both amps, but wasn't good for using the good ol' mk1 ear-hole to judge quality and clarity)
ls13coco
79
Jun 20, 2019
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FayneThank you very much for the detailed impressions! Definitely some good info to sit on here.
Would you say the Airist is better suited with softer music, or does it convey impact well enough to be used with heavier music too without wanting to swap DACs for said genre?
It's funny, my favorite genre is actually death metal. Yet, I've rekindled love for 90s alt music since this hobby, even becoming a huge fan of the Norwegian artist Aurora. I may have ordered the 789 and own two other SS amps, but I do prefer using my DarkVoice usually and if the Airist can add some analogue warmth, without a decrease of soundstage or impact.. I shall be sold. :)
Fayne
2586
Jun 21, 2019
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ls13cocoOh yeah. It is great with Metal. Just like with EDM, I didn't do much testing with Metal because it is harder to hear where things are farking up. I listen to mostly Classical, Classic Rock, and EDM, with a bit of Metal and Punk.
When playing the Genexus album from Fear Factor, The CTH + Airist does produce a bit of off harmonics in the higher pitch ranges, but those are all easily attributed to the lowish quality stock EH 6922 tube. I'd say it is on the warmer side, but not excessively so. Vocals (screamed and lyrically sung) don't get overly covered by the rapidfire drums and electric guitar raaaage, and the treble isn't washed out. With the HD6xx cans on the CTH, it rattles my brain properly at ~55% volume.
Every once in a long while I catch a small pop sound where there shouldn't be one. I'm assuming this is because the Airist is a single ladder per channel, instead of multiple ladders with bit correction per channel. I have heard it on all the amps I've tried it with. It is part of the analogue flavor, I guess.
I expect it'll be pretty sweet on the DarkVoice. I know it is happy on the CTH. At some point I'll have to bring the Dot 1+ down to my office and see how the Airist does with it, but in the long run I expect to be leaving the Airist on the CTH... Or at least until I throw away money and get a Schiitty Saga or Freya to throw in the mix.
(Edited)
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