Massdrop x Airist Audio R-2R DAC Discussions | Drop

Massdrop x Airist Audio R-2R DAC

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Nov 9, 2019

I have $2000. Can this be my end game DAC ?

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rubley00

Nov 16, 2019

nick_tThis is one of the worst DAC's on sale. Get the SMSL D1 if you want a great DAC

Nov 17, 2019

rubley00Why is that ? Elaborate please.

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Nov 17, 2019

nick_tYou are asking, if R-2R can be end game, or could be for you?

(Edited)

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Nov 17, 2019

rastusYes. But why R-2R is one of the worst DAC ?

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Nov 17, 2019

nick_tThe simplest conversion, will always remain the most true. The simplest conversion process, will always remain complex in its workings. The simplest conversion tool, will always remain the most elusive to make. All that R-2R requires to truly perform and show excellence beyond DS or FPGA,, is a perfect resistor... this is truly no small task, we have come a ways in tech that can assist here, since the last push,, a few more tweaks and this could be nice, very nice, we can get closer now. In the specmanship & minimize-to-the-maximum digital wars, with silver used more to trade, not to conduct,, we lost some music along the way... Why there will be more of a growing organic towards “give me my damn music back”, you are starting to see.

(Edited)

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Nov 17, 2019

rastusSo is it bad and worst ?

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Nov 17, 2019

nick_tR-2R is today, the conversion process that can render the most life back into music, reproduced from a digital recording, and it can be made better. Better to say; it is today the best, while remaining the worst;) The music vs spec war...

(Edited)

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Nov 19, 2019

nick_tSomething like the Benchmark DAC3 is the best dac

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bsatow

131

Nov 19, 2019

nick_tIf it sounds good to you, then yes. If it doesn't I suppose you can return it or sell it.

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Nov 20, 2019

TheTerriblePuddleHow do you know ?

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Nov 20, 2019

nick_tBecause under a rigorous testing methodology it recreates every audio signal faithfully.

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Nov 20, 2019

TheTerriblePuddleWhat about other DAC ?

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Nov 20, 2019

nick_tTo answer your question in regards to purchasing an R-2R DAC, yes, for ~$2K you can get a Denafrips Pontus, and it can be considered "end game", at this price point. I can say that with a $2K budget, I would buy the Pontus today. https://www.vinshineaudio.com/product-page/denafrips-pontus-r2r-dac The gray market that Denafrips does not sell to, but someone does; https://www.ebay.com/itm/Denafrips-Pontus-R2R-USB-DAC-I2S-PCM-AES-AK4118-32bit-DSD256-Balanced-Decoder/254362072155?hash=item3b3929345b:m:mdonjfFoDM27pb3mfLcRvYw

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Nov 20, 2019

nick_tMatrix Audio X-Sabre Pro MQA or RME ADI-2

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Nov 21, 2019

TheTerriblePuddleWhat do you mean ?

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Nov 21, 2019

rastusDoes this so called end game sounds better than R-2R DAC or SMSL D1 or Gishellli Labs and other DAC below $1000 any better ?

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Nov 21, 2019

nick_tyou asked for other dacs

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Nov 21, 2019

TheTerriblePuddleYes other dacs that is the best.

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Nov 21, 2019

nick_tAnd so I stated

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Nov 21, 2019

TheTerriblePuddleAnd how do you know its the best ? Better than $500 DAC ?

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Nov 21, 2019

nick_tWhich $500 dac?

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Nov 21, 2019

nick_t$500 DAC in general

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Nov 21, 2019

nick_tI own an Ares, beyond this I have to look at reviews, I missed the demo of a Terminator at my club, but hope to make the next meet where there is this Terminator to behold. The best DS DAC I have is a Korg with a CS4398 in it, so to compare it against the D1 with dual ES9038's in it, may not be on the level, though I would venture,, that I would prefer the Ares or Pontus over the D1 still,, I am going for life now over benchmarks... and sticking with the Ares, until the next generation R-2R births.

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Nov 21, 2019

rastusSo which one is the best ? Which amplifier do you paired ? How does the Ares sounds ?

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Nov 21, 2019

nick_tThe Ares sounds like "life", mostly used by me with a Cary CAD-300SEI / CAD-300PB as a head amp. The "best" is determined by you, my best today is pursuing reproduction of music/vocals that sound most, well... real... so R-2R. Got $350 get an Airist/drop RDAC, got $1K buy an Ares, got $2K get a Pontus, got $4K get a Venus, got $6K get a Terminator, got more - like $10-20-30K get a totaldac R-2R rig.

(Edited)

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Nov 21, 2019

nick_tsoekris 1541.

Nov 22, 2019

adeadcrabHow do you know ?

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Nov 22, 2019

rastusAm confuse so which one is the best ?

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Nov 22, 2019

nick_tTotaldac, by knowing they have built the heart of their R-2R, the ladder, out of the most perfect resistors made. Oh, read some reviews, like all the way, and checked the specs too.

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Nov 22, 2019

rastusBut they are so many dac they claim they are the best so how ?

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nick_thttps://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/soekris-dac1541-dac-amp-stream-of-consciousness-impressions.4791/

Nov 22, 2019

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Nov 22, 2019

adeadcrabWhat makes them better than Cary CAD-300SEI, Pontus, Venus, totaldac R-2R rig or even Benchmark DAC3B ?

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Nov 22, 2019

nick_ttonally neutral R2R, Ares Pontus etc are tilted warm same as Airist DAC. Do some research of your own.

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Nov 22, 2019

adeadcrabAres Pontus is more expensive so how can it be the same as titled warm same as Airtist DAC. Difficult to do some research when all review are inaccurate and very bias. No critical comparison and always no flaws at every price point. So what the hell is the difference and the best ?

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Dmac6419

194

Nov 24, 2019

nick_tNOPE

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Nov 24, 2019

Dmac6419NOPE what ?

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Dmac6419

194

Nov 24, 2019

nick_tI have $2000. Can this be my end game DAC ? This Schitt ain't even worth a $1 that'll leave $1999.00 lmao

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Nov 24, 2019

Dmac6419I have no idea what you mean.

robo24

130

Feb 18, 2020

adeadcrabWha?!?!?! That commodore 64 floppy drive sounds like shit!

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Feb 18, 2020

robo24indeed

ams_kenobi

Jun 26, 2020

nick_tA balanced version would be end game .

Jun 27, 2020

Dmac6419Why is that ?

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Jun 27, 2020

ams_kenobiBeware, nonsense found here...

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