A polite conversation about the merits of different DAC technologies.

[Jasonovich]

Bespoke FPGA, Ladder Resistors and Chipset DACs really don't sound the same.

Question to ask, do you prefer the vinyl-analogue sounding R2R to the more precise chipset solution such as ESS or AKM or FPGA adoption to give you a more individual sound.

A British Audiophile is certainly sitting more firmly in the R2R camp.

View: https://youtu.be/a-BtA2XPiRU?si=aWkWJif_sTUeK-cM

 

[Al ears]

Bespoke FPGA, Ladder Resistors and Chipset DACs really don't sound the same.

Question to ask, do you prefer the vinyl-analogue sounding R2R to the more precise chipset solution such as ESS or AKM or FPGA adoption to give you a more individual sound.

A British Audiophile is certainly sitting more firmly in the R2R camp.

View: https://youtu.be/a-BtA2XPiRU?si=aWkWJif_sTUeK-cM

Vinyl analogue sounding dac?????

 

[Jasonovich]

Vinyl analogue sounding dac?????

That's what happens when you plagiarise a YT vloggers quote. 😊
I should rephrase, R2Rs are a little softer around the edges and less clinical than chipset based solutions. 🙂

 

[manicm]

That's what happens when you plagiarise a YT vloggers quote. 😊
I should rephrase, R2Rs are a little softer around the edges and less clinical than chipset based solutions. 🙂

That said it's widely acknowledged that, both being chipsets, AKM is softer but more spacious than ESS chips. AKM also encouraged Linn to modify the hell out of them, which is possible. They were borderline re-engineered by Linn. This has not been done with either chipset by any other company I know. Linn still uses AKM in their lesser models.

R2R in its purest form seems to be rare though, as pure R2R by design cannot upsample, so many so called R2Rs are hybrids. So again, if it sounds better is it due to the topology or engineering?

 

[nopiano]

There’s a fascinating review of the latest Aqua DAC, those slinky Italian jobs that Elite import. It’s in the September 2025 Hifi News that arrived yesterday. It has lots of 2nd harmonic distortion thanks to a valve stage, on top of the ladder design.

Not remotely accurate, unlike any number of £200+ offerings, but obviously sounds nice and cuddly! Jitter 995 picosecs, whereas the Quad 3 integrated amp in the same issue is a mere 5 picosecs, absolutely state of the art in a £1,295 integrated!

Each to their own I guess.

 

[RoA]

Personally I prefer accuracy in sound. I had both the R2R and 'normal' version of my Headphone amplifier/DAC on home trial and decided for the latter. I also happen to probably prefer ESS to AKM DAC's but I have not heard enough examples of the latter to make an informed opinion.

 

[ToppingSMSL]

He's more thank likely a victim of placebo. I no longer watch YouTubers who specialise in subjective reviews.

 

[Friesiansam]

What I have, in my Pathos amp, works very well and I'm happy with it, good enough for me.

 

[Gray]

Personally I prefer accuracy in sound.

Me too.
No artificial sweeteners.

That particular reviewer talks of "a more rolled off top end" from the Harmony DAC.
If that's true, honestly, who wants to pay that sort of money (or any sort of money) to achieve a less than neutral sound?