nopiano
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Do you stream hi-res music or download hi-res tracks? We want your opinions!
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See any incredible holiday deals? Let us know what you find, or what you hope to see deeply discounted!
kittymac
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Apologies for that. I was blocked from replying or deleting my post.
Jasonovich
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I thought it's time I have a proper HiFi setup in my dining room. Currently it's orientated towards wireless music from my phone and I've always been curious about R2R and the temptation was too much.
Got myself budget setter the FiiO K11 R2R, there is also, slightly cheaper version of K11 without R2R circuitry, comes with a standard DAC chipset.
The R2R version from Peter Tyson and RicherSound selling at £149. I could have got it from AliExpress for £130ish but didn't want to wait August for delivery. Paying little extra and delivery next week from Peter Tyson wasn't bad.
I have my spare JF MX digital transport which I was planning to sell, I need to retrieve from the packaging. It's now called in for active duty.
I had the Denafrips Enyo 15th R2R Enyo in mind to replace either the Matrix or the Eversolo but I thought this was mad, why replace something, if you're already happy with the sound?
HiFi can be an addiction and always good to think things through sensibly. Tarting up the diner setup is not only inexpensive but allows some flavour from R2R. Though, to be exact, the FiiO K11 isn't a true R2R, it's more a scaledown approach of the real thing.
Got myself budget setter the FiiO K11 R2R, there is also, slightly cheaper version of K11 without R2R circuitry, comes with a standard DAC chipset.
The R2R version from Peter Tyson and RicherSound selling at £149. I could have got it from AliExpress for £130ish but didn't want to wait August for delivery. Paying little extra and delivery next week from Peter Tyson wasn't bad.
I have my spare JF MX digital transport which I was planning to sell, I need to retrieve from the packaging. It's now called in for active duty.
I had the Denafrips Enyo 15th R2R Enyo in mind to replace either the Matrix or the Eversolo but I thought this was mad, why replace something, if you're already happy with the sound?
HiFi can be an addiction and always good to think things through sensibly. Tarting up the diner setup is not only inexpensive but allows some flavour from R2R. Though, to be exact, the FiiO K11 isn't a true R2R, it's more a scaledown approach of the real thing.
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Revolutions
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Nice! I’d be keen to hear your thoughts. The only way I can connect headphones to the Linn preamp is by using an external dac, so been pondering a unit with headphone out for a while.
My choices narrowed to the FiiO, SMSL Raw MDA1 or a used Topping DX7 pro+. Considering I haven’t yet had single moment where I wished I had a headphone setup, it’s more luck than judgment that I don’t have a DAC sat on the shelf gathering dust.
Funnily enough, someone on the maverick forum said they ended up with the standard K11, much preferring it over the R2R.
Enjoy!
Jasonovich
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Cheers bud! Yes absolutely, happy to provide feedback.
I was actually going to buy the Hifiman EF400 Himalaya R2R DAC secondhand from eBay, this has a better sound and better headphone connection but it's silver. I know my other half will go spare because it sticks out like a sore thumb, the FiiO was the most sensible compromise.
EF400 retails abot £500 new. This is a proper Headphone amp and R2R DAC.
Yep it's not always room positioning, there's the wifey factor as well.
Update: you can buy it new from HiFiMan store on eBay and it's cheaper. Still only in silver, shame.
See link below:
The standard K11 will give you that analytical detailed sound but those who advocate R2R will appreciate its softer tonal quality, the sound is more spaced out, more natural texture.
Oh wow, got a message from courier, they have Peter Tyson package, hopefully they'll deliver it sooner than later 🙂
I suspect those weaned on vinyl will appreciate more the sound from R2R, while others who're looking for more transparency and detail will lean toward the chipset solution.
I think I'll like both but for different reasons. 🙂
Attachments
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Revolutions
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That hifiman looks like an interesting product - was looking for DSD playback & saw only digital connections are usb. the Linn Selekt DSM only has USB input, not output, so wouldn’t work without adding a converter to the party 😢
I feel like my own spouse: looking at my setup with walnut cabinet, cherry speakers & an oak plinth on the turntable. It’s like I’m doing an ironic 90s style deliberate clash of colours to be edgy. But a new plinth for the LP12 is silly $$$
anyways, I digress. Hope the FiiO arrives soon & it does the thing for you 👍🏻
I feel like my own spouse: looking at my setup with walnut cabinet, cherry speakers & an oak plinth on the turntable. It’s like I’m doing an ironic 90s style deliberate clash of colours to be edgy. But a new plinth for the LP12 is silly $$$
anyways, I digress. Hope the FiiO arrives soon & it does the thing for you 👍🏻
Jasonovich
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There is also other R2R EF499, I overlooked and it's black! If Linn has Coax output and has support for streaming via the ethernet Lans connection. This might work?
🙂
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Revolutions
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Haha, all those inputs & outputs, the only one of use is the coax. But that could work. Will add that to my list, thanks ☺️
Jasonovich
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I ordered my FiiO K11 R2R from Peter Tyson yesterday and arrived today and I opted for the free standard delivery.
Glad I opted out on the DPD special delivery 🙂
Excellent packaging. First impressions construction wise, full metal, nice metal knob. Small in size.
Magnet for finger prints.
Costs the same price as my old Topping E50 but should perform many layers above that. We'll see.
I set up my digital transport and I was about to add the K11 to the stack and Just realised, I have no RCA cables for the analogue output. Oh fudge!
Ordered Mogami RCAs from eBay, hopefully these arrive in the next few days.
Here are some photos 🙂
Accessories, PSU, usb, jack adapter and power cord.
I've brought over some people for Blind tasting 😅
Glad I opted out on the DPD special delivery 🙂
Excellent packaging. First impressions construction wise, full metal, nice metal knob. Small in size.
Magnet for finger prints.
Costs the same price as my old Topping E50 but should perform many layers above that. We'll see.
I set up my digital transport and I was about to add the K11 to the stack and Just realised, I have no RCA cables for the analogue output. Oh fudge!
Ordered Mogami RCAs from eBay, hopefully these arrive in the next few days.
Here are some photos 🙂
Accessories, PSU, usb, jack adapter and power cord.
I've brought over some people for Blind tasting 😅
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jjbomber
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jjbomber
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Al ears
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Jasonovich
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It's funny how unrelated things can sometimes correlate. Not sure where it originated from but there is some talk about food tasting better under blind testing .
Better to keep it bottled, last thing I want to hear, is the food has to be of the same temperature?....No, stop it! 🤣
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AJM1981
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Bought a Sansui Au-505 integrated amp. The image below is not mine, but it is in a great condition technically and optically.
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Entrigo
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Nice! Was really tempted to buy the 20 - then came across a better than half price Vertere Phono 1.. But still very curious to try one of Michael Fidler's units one day.
The_Lecht_Rocks
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jjbomber
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I wonder how many of us have unused and still in the box items!!!
Jasonovich
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FiiO is really on a roll, they've just released £100 Streamer to complete with WiiM Pro Plus.
If you're looking for a budget Streamer, check out the Pig review below 👇
www.hifipig.com
If you're looking for a budget Streamer, check out the Pig review below 👇
FiiO SR11 Desktop Streamer | Hifi Pig
FiiO SR11 DESKTOP STREAMER REVIEW FiiO SR11 Desktop Streamer is a sub £100 "Roon Ready" music streamer designed to attach to legacy HiFi systems without streaming capability, active speakers, radios, or just to be used with headphones.
www.hifipig.com
Entrigo
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Well not now. Literally got the Vertere a couple of weeks ago and it's really good so far (apart from maybe being a little quieter than others on MM /40dB) so not likely to change for a while.
Jasonovich
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My feedback of FiiO R2R K11.
Firstly, let's get the little problem I had out of the way. I couldn't get any sound from my FiiO, I tried every configuration and possible settings. I did all my checks;
USB In - tick
Switched input front panel (headphones) to Back Panel -tick
USB cable secured firmly inside sockets DAC and DT - tick
I also switched USB output to Coax and still no sound. I was begining to think there was a problem with the FiiO.
I wasn't able to come to that conclusion, until I was satisfied definitively that all checks had been done, so I moved on to examine the connection on my amp SMSL A300.
The select input option for FiiO was set to RCA IN2 - correct. IN1 is assigned to the Android TV. The cables secured in OK.
This was so frustrating!
Just so, to be absolutely sure, I unplugged the USB from my DT media player and replaced it with my DAP, the music was coming through beautifully and the FiiO was picking up the correct frequencies.
What a relief.
It was the Butler Squire, I was nowhere near the scene govnor!
Yeah it was the DT, bl**dy Android OS got corrupted. Although the VDU meters were going up and down, it wasn't outputing from the USB.
Anyway, I reset it to manufacturers factory default settings, reinstalled the latest firmware, done another reboot.
Started up again, whey hey rock on Tommy. Nora Jones sang like an Angel. Two hours of my life wasted! 🙂
First impressions of FiiO K11 R2R DAC, I have to say really good, it sounded no different from a high quality chipset DAC.
It was really good, more than good actually. £150 or less and it really punches above it's weight. Nora Jones vocals were nice and crisp, and spacious. If you want to set up a cheap second system or on a tight budget, the FiiO K11 R2R DAC should be on top of your list.
I need to have more extensive listening sessions, but first impressions, it's a gem of a DAC.
FiiO K11 R2R DAC Review - Resistance Is Futile • Music For The Masses https://share.google/B2Lvugu5ekaTbwtuE
Firstly, let's get the little problem I had out of the way. I couldn't get any sound from my FiiO, I tried every configuration and possible settings. I did all my checks;
USB In - tick
Switched input front panel (headphones) to Back Panel -tick
USB cable secured firmly inside sockets DAC and DT - tick
I also switched USB output to Coax and still no sound. I was begining to think there was a problem with the FiiO.
I wasn't able to come to that conclusion, until I was satisfied definitively that all checks had been done, so I moved on to examine the connection on my amp SMSL A300.
The select input option for FiiO was set to RCA IN2 - correct. IN1 is assigned to the Android TV. The cables secured in OK.
This was so frustrating!
Just so, to be absolutely sure, I unplugged the USB from my DT media player and replaced it with my DAP, the music was coming through beautifully and the FiiO was picking up the correct frequencies.
What a relief.
It was the Butler Squire, I was nowhere near the scene govnor!
Yeah it was the DT, bl**dy Android OS got corrupted. Although the VDU meters were going up and down, it wasn't outputing from the USB.
Anyway, I reset it to manufacturers factory default settings, reinstalled the latest firmware, done another reboot.
Started up again, whey hey rock on Tommy. Nora Jones sang like an Angel. Two hours of my life wasted! 🙂
First impressions of FiiO K11 R2R DAC, I have to say really good, it sounded no different from a high quality chipset DAC.
It was really good, more than good actually. £150 or less and it really punches above it's weight. Nora Jones vocals were nice and crisp, and spacious. If you want to set up a cheap second system or on a tight budget, the FiiO K11 R2R DAC should be on top of your list.
I need to have more extensive listening sessions, but first impressions, it's a gem of a DAC.
FiiO K11 R2R DAC Review - Resistance Is Futile • Music For The Masses https://share.google/B2Lvugu5ekaTbwtuE
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I love the understated design of the Cambridge Audio MX range. I'm considering to buy the streamer, DAC Magic and 2 amps (as monoblocks). And put them next to each other just under my TV (not stacked). With a 2cm gap inbetween. Should look cool.
Oops, I did it again. I got a NAD 302 amp from the early 90's for £120 on Ebay. The successor to the long lived 3020 this has been serviced, partly recapped and is in pristine condition. Most importantly it sounds excellent, the headphone stage is particularly good too. Very pleased but now I have at least one amp too many...😳
Revolutions
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Nice choice!
Although I think you actually mean you’re now one set of speakers too short?
Jasonovich
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Ah no problem peeps!
Set up another HiFi system in another room. Multi-systems are great! 😎
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