A DAC that can make digital sound analog?

Check out the R2R DACs, lots of options that aren’t too expensive. The designs are centered around the height of chip development for CD playback. Just when they got it right the industry turned the development another direction. 

These are the 3 DACs I considered:

- Border Patrol SE DAC
- MHDT Pagoda
- Audio Mirror TUBADOUR III
Decided on the Audio Mirror DAC because it’s built around the AD1865 chip which is the foundation of the Audio Note DACs which are very highly regarded. Search online. I also like it that the manufacture is in the US. The Border Patrol looks interesting but I don’t like the limited input options and to get more than one it’s a switchable input (design compromise?) and bumps the price up considerably. The MHDT looks interesting but doesn’t seem to hit the WOW level with people who have tried them. I was looking for something that frames the music similar to my Rega DAC R which is very musical and works across a broad range of music, hoping for something that builds on the parameters of the Rega. The AD 1865 chip sounded like the best path. I like what I hear so far (1 week) but being patient before I form an opinion, sound wise it’s definitely better, musical differences come as it breaks in and over extended listening through exploring my full CD collection.

I don’t think it’s specifically the R2R that makes things special I believe that is the foundation needed to bring out the best in these older chip designs. Research the chips.
Good luck!

Too much information? No its just information not resolved or framed well. A good DAC or CD player shouldn't do this. My evaluation technique is to not actively listen and see if the sound draws me into the performance or is it a wall of sound or becomes annoying in the background. How it hits me on a subconscious level. In my experience vinyl kills digital when evaluated this way.

I am finding the same with my Audio Mirror Tubadour III DAC which uses the same AD 1865 chip. Contrast is what I hear within recordings and from CD to CD with older masterings sounding better. I use the Cambridge Audio CXC transport which has a reclocker, curious what reclocker you use? or is it a built in one?