R2R Dacs $3K or under

Hi all - I'm looking for impressions and preferences of the following or similar R2R Dacs around $3K or lower:

Denafrips Venus
Schiit Yggy Analog 2
Holo Spring Level 3
Soekris DAC1541

I've seen writeups comparing Yggy with Denafrips Terminator but nothing yet comparing Yggy with Venus.

Thanks

tedevang04-26-2018 11:09pm

16 responses Add your response

auxinput Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,920 posts 04-27-2018 at 12:32am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Don't forget Audio-GD R2R 7. $2580. I've read that Audio-GD has a very nice non-fatiguing sound.
erik_squires Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 15,657 posts 04-27-2018 at 02:04am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Add to your short list Mytek. :)
nonoise Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 10,547 posts 04-27-2018 at 02:16am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Border Patrol.
wig Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,202 posts 04-27-2018 at 02:42am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete SW1X DAC https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/sw1x-audio-design-dac-ii-absolute-top-tier-ref-nos-dac Wig
unsound Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 7,310 posts 04-27-2018 at 04:52am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Eric_squires isn't the Mytek bitstream?
tedevang OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2 posts 04-27-2018 at 04:34pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Wig - the SW1X sounds interesting. Have you compared it to Yggy or any of the other DACS mentioned above?
tfl303 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 83 posts 04-27-2018 at 04:56pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Shh!! Best kept secret !!! Mojo Audio mystique V 3
tfl303 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 83 posts 04-27-2018 at 04:57pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Sorry but more than 3K but worth every penny !!!
strabo Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 15 posts 04-27-2018 at 07:13pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Yes, Mytek is delta sigma using Sabre chips. Not an R2R design.
wig Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,202 posts 04-27-2018 at 09:25pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @ tedevang I was considering the Yiggy and Halo but got the tips from a good buddy in England but wanted a DAC that was designed for musicality and wouldn't be obsolete with the latest upgrade... Wanted a Audio Note but now have something even better and cheaper :) Wig
nitewulf Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 419 posts 04-28-2018 at 02:51pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Within that range your best options are Metrum Onyx (NOS) and Schiit Yggdrasil (OS). I don't think you can do better than either one at that range or quite a bit above.
luisma31 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 516 posts 05-29-2018 at 09:51pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @tedevang I notice you went with the terminator, I was evaluating the same dacs as well and my budget was $2000 but I ordered the Terminator, should be arriving in the next few days. Have you considered or currently using a streamer to pair with the DAC? using the I2S connection maybe?
glennewdick Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,500 posts 05-29-2018 at 10:12pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I’ve been looking hard at the Kitsune HIFI Spring DAC https://kitsunehifi.com/product-category/brands/kitsune-hifi/ Getting great reviews and with a few different levels you can pick the one that’s in your budget. starting at $1500 for level 1, level 3 is $2500.
luisma31 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 516 posts 05-29-2018 at 11:38pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I heard the Kitsune is a great product, specifically the level 3 one and was my choice to acquire but delays in delivery and trying to get someone from Kitsune to get back to me several times for presales assistance was taking too long and I jumped the gun and purchased something I wasn't quite expecting. I heard Kitsune's support is very good and they stand behind their product I was just unlucky getting in touch with them. Their Su-1 product modded I heard is very good too
glennewdick Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,500 posts 05-31-2018 at 12:43am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete that's too bad though that you could not get through to them. I've been reading many reviews on them and they all seem to compare it to the Total DAC at $10k more money that's a good reason to take a look and be patent. god not to free the cash up. this line in Michael's review makes you wonder and take a closer look. "I've spoken in the past about how the totaldac resides in the non-digital sounding arena and how not very many DACs play on that field. Two DACs that spring to mind are the dCS Rossini and the T+A DAC 8 DSD when fed nothing but DSD512 from HQPlayer. I am happy, very happy, to add the HoloAudio Spring DAC LEVEL 3 "Kitsune Tuned Edition" to this short list. " Michael Lavorgna, AudioStream Read more at https://www.audiostream.com/content/holo-audio-spring-dac-level-3-kitsune-tuned-edition#uUYJV4pdSCEM...
luisma31 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 516 posts 05-31-2018 at 12:26pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Yeah, it is fine, now they released the ifi PRo which seems an interesting product as well

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