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Difference Between DAC Types

I’m curious if R2R ladder DACs and Delta-Sigma DACs are each better suited to certain types of music, i.e. vocals, amplified vs. non-amplified music, etc.

I’ve only owned Delta-Sigma DACs and have never heard an R2R ladder DAC. However based on reviews of some R2R products I’m considering moving in that direction but also understand there are inherent differences between the two DAC types. Not really looking for recommendations for specific DACs I should listen to of either type although that may be unavoidable to the discussion. I’m mostly intrigued by some of the online reviews for small company DACs like Border Patrol and Mhdt Labs where it’s said they can compete with much more expensive DACs.

My musical tastes are all over the board but maybe 50% rock (not hard) – folk - reggae etc. amplified music, the other made up mostly of acoustic folk, vocals, jazz and whatever else is in my library. I’d hate to move to R2R and find that female vocals are greatly improved, but at the expense of electric guitars, etc.

FWIW I’m running an AR pre, Pass amp, ATC speakers.

So, are there any distinct or unique characteristics inherent to R2R ladder DACs vs. Delta-Sigma DACs?


jaybe
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,467 posts
 
R2R sound like old school because they are.

Sigma-delta 1 bit sound more digital like ( more accurate )

Both have weaknesses. Digital conversion to analog is along two dimensions where errors can occur - amplitude and time.

R2R suffers from differential non linearity in the amplitude (bit levels) as well as susceptibility to jitter particularly at 44.1KHz.  1 bit Sigma Delta suffers from jitter (differential non-linearity in timing) but is highly linear in amplitude.

There are solutions.

1 bit Sigma Delta operating at 4xDSD is less likely to have much in the way of audible jitter (timing non-linearity) as the operating frequency and noise shaping is way outside the audible band.

Upsampling can help with an R2R DAC by “randomizing” amplitude non-linearity.

Latest Sabre DACs use 6 bit Sigma Delta DAC with a mathematical randomizer to help eliminate non-linearity. These latest DACs are a hybrid between traditional, R2R 16 bit DACs and 1 bit Sigma Delta - they have both great amplitude linearity and low jitter (timing issues).


desktopguy
335 posts
 
I got involved in early digital ~1985 and found the sound truly hateful (from a good CD player of that day) vs any vinyl or even good FM. I started getting DACs in ~12 yrs ago as part of a big desktop system. Had 2-3 delta-sigma DACs and found the sound (regardless of make/model) to be relatively artificial, tipped up in frequency, and soul-less. Then 3 years ago I got a mid-priced NOS DAC (by Audio GD), which changed everything, just everything. Mind you, this is not even well-reviewed or much liked in the headphone/desktop audio world, but it sure did the trick for me. For the first time in 30 yrs of digital, I could relax and forget I was hearing digital (thanks to more natural, organic tonality, real-sounding transients, "wetter" acoustic, and more natural bass). Shortly thereafter I got Audio GD's R2R DAC, the DAC-19, which I used in a side system...I also like that sound a lot.

I'm on the verge of finally upgrading to a better R2R or (even better) NOS DAC. I know there are better designs out there, so will soon have a new toy (new or used, that is).
nitewulf
419 posts
 
Any good dac is suitable for all types of music. If a dac doesn't sound good with particular genres of music, then its not a good dac. NOS R2R dacs sound different than Delta Sigma dacs but that's more of a preference issue than anything else.
deetch's avatar
deetch
12 posts
 
Another vote for Holo audio Spring Dac. R2R ladder in NOS mode-heaven, or DSD, or several oversampling modes-your choice. I have found different sources or recordings benefit from the different modes. I opted for the “Kitsune” tuned version and couldn’t be happier!
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Another vote for Holo audio Spring Dac. R2R ladder in NOS mode-heaven
From me too, and that was the level 2 I heard, NOS mode richer mids  tighter extension in the bass, and the highs were extended, delicate and had better harmonic decay than OS mode.

Cheers George 
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