Mhdt Labs Pagoda Review (R2R Tube DAC)

[aj625]

I bet @amirm listened to it and concluded hey it doesn't sound that bad! Maybe I'm doing it all for nothing - screw measurements!

Yes why not, after all better measurements are inversely proportional to sound quality.

 

[Walter]

Maybe the poll is actually a sophisticated troll detecting test. Anyone who gives it 2 or 3 stars gets a warning. 4 stars and you are permabanned.

 

[Rottmannash]

Maybe the poll is actually a sophisticated troll detecting test. Anyone who gives it 2 or 3 stars gets a warning. 4 stars and you are permabanned.

3 members have now voted "Great".

 

[Walter]

3 members have now voted "Great".

3 ex-members?

 

[Doodski]

Here is the recommended burn-in time from the MHDT Labs website.

 

[ChristianB]

3 members have now voted "Great".

Maybe they thought they were voting for a guitar distortion pedal?

 

[buckaboo49]

Amir can you do a review of the New SMSL R2R dac?

 

[trl]

3 members have now voted "Great".

This is worse than Amazon products review/vote.

 

[pavuol]

Here is the recommended burn-in time from the MHDT Labs website.
View attachment 168949

 

[H-713]

I mean... this is nonlinear enough that we're getting into the "maybe this could be a fun effect" category... though $1500 is an awful lot for something like that.

I'm going to abstain from voting on this one. I don't know what to make of it.

 

[Doodski]

@pavuol that's a cool DIY fire thingy.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

R2R, check. Tube buffer, check. But was it implemented on an FPGA? Why no point-to-point wiring? Any Bybee Any Small Silver Slipstream Quantum purifiers in the circuit?

No?!!! Well, no wonder, it measured so poorly.

Even so a real achievement. Definitely merits the Golfing Panther!

 

[trl]

Amir can you do a review of the New SMSL R2R dac?

Are you referring to "SMSL VMV D3 Balanced DAC R2R 4x PCM1704 32bit 768kHz DSD512 MQA"? Then maybe @SMSL-Mandy can jump in and provide a sample unit to @amirm to have it tested.

 

[Mnyb]

3 members have now voted "Great".

Maybe there is such a thing as ironic voting ?

 

[buckaboo49]

Are you referring to "SMSL VMV D3 Balanced DAC R2R 4x PCM1704 32bit 768kHz DSD512 MQA"? Then maybe @SMSL-Mandy can jump in and provide a sample unit to @amirm to have it tested.

Yes that one. LOL Sorry I couldn't remember all the details.

 

[Dzhaughn]

Yes that one. LOL Sorry I couldn't remember all the details.

Make sure it is the Eddie Bauer edition with leather seats and a turbo.

 

[pavuol]

btw. anyone wishing for a listening test, here is Head-Fi review. Tubes swapping, soundstage, micro detail retrieval, hi-res listening.. all there.

 

[solderdude]

I voted for great !

It's got EVERYTHING audiophools love.

• I/V Stage: Current Out Discrete Transistors I/V, No OPAMP, No feedback
• Output level: 3.0v (so higher than 2V for instant likability)
• 4 Inputs -- BNC/USB/RCA//TOSLINK otherwise they could not write BURT on the front.
• Weight: 2kg (yeah it must be heavy)
• Tube Buffer: single 5670/2C51 tube (just one? shocked.. why not 1 for each channel ?)
• sh#tloads of tube distortion
• No proper reconstruction filter
• Lowest SINAD possible so must sound auiophool
• dual PCM1704 ladder DAC
• audiophool capacitors
• special fuse (we all know that helps
• Toroid transformer (115V - 230V)
• discrete audiophool rectifiers
• NO SMPS !!
• see through front panel (we MUST see the tube glow for added joy)
• Made in the French 'CAUTION' factory which is better than the German 'WARNING' or 'DANGER' factory
• cheap for an audiophool product (should have cost > $ 4k

Reviews of it are great too:

It's honestly impossible to find anything to dislike about the Pagoda, or its sound. It's beautifully built, with a solid, expensive feel and appearance. Given the performance and build quality, the price is fair for what is the best DAC that I have heard to date. For those that like tweaking, the option is there to try swapping valves in the buffer stage, although to date, I have had no inclination to want to change anything about the Pagoda's sound. Over time, I fell in love with the Havana and Stockholm 2 DACs, and I have been using the Havana for years. With the Pagoda is has been more like 'love at first sight', and I can thoroughly recommend it. For me, it's put a bit of excitement back into my hi-fi life, and if you want a thrill too, the Pagoda won't disappoint.

Yeah this is great

 

[Walter]

I voted for great !

It's got EVERYTHING audiophools love.

• I/V Stage: Current Out Discrete Transistors I/V, No OPAMP, No feedback
• Output level: 3.0v (so higher than 2V for instant likability)
• 4 Inputs -- BNC/USB/RCA//TOSLINK otherwise they could not write BURT on the front.
• Weight: 2kg (yeah it must be heavy)
• Tube Buffer: single 5670/2C51 tube (just one? shocked.. why not 1 for each channel ?)
• sh#tloads of tube distortion
• No proper reconstruction filter
• Lowest SINAD possible so must sound auiophool
• dual PCM1704 ladder DAC
• audiophool capacitors
• special fuse (we all know that helps
• Toroid transformer (115V - 230V)
• discrete audiophool rectifiers
• NO SMPS !!
• see through front panel (we MUST see the tube glow for added joy)
• Made in the French 'CAUTION' factory which is better than the German 'WARNING' or 'DANGER' factory
• cheap for an audiophool product (should have cost > $ 4k

Reviews of it are great too:

It's honestly impossible to find anything to dislike about the Pagoda, or its sound. It's beautifully built, with a solid, expensive feel and appearance. Given the performance and build quality, the price is fair for what is the best DAC that I have heard to date. For those that like tweaking, the option is there to try swapping valves in the buffer stage, although to date, I have had no inclination to want to change anything about the Pagoda's sound. Over time, I fell in love with the Havana and Stockholm 2 DACs, and I have been using the Havana for years. With the Pagoda is has been more like 'love at first sight', and I can thoroughly recommend it. For me, it's put a bit of excitement back into my hi-fi life, and if you want a thrill too, the Pagoda won't disappoint.

Yeah this is great

Self explanatory. Stockholm Syndrome and Havana Syndrome lead to Pagoda Syndrome.

 

[respice finem]

One stylish graveyard of parts...

With the vent hole on top, in some old houses one might end up with a mouse in it. But unique, yes it is.