Am I missing out? (R2R vs DS)

[AnalogSteph]

Well, it’s not pretty:

Fiio K11 R2R DAC/HPAMP measurements

This is a simple measurement of Fiio K11 R2R DAC and headphone amplifie. Some setup, 200kohm input impedance, 48khz sample rate, 20khz bandwidth. Balance ouput Dynamic range, No weighting 50mV SNR, 32ohm load, No weighting Linearity, 1khz sine, elliptic filter low and high pass from...

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Oh, that stinks. -72 dB THD+N at 0 dBFS would make converters from the digital dark ages around 1980 blush. I just added some to the list...

 

[boxerfan88]

There is definitely a difference in how the K11 'sounds' vs. the Focusrite. Of course I cannot quantify my opinions, but the K11 sounds a bit warmer than the Solo.

Very glad to see the responses to your post have been quite civil and explanatory in nature this far

Welcome to ASR.

And yeah, my R2R DAC sounds a tad warmer compared to my ESS9038Pro DS DAC.

 

[Chrispy]

Your ratio of expense in electronics vs those speakers is odd. Have no idea about the IEMs, tho. Worrying about a dac with such informal comparison, meh.

 

[Snoopy]

Definitely upgrade the loudspeakers before putting more money towards a DAC .

 

[AnalogSteph]

Or, at the very least, take some measurements (MMM recommended) to see what you're working with and potentially develop a software PEQ setting along the way. From what I've been able to gather from this review, the design of these early-2000s speakers seems sensible enough (computer designed baffle with some waveguide action and a low crossover point, anechoic chamber involved), but it goes without saying that a 5.5" bookshelf at $200US the pair in 2004 is going to have its limits. Typical areas of concern would be poorly-damped internal resonances getting out via the port, cabinet resonances and saturation-prone ferrite core inductors (particularly on the woofer side). Also, a 19mm tweeter in such a small waveguide with a 2.2 kHz crossover point sounds a bit concerning, though the woofer may be enough of a limiting factor.

 

[Mikig]

rather than asking other users, if you are missing something, I would advise you to take the journey "driving" yourself.

Over time if you can, keep two Dacs, your R2R and a DS and make your own considerations!

Try to make comparisons, there are excellent tutorials on how to do them, between the two devices or between multiple devices and find your way.

In addition to measurements, tests, and technical sheets, there are your ears, and your way of perceiving things: you are the one who listens so no one will ever be able to tell you what you might like best.

Assuming that obvious differences in sound can be established.

Just remember one thing; there are objective rules, just read and inform yourself and you will find them. Make them yours, you will have the instructions in your hands that will tell you what you can really find, how to do it and why to do it.

Then the rest is a matter of taste ... but that's fine: above all have fun and listen without worrying too much ...

 

[Westsounds]

Just know that it's an effect box (albeit subtle). Not technically high fidelity.

I wish more people would understand this, but I kind of think they do now, and a lot of the mysticism is unravelling from the world of hifi. We are literally playing with effects on the sound. Whether those effects are pleasant to you or even perceived as an improvement is in the ear of the beholder. Well designed and full digital conversion is just that. If it accentuates something that you like great but once everything is converted there is no more conversion to be done. All information in a sound source is all it can be, whatever components you have will influence the final effect of how it sounds. And of course all sound sources are different and so are sound files. Then there's analogue which is different again. Us audiophiles are just playing with it all, to the OP, just try and tune that out mentally and just enjoy the music

 

[Westsounds]

I have both the K11 R2R and the original - the one 'advantage' I thought with the R2R version for those curious is in NOS mode you might get 'more' (i.e. more distortion) while in OS mode you are basically getting the DAC to get you similar audio performance ( though maybe technical not as good from SINAD ) to a DS DAC.

I tried the k11 r2r I quite liked it actually, and in some ways it did kind of remind me of listening to music in a record kind of way, where you'd sit back and let it flow. I did however prefer it in its direct mode rather than the NOS, which in essence sounds more like a delta sig dac so I thought it was pretty pointless when I could just buy a ds dac cheaper. It was a nice little desk top unit though with good features and all in one. The only trouble is I thought the headphone amp was a little lack luster and not very dynamic to my ear so I sent it back. It wasn't a bad thing to listen to music on though and I quite enjoyed it, subjectively that is. Just found there's better for less to please my ears.

 

[Jimster480]

I tried the k11 r2r I quite liked it actually, and in some ways it did kind of remind me of listening to music in a record kind of way, where you'd sit back and let it flow. I did however prefer it in its direct mode rather than the NOS, which in essence sounds more like a delta sig dac so I thought it was pretty pointless when I could just buy a ds dac cheaper. It was a nice little desk top unit though with good features and all in one. The only trouble is I thought the headphone amp was a little lack luster and not very dynamic to my ear so I sent it back. It wasn't a bad thing to listen to music on though and I quite enjoyed it, subjectively that is. Just found there's better for less to please my ears.

I was interested in listening to the K11/K13 in a blind test to see if there were any differences. I was actually considering buying one on ebay just to do the testing. It has been almost a year now since I have done any DAC tests.

 

[Westsounds]

I was interested in listening to the K11/K13 in a blind test to see if there were any differences. I was actually considering buying one on ebay just to do the testing. It has been almost a year now since I have done any DAC tests.

Blind test would as always be interesting. There's often very little between DACs. K13 has bluetooth which the K11 didn't. Glad they added that feature rather than the pointless (for me anyway) light that was on the 11.

 

[Jimster480]

Blind test would as always be interesting. There's often very little between DACs. K13 has bluetooth which the K11 didn't. Glad they added that feature rather than the pointless (for me anyway) light that was on the 11.

The DAC module is the same in both of them isn't it?

 

[Westsounds]

The DAC module is the same in both of them isn't it?

I havnt looked into it, I just saw the newer one had the Bluetooth added.

 

[RickS]

closing older thread as is redundant. Post here instead…

R2R vs Delta Sigma DACs - same results?

I don't have a pony in the race but my curiosity is tickled pink as I'm shopping for a dedicated/stand-alone DAC. Heated debates are raging in forums pitching sound signatures, staging, depth, clarity etc. etc etc. ad infinitum against each other when comparing Delta Sigma designs, R2R designs...

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