Mhdt Labs Pagoda Review (R2R Tube DAC)

[JSmith]

... that is one damn expensive effects box and too expensive to consider as a doorstop.



JSmith

 

[aj625]

Measurements alone don't affect the sound quality !

 

[dougi]

I assume deliberate design choices. Ok have the same tube in an ifi iTube, and distortion is much much lower than in this.

 

[gvl]

I just noticed from the photo this unit is made in Taipei Taiwan.
On their website, it mentioned "We don't ship to Taiwan"

Does it imply that this is only for export???

Perhaps sale of such products domestically is punishable by death?

 

[gvl]

House-branded capacitors, oh my...

 

[Fafnar]

Perhaps sale of such products domestically is punishable by death?

Alas, ASR does not have that kind of power.

Locals are expected to swing by the office and pick their unit up, natch.

 

[onslash]

The large capacitors read mhdt laboratoty lol

 

[617]

It reproduces the 8 bits that matter and leaves the minutae to you pencil necked nerds.

 

[maverickronin]

Surely this DAC, out of all Amir has measured, deserves a listening test!

 

[Angsty]

These measurements do the headless panther a disservice. These measurements deserve just the decapitated panther head.

 

[aj625]

Why people like distortion ? it reduces available DR and finer details which is perceived by "audiophiles" as warmer, thicker fuller sound even if it is no way near the original intended performance. No wonder such audiophiles boasts that measurements don't matter, all dacs sound same , all amps sound same. They pay through their fat wallet for mediocre big looking boutique products.

 

[McFly]

Surely this DAC, out of all Amir has measured, deserves a listening test!

what do you mean, he pulled this one out of his main rig

 

[silentt29]

Another tube DAC I'm definitely curious about... the PrimaLuna EVO 100 tube DAC

PrimaLuna EVO 100 Tube DAC — PrimaLuna USA

www.primaluna-usa.com

 

[YSC]

I just visited their web-site. They are:

- non over-sampling
- no digital filter
- no op-amp
- no feed back


In such case it’s well engineered to their goal, with all these and the channel balance and SINAD is very symmetrical proofs something
It would be interesting if Amir could provide a listening test.

 

[HammerSandwich]

Everybody said DACs sound the same in blind testing, but I proved them all wrong!!

 

[Dzhaughn]

They even mispelled B U R T. They won't be Earnie-ng many plaudits.

 

[brimble]

Wow, this is so excitingly bad.

I too vote for a listening test please. In stereo, so we can find out how much difference that phase lag makes to imaging.

 

[Ron Texas]

This was designed by the marketing guys. Thank you @amirm

 

[dr0ss]

the PrimaLuna EVO 100 tube DAC

That's a lot of tubes in one device!

(I have a USB sound card somewhere with a pcm1704, I doubt it is the cause of the problem.)

 

[Newman]

Old dac lying by the side of the road
With the lorries rolling by
Blue tube sinking from the weight of the load
And the buffer scrapes the sky
Cold wind ripping down tube alley at dawn
And the morning paper-in-oil flies
Dead dac lying by the side of the road
With the sandlight in his eyes
Don't let it bring you down
It's only ladders burning
Find someone who's learning
And you will come around