R2R DACs are on a roll- New Fiio K13 R2R Balanced DAC

[Guddu]

 

[Guddu]

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS​

• Fully-differential 24-bit R2R DAC with 192 precision resistors
• Dual NOS and OS decoding modes
• PCM 384kHz/24bit and DSD256 support
• XLR and RCA preamp/line outputs
• 10-band high-precision PEQ with app and web control
• Fully balanced audio amplifier circuit with protection features
• DC/AC dual power supplies with shielded internal PSU and external DC input option
• ELNA RA3 audiophile-grade capacitors
• 2400mW+2400mW balanced output into 32Ω
• Custom HD LCD display with always-on capability
• Minimalist aluminum design with skylight accent
• Bluetooth 5.4 with LDAC/AAC/SBC support
• Adjustable RGB lighting and timer shutdown

 

[Guddu]

Outputs:
1 x XLR out
2 x RCA out

Inputs:
1 x coax in
1 x optical in
1 x USB C in

AC as well as DC Inputs for power

 

[boxerfan88]

Nice— fully balanced, 4 R2R strings. Certainly well specced.

 

[JSmith]

R2R DACs are functionally pointless in 2025 and in NOS mode basically broken.


JSmith

 

[boxerfan88]

Such negativity …

Profit making entities won’t bother to include such feature if there is no demand.

If it gives audio hobbyists joy, what’s the problem?

Time to expand ignore list

 

[pma]

R2R DACs are functionally pointless in 2025 and in NOS mode basically broken.


JSmith

It is a fashion business that needs fast turnover, so seeking for “change”.

 

[Punter]

Using R2R networks allows the golden-eared to feel all warm and fuzzy. Using resistors instead of a DAC chip means it's closer to the analog reproduction that they crave! Remember the network noise reducer that was wired up so that it would force a gigabit device to run at 10 base T !?!?!? I'm amazed they aren't all pressing their ears up to the megaphone on an Edison drum player to get the true retro HiFi experience.

 

[Sokel]

Using R2R networks allows the golden-eared to feel all warm and fuzzy. Using resistors instead of a DAC chip means it's closer to the analog reproduction that they crave! Remember the network noise reducer that was wired up so that it would force a gigabit device to run at 10 base T !?!?!? I'm amazed they aren't all pressing their ears up to the megaphone on an Edison drum player to get the true retro HiFi experience.

Guess again

 

[MarkS]

I'm amazed they aren't all pressing their ears up to the megaphone on an Edison drum player to get the true retro HiFi experience.

I'm pretty sure that's what Fremer is doing ...

 

[voodooless]

Profit making entities won’t bother to include such feature if there is no demand.

Demand they themselves created by decades of market manipulation.

 

[Sokel]

What's ironic is that the need of such products comes straight from a misconduct.

And this misconduct is a combination of older recordings with newer gear, specially speakers.
R2R DACs and gear like that are silly in this context.

Music that was made from broad-baffle, big, sensitive speakers (with their flaws, totally agree) has a very good chance to sound thin and strident on newer smaller speakers, no matter how better they are.

Newer music however will be fine. But look at the ages here and...

 

[boxerfan88]

Demand they themselves created by decades of market manipulation.

A free market will sort itself out… eventually

So long as the demand is there, there is nothing wrong for a profit making company to address that R2R demand.

Same for vinyl, cassette tape, reel-reel.

Live and let live

 

[voodooless]

So long as the demand is there, there is nothing wrong for a profit making company to address that R2R demand.

A free market also means that we can whine and b•tch about it as much as we want. They've tried to convince us we need this nonsense for ages. It's time for some push-back.

 

[boxerfan88]

A free market also means that we can whine and b•tch about it as much as we want. They've tried to convince us we need this nonsense for ages. It's time for some push-back.

Yes, that’s true.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

So it's the same exact DAC as K11 R2R and all they did was upgrade the amp and provide balanced line level outputs in the back? Boring.

 

[voodooless]

So it's the same exact DAC as K11 R2R and all they did was upgrade the amp and provide balanced line level outputs in the back? Boring.

Maybe they improved on the 72 SINAD?

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Maybe they improved on the 72 SINAD?

I wouldn’t be surprised if amplifier performance is improved a good bit, but I personally only ever had any interest in the DAC component, and that primarily specific to its price point. I only use headphones on the go. Would like to see better R2R DAC performance than K11 R2R but not at Denafrips prices if you know what I mean.

 

[Guddu]

Maybe they improved on the 72 SINAD?

 

[JSmith]

View attachment 475044

Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier-K13 R2R_parameters

24Bit fully balanced R2R DAC and headphone amplifier K13 R2R

www.fiio.com

Maybe they improved on the 72 SINAD?

Nope...

THD+N & Noise

About 0.025% (1kHz/0dB@10KΩ)

JSmith