Massdrop RDAC Airist Audio R2-R DAC

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by purr1n, Jun 4, 2018.

  1. willsw

    willsw Friend

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    And Airist continues to stumble, another promising product that looks like it won't fulfill its potential because of poor decisions in presentation. Wasn't the original lead time 6 or 7 months? It is already a risky decision to sell a brand new product that far away from production, I'm not surprised there were unexpected issues. At least they all have very lucrative day jobs.
     
  2. neogeosnk

    neogeosnk Friend

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    I'd order a dac 1541 if there was dac only option at a lower price.
     
  3. restrav3

    restrav3 Likes Audio-GD

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    When is the official projected start of shipping? Is that Chinese dac that airiet supposedly was "inspired by", on sale anywhere? Anybody tried that?
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2019
  4. Baten

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    RDAC units have been shipped out and the first user reports are trickling in. I saw several complaints so far about audible "static" depending on volume/dBFS. Sounds bad and hopefully not a large amount of units are impacted..
     
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2019
  5. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    Another ZDT Jr gongshow on their hands?
     
  6. Baten

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    Of course the most vocal reports will be those with problems and not the ones casually leaning back enjoying their new device, but still a little worrisome. especially considering the many delays on this product.
     
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2019
  7. Forza AudioWorks

    Forza AudioWorks MOT: Forza AudioWorks

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    Yup, people dissatisfied with a product are usually the loudest. I've been there.
     
  8. Baten

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    Well I'm very satisfied with two of your cables :D
     
  9. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    I totally forgot about this drama. Hopefully it won't sound too bad.
     
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2019
  10. Vordhosbn

    Vordhosbn Acquaintance

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    Got mine today.

    I've got my Yggdrasil A1 and the Airist R2R getting fed from a SU-1 and both going into my Liquid Crimson. Using my Verite to do some A/B comparison and I've only spent a small time with it, but I'm impressed. I'll comment more after I get a better feel.
     
  11. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Is this over USB?

    I just got a production unit in to test and compare against the pre-prod unit I reviewed a while back. So far, dead quiet. Even measurements are squeaky clean when it comes to noise floor.

    Albeit, this is over SPDIF via Eitr. But no other USB lipstick in the chain. Big ol' gaming rig straight to Eitr with a Belkin USB cable, then SPDIF cable from Blue Jeans.

    IIRC, the USB implementation was more susceptible to noise and the like. I want to say it also tended to go away as the DAC warmed up...or maybe got worse. One of the two. Was cable dependent, in that super cheap cables exacerbated the issue. Had to worry about making sure cables weren't all in a mess and picking up their own noise. Blah blah.

    I will have to test this new one with straight USB and see.

    Nonetheless, with a good SPDIF source, the production RDAC still lives up to how I felt about the pre-prod unit.

    Leading edges are a bit soft and rounded, slight roll-off in top end, but has a good sense of space and depth, has plenty of macro dynamics, decent resolution (around the Modi Multibit level, if not slightly better)...Again, it's probably the closest emulation I've heard of the Metrum Pavane/Adagio, with a bit more of oversampling good qualities thrown in, at a budget price point.
     
  12. StageOne

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    I was in the initial drop but bailed after the delays, if all is good and Drop is going to be selling more I might be interested again.
    I'm looking at another DAC for my office setup and Im familiar with the Gungnir MB ("v2"), BiFrost MB ("v1") and Modi Multibit (again "v1"), @Hands, how would you compare the RDAC to those in instrument separation and warmth? I really enjoy the Gungnir MB and find the biggest difference to me in the space/separation of instruments and the low end warmth and slight darkness of the other other two.
     
  13. CEE TEE

    CEE TEE MOT: NITSCH

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    Hey Everybody,

    Glad to hear some of you have your RDAC and are enjoying it!

    Here's some driver stuff that we should share.

    DRIVERS
    For Macs- RDAC should be found in Audio Output Devices as "USB Audio 2.0".
    For Windows- I have a link to the driver here and we will work on a product page link...

    Windows Driver download link: XMOS Windows Driver (30C8)
    https://drive.google.com/open?id=1c0gQ2GjEaqS3pC75QXym_Jf9Veu11IbN
    Note: Windows 10 may not need a driver.
     
  14. Forza AudioWorks

    Forza AudioWorks MOT: Forza AudioWorks

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    That's good to hear, enjoy!
     
  15. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    You know, even with its infamous history, I would be open to purchase it if this becomes available again. Could be good for a possible side project. I'll watch this thread.....
     
  16. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    The leftovers are for sale. I ordered since I'm curious.

    Edit: Changed my mind. Too many issues with USB floating around. Not risking it.
     
    Last edited: Jun 17, 2019
  17. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    I also placed an order today. Too curious to experience R2R sound. However I was not aware of issue with USB.
    But as long as optical or COAX is fine, I am good.
    Have to get RCA coax as my current setup is BNC from digione signature to Gungnir Multibit A2
     
  18. Baten

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    Wonder how you will like RDAC vs Gungnir Multibit!
     
  19. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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    Sorry, wrong thread.
     
  20. sheldaze

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    A more balanced frequency response - in my setup, I was using a leaner headphone (HD580) and a leaner amplifier (DSHA-1). I preferred the balance of bass to treble of the RDAC to the Gungnir Multibit A2.

    But in no other way was the RDAC competitive with the Gungnir Multibit A2. In fact, there's something at first listen, which is nice or interesting in the implementation - it is obvious something in the R2R family is occurring, and that's a good thing. But then I heard it as grating, irritating to listen longer term. It added something to every sound. It is not NOS, which I am used to (Metrum Onyx, Holo Cyan). It also does not sound like Moffat (Bifrost Multibit, Gungnir Multibit, Yggdrasil) or Soekris (I enjoyed dac1421).

    If I can find a way to describe what I heard more clearly, I'll write more. Suffice it to say, much more resolution (plankton, micro) from Gungnir Multibit A2. From reading, I think Bifrost Multibit A2 could be a fairer comparison.
     

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