FiiO K13 R2R DAC - Music for Eyes, Ears & much more.....

[Dipym]

Let me try explaining what did I find.
Taal is one of my regular listening album and I am totally familiar with all of its songs. Swapping between R13 R2R to D50 (blindly) didn't give me any clue which one is which. They were in the cabinet with level matched volume set and powered ON all the time regardless which one was playing.
Did K13 R2R loose any details, NO. I even make some specific notes to specifically focus but I had both doing same thing.
Pneuma wasn't different either with one after another blind switching.
This is really not different than what I got when I initially added K13 R2R in my setup.

But the main difference comes in when you leave one of them playing for long time, like a day or two and then got it switched (blindly).
For example, I left D50 playing on Saturday all day. I am in Atlanta and snow storm got us all trapped over the weekend inside the house.
We had a jam over the weekend, with some friends while doing doing these comparisons.
On Sunday afternoon, I got it switched (unknowingly) to K13 R2R and, believe me or not, all day we kept on saying that now everything is smooth and kind of laidback that I prefer. This time we weren't comparing (because we weren't switching back and forth) but everything we played Sunday evening/late evening was relaxing. I totally knew something changed but wasn't able to put finger as to what changed other than saying this is good and later I verified that K13 was connected while it was D50 before.

It might not matter but I had Revel M16 speakers playing over the weekend and room mode around 60-70 Hz was lowered in using Wiim Ultra's PEW but was was same with both the DACs.


My friend, I gave these couple of attempts but it wasn't of my liking. Transilvanian Hunger was kind of unbearable, nothing was clear enough for me to observe anything really.
It might be the case that speakers I have (Revel M16, Emotiva XT, Ascend Acoustics Sierra-LX and JBL HDi1600) aren't suitable for such music, I tried these on all these except Emotiva.


Tracy chapman - fast car, Wondering where the lions are - Bruce, many of Larissa Liveir's songs, etc. are my go to music after a extremely busy day. Nothing beats this playlist, lights down and a glass of merlot (or two) for me, other than my favorite Sachin's knocks.
You mentioned Fast Car and I am listening it with K13 R2R while writing this post. Her vocal reverbs and dynamics in this song are breathtaking.

I don't know really how did people come to conclusion that K13 R2R looses details or something. May be they mean details don't pop out the way they expect or something.

To sum up, I would say its more about preference. D50 surely has darker background because things pop out more noticeably which gets my attention more. I used to like that a lot but sometimes I just don't want that, other than if someone is over my place and I want then to say my rig sounds very clean and loads of details to brag about.

I am getting Fosi's new BT20A Max in a week or two because it has 2 RCA inputs with remote which will help me get some fun trying 2 DACs. Return policies here does favor as you easily get 30 days or more to try something at home and send back if you don't want it.
By the way, I have also got Fiio R2R Warmer DAC which is R2R with tube buffer.

Don't know if this is going to help in making a decision but I tried what I could.

Haha I get it. If there is an already a good transparent system in place i don't think the overall aural experience changes in extreme metal. I mean i gave you some of the worst recordings. But maybe you should try some cleanly produced albums like judas priest - sad wings of destiny or painkiller, motorhead - overkill, iron maiden - seventh son of a seventh son, and candlemass - epicus, doomicus, metallicus

 

[mosesarm]

Nice review. Looking forward to a long term review of this dac. I’ve been considering this dac but didn’t really have a reference point with reviews.
Actual user feedback is always preferable.

 

[0verkilled]

Thanks a lot for this @guddu478 @morerajendra5678 super helpful. Im leaning towards the R2R based on your observations, and also the fact that Hypex would end up amplifying everything cleanly, ESS dacs might sound harsher. I will check with headphonezone if they have some way to test these.

 

[morerajendra5678]

Im leaning towards the R2R based on your observations, and also the fact that Hypex would end up amplifying everything cleanly, ESS dacs might sound harsher.

ESS Dacs when used with tube Pre-amplifier never sounds harsh. It is just more balanced. R2R Dac when used without any Pre-amplifier doesn't have the slam in bass but carries lot of midrange weight but again lacks a bit in high frequency. Using Tube Pre-amplifier adds a bit in bass slam and corrects a lot in high frequency dispersion. The midrange becomes dominant with lots of weight and also has the thick tone trait.
Incase someone is just looking for slam in bass with good high frequency dispersion out of R2R Dacs they can add a solid state Pre-amplifier which doesn't render the thick tone trait to the R2R Dacs.

Low priced and mid priced R2R Dacs benefit out of the use of Pre-amplifier with it. But even high end ESS Dacs benefit out of tube Pre-amplifier.

 

[Mayasandra_l]

ESS Dacs when used with tube Pre-amplifier never sounds harsh. It is just more balanced. R2R Dac when used without any Pre-amplifier doesn't have the slam in bass but carries lot of midrange weight but again lacks a bit in high frequency. Using Tube Pre-amplifier adds a bit in bass slam and corrects a lot in high frequency dispersion. The midrange becomes dominant with lots of weight and also has the thick tone trait.
Incase someone is just looking for slam in bass with good high frequency dispersion out of R2R Dacs they can add a solid state Pre-amplifier which doesn't render the thick tone trait to the R2R Dacs.
Low priced and mid priced R2R Dacs benefit out of the use of Pre-amplifier with it. But even high end ESS Dacs benefit out of tube Pre-amplifier.

I would be interested in knowing what ESS DACs did you hear to come the conclusion that ESS DACs paired with SS Pre sound harsh. From my hearing experience, this is a completely incorrect assumption. A well made ESS DAC does not sound harsh. Do listen to a well made ESS DAC like T+A, Sim Audio Moon or a weiss dac and you would definitely change your stand. I also heard to the recently released ESS DAC from Gustard (X30) - absolutely beautiful. This bashing of ESS DACs has come from the Topping DACs that release DACs catered to the measurement crowd but do sound flat (and dare I say - harsh). My request to all is hear all topologies of DACs- Delta Sigma, FPGA, R2R and then choose what floats your boat. Pre-assumed thoughts in todays market no more hold true.

Also from my experience, an analogue and matching Pre Amp is essential, irrespective of the price point or topology of the DAC.

 

[morerajendra5678]

I would be interested in knowing what ESS DACs did you hear to come the conclusion that ESS DACs paired with SS Pre sound harsh. From my hearing experience, this is a completely incorrect assumption. A well made ESS DAC does not sound harsh. Do listen to a well made ESS DAC like T+A, Sim Audio Moon or a weiss dac and you would definitely change your stand.

My statement is different. My statement is "ESS Dacs when paired with tube Pre-amplifier never sound harsh". This statement of mine includes all ESS whether well made or not and is also irrespective of price point of ESS Dac. I have heard almost all the Dacs that you have mentioned. Since it was about ESS Dacs in general and not a few high end ones only, I put forth this statement of mine so as to benefit others who might have a not so well implemented ESS Dac. Tube Pre-amplifier can be used to add warmth and smoothness to the system.

This bashing of ESS DACs has come from the Topping DACs that release DACs catered to the measurement crowd but do sound flat (and dare I say - harsh).

My statement of using Tube Pre-amplifier was directed towards those who have ended up having up having a badly implemented ESS Dacs for some reason or the other.

My request to all is hear all topologies of DACs- Delta Sigma, FPGA, R2R and then choose what floats your boat. Pre-assumed thoughts in todays market no more hold true.

Is it a bigger challenge today to audition Hifi gear before making a purchase. Only few blessed ones do get to audition stuff before making the purchase.

Also from my experience, an analogue and matching Pre Amp is essential, irrespective of the price point or topology of the DAC.

Cannot comment much on this as I have good exposure to Streaming only and not other kinds of sources like CD Playe, Audio Cassettes or Vinyl. Through my post I have tried to outline possible combination of Pre-amplifier and Dacs based on what I felt about it as I got extensive opportunity to play around with variety of Dacs and Pre-amplifiers.