ilok

If you got a high end accurate system, NOS sounds the best.

Onkyo TX-NR818 is a VERY good sounding equipment. Been there done that. I had a DAC/Amp $10k+ system and all, and the Onkyo 818 before. My advice is to enjoy what you have If you really want to spend the money, look into active monitors (speaker + amp built in), or even better (speaker + amp + DAC built in, eg: Genelec). This is basically the pro setup and it is on a totally different level compared to an audiophile setup. Separate systems are way way way overpriced for the sound you get. They also introduce problems that doesn't exist in integrated systems. If you don't believe me, I got 2 high end amps for sale right now, one for $4500, the other for $2700. I can also sell a DAC for $4200, it sounds incredible. Bonus: For now, buy a balanced transformer, eg: used Equitech Q. It will make everything sound better, and your video will look better too. Another thing you can do is room treatment of the first reflection points. Super bang for the buck here as well. Go for the cotton one and not the fiberglass one.

What's a good bang for the buck multichannel DAC? I'll need at least 5 channels. The Metrum Pavane is the best DAC I've ever heard, but too expensive for multichannel.

Haha, yeah. Superbeast is 4 channel for $400 I believe, top of the line PCM1794A. The 8 channel one is for professional application, AES only I think.

In practice, R2R NOS playing PCM sounds infinitely better than DSD native DAC playing DSD. Stop worrying and just enjoy.

At this price range nothing. But for a little more look at Ross Martin Audio dacs, eg: Super Beast II.

No pictures But I'm using the Metrum Pavane DAC with Neotech XLR cable. That is all there is for the audio system now. It blows away those 40-50k system you hear at audio shows. I got a lot of amp, and speakers for sale now though. Sigh. But I'm glad I got rid of the piece of shit that is the PS Audio Directstream DAC already, so glad it's gone. Edit: I'll be trying out -40db inline attenuators next.

This DAC makes super upsampling DAC like the PS Audio Directsream DAC sounds defective in comparison. Metrum NOS R2R sound is realistic, analog, and beautiful. Super upsampling 1bit DSD DAC sounds thin, flat, and unnatural. Upsampling really took the industry back decades in sound quality and people like me fell for it. With the Metrum I am reminded of the analog sound of the late 90s and boy does it sound good.

What you failed to realize is that you can't mix DSD and all sound goes through 44/48khz during mixing (96khz if you are lucky, or unlucky if they are 44->96 then back). Then they upsample it again and that is what you have. Those DSD recording sounded horrible as a result versus PCM in practice. The sound out of R2R NOS DACs sounds infinitely better than DSD DACs playing PCM or DSD. Just go buy a Directstream DAC if you really want to learn how bad it sounds. The price is crashing, now below 3k as people are waking up. DSD is a bad idea that needs to die already.

Never mind, I misunderstood you, you are probably right for the Burr Brown chips. But the sound quality of DSD in generally is just stupidly bad compared to R2R NOS DAC playing PCM. PS Audio sure charges you an arm and a leg for the privilege to find out how bad it is!

No they don't DSD is just a stupid idea that needs to die already.

Burr Browns's "advanced segment" DACs are all multi-bit, they are 6bit R2R and rest in delta sigma. You can find them in AV receiver/processors and they sound great. Super cheap too. They sound infinitely better than the expensive audiophile 1bit DSD Dacs.

Note that a lot of hi-res files are actually upsampled from 44.1khz and not recorded at hi-re, it's a scam really. With a NOS R2R Dac the difference is actually fairly obvious, analog vs digital sounding basically. Upsampling with those pre and post ringing really destroys the music.

I was using very expensive amps too. This thing is on a totally different level.

My setup is now complete. Holy fucking shit.