Audio-GD – R8 2021 – Discrete Balanced R2R Ladder FPGA Accusilicon DAC – PCM / DxD / DSD
€1.729,-
The newest Audio R8 2021 version is perhaps the most irresistible R2R DAC available? The difference with the R7 is mainly in the power supply section. Where the R7 is using Class-A discrete power, the R8 uses voltage regulators for the digital board. Less trough hole components, all SMD to lower the man work to built the DAC which makes this dac less expensive to built. This dac also has a lighter chassis compared to R7.
R8 is characterized by its coherent, transparent and neutral sound. Rich in detail; high resolution; strong authority and wide stereo image.
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- More than 10 years of experience
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REVIEWFULL UPGRADE 2021 VERSION – ACCUSILICON
HIGHLIGHTS
- USB fully integrated and Isolated with internal FPGA deriving clocks from Accusilicon’s (similar to DI20 architecture)
- I2S HDMI isolated input
- Dual 32 bit parallel signal processing (FPGA) on I2S / USB inputs
- Dual 24 bit parallel signal processing (FPGA) on SPDIF inputs
- DSD asynchronous clock technology (significant sound improvement)
- True balanced design, discrete push-pull R2R DAC design
- Improved clock timing of internal master clock regeneration.
- Discrete analogue output stages
- DC coupled design (No capacitors in signal path)
- Non- feedback ACSS analogue output control
- All functions operable from front panel for user friendly experience
- R8 is a derivative of the R7 and preserve the same musicality.
- Upgrade port for future firmware upgrades
R8 is characterized by its coherent, transparent and neutral sound. Rich in detail; high resolution; strong authority and wide stereo image. You’ll forget that you’re listening to a digital source.
SPECIFICATIONS
| SPECIFICATIONS | |
|---|---|
| Product type | R2R Discrete Ladder DAC |
| SNR | > 110dB |
| Output impedance | < 5 Ohm (XLR, RCA) |
| Output level | RCA : 2.5V XLR : 5V ACSS : 2+2MA |
| Frequency response | 20Hz – 100kHz |
| Input sensitivity | Coaxial 75 Ohm : 0.5Vp-p Optical : 19dBm |
| Supported OS (USB) | Windows, OSX, Linux, ISO |
| Sampling rate | USB, I2S : 32bits 44.1kHz – 384kHz / DSD Native 512 Coaxial, Optical : 24bits 44.1kHz – 192kHz / DSD DoP 256 |
| Inputs | 1x AES/EBU XLR
1x Coaxial RCA SPDIF 1x Optical Toslink 1x I2S LVDS via HDMI 1x USB Amanero 1x Firmware upgrade Port |
| Outputs | 1x Balanced ACSS
1x Balanced XLR 1x Single-Ended RCA |
GENERAL |
|
|---|---|
| Consumption | 55W |
| Dimensions | 430 x 430 x 125 mm |
| Accessories | 1x Power cable 1x USB cable |
MAGNA R2R (SILVER) UPGRADE
We, Magna Hifi, have been working for months on possible improvements for Audio-GD R2R DACs. Because we have gained a lot of experience with the Mano streamer, we had certain ideas about how things could be improved and sound better. AND IT DOES! Magna R2R Silver upgrade includes Internal board to board wiring replaced by solid core silver wiring with cotton insulation After the modification the R2R DAC sounds cleaner; and the edges will become softer better and more spacious sound image.
ABOUT THIS DAC
DIGITAL SETTINGS (OVERSAMPLING & NOS)
The R8 offers several Oversampling or NOS (Non-Oversampling) modes. If you wish to choose Oversampling, simply select the value “O”. If you want to choose the NOS then you have to choose the value “N”. You can then select one of the following modes to adapt the playback to your listening experience
DSP SETTINGS |
||
Oversampling |
||
| Oversampling | Passband Filter | |
| Mode 0 | 1x Oversampling | -130dB digital |
| Mode 2 | 2x Oversampling | -130dB digital |
| Mode 4 | 4x Oversampling | -130dB digital |
| Mode 8 | 8x Oversampling | -130dB digital |
Non Oversampling (NOS) |
||
| Mode 1 | FIFO Data processing | 6dB Analogue |
| TDA1541 Emulation mode (OS 2 or 4 recommended) | ||
| *Supports -50dB passband via PLL setting | ||
THE R-2R LADDER STORY
The R-2R DAC has become popular and was originally designed long time ago by MSB, and did not include the wonderful correction design of the modern MSB technology. In the High-End of the shelf (finished products) market, the R2R design is usually much more complex when outstanding performance is offered. Some manufacturers are using shift registers design to realize ladder compensation. A less complex, unfortunately also a less performing.
A far better design switches resistors in parallel mode; an ultra-fast FPGA chip controls and corrects the R2R ladder. The parallel design mode controls every bit respectively and therefore achieve unprecedented performance. (In parallel mode only 1 clock cycle is needed to output all data; serial design mode needs at minimum 8 up to 24 clock cycles) The parallel design is particularly complex, however when it is done properly it can correct every bit of the ladder. (Photo below shows a FPGA design with R2R ladder). With incredible speed and accuracy the R-28 will correct the unavoidable imperfections of the basic R2R ladder caused by tolerance of resistors; avoid glitches at ultra-high speed to deliver unrivaled musical performance.
TOLERANCE OF RESISTORS IN LADDER
Some manufactures claim to achieve good performance becuase they use lowest tolerance ladder resistors. The following calculation example will cover this. At 16 bit the tolerance of 1/66536, 0.1% (1/1000) it is by far not enough to achieve decent performance. Even using resistors with 0.01% (1/10000) tolerance, lowest tolerance available today,cannot deliver the desired performance This is just 16 bit, imagine a 24 calculation! To process 24 bit resolution it would require resistors with a tolerance of 0.00001%. This is purely theoretical; if this tolerance would exist the discreteness of the switch logic chips will already have too much internal impedance and will shake-up such design.The tolerance of the resistor will never solve Imperfections of a ladder.
The solution lies in the correction the ladder and not only depend on the tolerance of resistors. It’s a combination of both: Ultra-low tolerance resistors controlled by a correction technology using very high speed with parallel FPGA processing.
ULTRA FAST SIGNAL PROCESSING
FPGA stands for Programmable Array Logic. Nowadays the FPGA is widely adopted in audio devices. The internal hardware design is fully controlled by complex software. A huge advantage is the fact the software in the FPGA can easily be upgraded offering new capabilities or improve the performance of the device without replacing any hardware. Versatile and future proof design.
- High performance SPDIF interface, replacing traditional less good performing SPDIF interface chips like DIR9001, WM8805 or AK411X,etc.
- Full re-clocking process with FIFO design applicable on all inputs. This way the output data keeps fully synchronized with the clock signal to reject any jitter.
- Built in 2X, 4X and 8X oversampling and digital filters and on top of this 4 different true NOS (only analog 6dB filtering) modes. To completely configure the sound according to your taste.
BEST ANALOGUE OUTPUT STAGES
The analog output stages are as important, they have a tremendous influence on the final sound quality. After d/a conversion by the R2R D/A modules the analogue signal is transported by fully discrete matched-transistor output stages; DC-coupled design with first class through-hole components. No SMD compon ents are applied in the analogue section. The high speed unique ACSS ((Audio-gd Current Signal System) output stages are non-feedback and current driven. Unique performance because almost all other designs need to convert the signal multiple times from and to current and/or voltage, resulting in less detailed and less transparent sound-stage The output buffers are single ended FET; two stages in parallel to reach very low output impedance. All output stages are in pure class A without (negative) feedback to achieve purest and a real live sound reproduction. The 4 OPA op-amp’s are DC servos, this way no coupling-capacitors are needed and DC output is automatically biased. The listener will be presented a strikingly transparent and neutral sound.
ACSS – Current Amplification
Audio-GD has developed an advanced current-driven amplifier technique. Also known as ACSS, Audio-GD Current System Signal. This special technique ensures that the signal travels a much shorter path and that ensures a more transparent, faster and more neutral reproduction. A similar technique is used by, for example, KRELL. The Current Conveyor technology mostly components are the current mirror. The Current Conveyor technology isn’t a new technology, at 1966 , professor K.C. Smith and A.S.Sedra publish the concept “current mode analogue circuits “ .
CLEAN POWER
The DAC consist of 3 tuned low noise, low flux leakage, R-cores transformers. In total 130W power to supply all digital parts and the left and right analog boards. The DC power is distributed over 19 separate power regulators. All are pure class A low noise shunts; fed by 3 groups linear power supplies. Resulting in ultra-high speed and clean power for all individual parts.
USB SUPPORT
Download USB Amanero drivers for Windows 10
Download USB Amanero drivers for Windows 7 & 8
No drivers required for Linux and/or Mac OS
OSX 10.6+ and Linux with UAC2 compliant kernel
Microsoft Windows: KS/Wasapi/WDM/ASIO
| Weight | 15 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 430 × 430 × 930 mm |
| Brand |
3 reviews for Audio-GD – R8 2021 – Discrete Balanced R2R Ladder FPGA Accusilicon DAC – PCM / DxD / DSD
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Jason (verified owner) –
I’m suitably impressed! Wow… spectacular-sounding is it… I am now the proud owner of a much wider, taller soundstage; also faster/tighter, revealing & subtler sound.
Bas (verified owner) –
Adviced by the Magnapeople this great machine is now playing in my set. And even though still burning in it is fantastic. A huge improvement to my dac19. More clarity, space, tighter controlled bas, more detail, and full of musicality! Really happy with it!
Mike (HEADquarter Audio) –
R8 WITH SILVER AND R2R MAGNA UPGRADE
The sound has changed significantly, definitely in the right direction. It is much more open, transients are much better resolved, hardening
are barely recognizable. (Burn-in time!), Significantly more air between the instruments, room depth !! Much less digital! More details and therefore fascination! More sounds !!!
Even more important to me, however, is that the musical flow is clear! has become better, you can follow the structures better, you stay with the head in the music!
Great!!