At its $800 price point, many would want to know how it stacks up against the Denafrips Ares II (now called the Enyo, which is not the 12th anniversary edition that has I2S on it). Do R2R DACs present a significant upgrade in soundstage width, depth, and a more natural tonality than a similarly priced sigma-delta chip-based DAC? I know some, especially desktop users, would prefer the NEO's preamp ability (volume control) that is missing on the Denafrips, but for use in a "regular" rack system, which would you prefer? Many of us tap out at the $1000 price point on DACs. I know there are many further up the food chain, but I can't see spending as much on a DAC as I did on my amplifier or preamp. Heck, I've heard some say a $300 Geshelli Labs J2 AKM4493 DAC has better bass than the Enyo, but of course the Enyo can give you that immersive soundstage....decisions, decisions...Wish I could actually hear a bunch of DACs in my system and hear any differences....Thanks!
Hey Ross, I agree, I would like to do a direct comparison with some of the R2R options, specifically the Denafrips. I will have to reach out and see if I can get in contact for a sample unit. Beyond 1000 is a slippery slope, I have no doubts there are some impressive units out there but the cost to performance ratio becomes a bit unbalanced. None the less it’s fun to play with some of the premium items from time to time.
@@MattCoykendall1 I hope you can get one and review and offer comparisons to other DACs and whether you think R2R is a "must" or merely another "flavor" we have to choose from. Thank you!
"... but I can't see spending as much on a DAC as I did on my amplifier or preamp." I agree, furthermore, all digital must be in separate chassis' from analog. Digital evolves WAY too fast. There are no end game or heirloom DACS or Streamers. They are all disposable. There are no streamers for music videos, for example. That will change. Heck, 1980's MTv analog was pretty good. There are no DACs capable of glass fiber connection, which is here now in many places. DAC's can't process 1Gig speeds. AND.. what comes before a Streamer/DAC in the signal pipe? An Analog/Digital converter. The marketing people haven't even begun to create a new product market for the sound of a modem. 🔊
Hifi / Tech moves so quickly, end of the day it’s mostly good for us consumers as long as the tech continues to trickle down the product lines into more of the affordable products. I would be surprised the “audiophile” modem doesn’t exist yet, I know the switch is out there haha.
@@MattCoykendall1 "....end of the day it’s mostly good for us...." Oh, most definitely. The quality of audio today is sooo good, which kinda' reinforces my point. Just get a $300 or so DAC made here in the U.S.A.. They're excellent. Then get another one. Reviewers that recommend a product like the Technics SU-R1000 Integrated Amplifier. It's $9,499.99. This is End-Game Heirloom Money for, dare I say, most people. But it isn't true. The damn thing is almost certain to be outdated in no longer than 8 years. It's a poor choice & review. On a positive note, the IOTA-VX finally did what ALL Integrateds' should do. When an integrated has a single "pre-out", then what? All one can do is run it into another amp (ya, I know EQ's too etc.). Meanwhile you've got an unused amp under your pre doing nothing but making noise. Useless. So you add a "main in", but that isn't the best way either because now you've got to go to an intermediary device, probably an active crossover, to split the signal into highs and lows. What the IOTA-VX did was to produce a stand alone power amplifier that can run in stereo or mono and is the identical brother to the amp in the IOTA Integrated. It is sold alone as an amp for any pre. Best part is that you easily upgrade to running monoblocks from an integrated simply by switching both amps to mono & "pre out" to the other. Brilliant. It's the only way to do it.🔈🔉🔊
About the USB port.......................................... The ifi NEO IDSD has one. It is a USB Type "B" connector. Correct? Sometimes these ports/inputs are labeled "PC", presumably to connect to one. Correct? However, I'm finding USB Type "B" connectors as rare as hen's teeth on a PC or laptop. What the heck's the deal?
At its $800 price point, many would want to know how it stacks up against the Denafrips Ares II (now called the Enyo, which is not the 12th anniversary edition that has I2S on it). Do R2R DACs present a significant upgrade in soundstage width, depth, and a more natural tonality than a similarly priced sigma-delta chip-based DAC? I know some, especially desktop users, would prefer the NEO's preamp ability (volume control) that is missing on the Denafrips, but for use in a "regular" rack system, which would you prefer? Many of us tap out at the $1000 price point on DACs. I know there are many further up the food chain, but I can't see spending as much on a DAC as I did on my amplifier or preamp. Heck, I've heard some say a $300 Geshelli Labs J2 AKM4493 DAC has better bass than the Enyo, but of course the Enyo can give you that immersive soundstage....decisions, decisions...Wish I could actually hear a bunch of DACs in my system and hear any differences....Thanks!
Hey Ross, I agree, I would like to do a direct comparison with some of the R2R options, specifically the Denafrips. I will have to reach out and see if I can get in contact for a sample unit. Beyond 1000 is a slippery slope, I have no doubts there are some impressive units out there but the cost to performance ratio becomes a bit unbalanced. None the less it’s fun to play with some of the premium items from time to time.
@@MattCoykendall1 I hope you can get one and review and offer comparisons to other DACs and whether you think R2R is a "must" or merely another "flavor" we have to choose from. Thank you!
"... but I can't see spending as much on a DAC as I did on my amplifier or preamp." I agree, furthermore, all digital must be in separate chassis' from analog. Digital evolves WAY too fast. There are no end game or heirloom DACS or Streamers. They are all disposable.
There are no streamers for music videos, for example. That will change. Heck, 1980's MTv analog was pretty good.
There are no DACs capable of glass fiber connection, which is here now in many places. DAC's can't process 1Gig speeds.
AND.. what comes before a Streamer/DAC in the signal pipe? An Analog/Digital converter. The marketing people haven't even begun to create a new product market for the sound of a modem. 🔊
Hifi / Tech moves so quickly, end of the day it’s mostly good for us consumers as long as the tech continues to trickle down the product lines into more of the affordable products. I would be surprised the “audiophile” modem doesn’t exist yet, I know the switch is out there haha.
@@MattCoykendall1 "....end of the day it’s mostly good for us...." Oh, most definitely. The quality of audio today is sooo good, which kinda' reinforces my point. Just get a $300 or so DAC made here in the U.S.A.. They're excellent. Then get another one.
Reviewers that recommend a product like the Technics SU-R1000 Integrated Amplifier. It's $9,499.99. This is End-Game Heirloom Money for, dare I say, most people. But it isn't true. The damn thing is almost certain to be outdated in no longer than 8 years. It's a poor choice & review.
On a positive note, the IOTA-VX finally did what ALL Integrateds' should do. When an integrated has a single "pre-out", then what? All one can do is run it into another amp (ya, I know EQ's too etc.). Meanwhile you've got an unused amp under your pre doing nothing but making noise. Useless. So you add a "main in", but that isn't the best way either because now you've got to go to an intermediary device, probably an active crossover, to split the signal into highs and lows.
What the IOTA-VX did was to produce a stand alone power amplifier that can run in stereo or mono and is the identical brother to the amp in the IOTA Integrated. It is sold alone as an amp for any pre.
Best part is that you easily upgrade to running monoblocks from an integrated simply by switching both amps to mono & "pre out" to the other. Brilliant. It's the only way to do it.🔈🔉🔊
About the USB port..........................................
The ifi NEO IDSD has one. It is a USB Type "B" connector. Correct? Sometimes these ports/inputs are labeled "PC", presumably to connect to one. Correct?
However, I'm finding USB Type "B" connectors as rare as hen's teeth on a PC or laptop. What the heck's the deal?
There are quite a few missing it but yes your correct this one has it, keep them coming too, I agree.