Tony and I discussed about these 6 higher-end DACs. 

See you this week Oct 21, 2022 at the Toronto audio show. I will be there everyday from 3pm to 4pm. Tony's reaction to listening to the Galion TS120, the first time listening to a full tube integrated amp: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-iXY7blWCTME.html Tony's JBL L300 system: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--mdKgznH43s.html Non-affiliated links: Denafrips Venus and Pontus DAC: www.vinshineaudio.com/product-page/denafrips-venus-r2r-dac?currency=USD Matrix X-Sabre 3 DAC apos.audio/products/matrix-x-sabre-3-dac SMSL VMV D3: hifi-express.com/products/vmv-d3-r2r-pcm1704-mqa-dac Gustard R26: shenzhenaudio.com/products/gustard-r26-discrete-r2r-decoder-with-streamer-renderer-pcm768-dsd512-bluetooth-xmos-xu216-high-performance-audio-decoder Ladder Schumann: shenzhenaudio.com/products/ladder-schumann-dac-hifi-usb-dsp-coaxial-opt-aes-resolution-audio-decoder-1

More DAC comparisons please. This is some of the best analysis of comparing DAC's that I have seen.

Hi Thomas. Great to see you outside your man cave. From an audiophile perspective, I might suggest your garden is lacking in ‘Mids’. You clearly have plenty of lawn (lows), and conifers (highs), but where are the mids? No shrubs or perennials. Give them a try…. They will blow you away. And all analogue.

Well, I could not have found this DAC comparison video any sooner. As I am in the market for an upgrade to my current Pontus ii. The Martix Sabre X and of course the Venus go to top of my list. Not to mention the VMV M3 will be in contention. On a sidenote, what makes Thomas so popular is his sheer honesty and candor when discussing audio products. A straightshooter compared to many other audio review channels. .....he does not play word and mind games like .....a certain Mr. Huff ......cough cough .

Please keep this guy with you for reviewing product it is very good to have this kind of review by another tester. He is very expressive and clear to have an idea of the product

I happened to come across this video Tony’s evaluation of the Denafrips Venus 2 is right though I had the Venus 12 th anniversary model a friend brought over to listen in a speaker system. Magico S5 with subs , Boulder integrate and Innuos Statement server with Playback designs MPD 8 . Tony mentions how the Denafrips dac connected to his emotions I agree with him it did that with me also and that’s so important to some of us , you’ll know it when you hear it .

Refreshingly different Thomas! And VERY useful for those of us with our noses stuck in this crazy DAC market...which is all the time these days as new product intros-updates are coming fast&furious. Thanks to you both.

Excellent video Thomas, and thank you Tony for taking the time to test these 6 DAC's! This channel is probably the best for real world audio reviews, with no "audiophile" BS, looking forward to the next video, thanks a million!!

Tony said it all: the goal of a dac is to mimic /reconstruct analogue.

Nice. Candid comments from one music lover is great especially he was given so many to test and therefore we get to know the comparisons which is the most useful.

A great video. More please from the two of you. From Brighton, England ( via Glasgow)

🤗👍😎 GREAT VIDEO WITH TONY, …ENJOYING HIS JOURNEY AND YOU GIVING HIM BLIND TESTING 🤗💚💚💚

Great vid! Nice to get that exchange of thoughts and perspectives. I'm kind of stuck n my dac journey at the moment, but this really helps. Worth also mentioning, many have changed out the opamps in the Aune x8 to really good effect. Even claiming that with Sparkos labs discrete amps, the Aune can compete with 1k+ dacs.

Hello, Thomas! Thanks so much for this kind of videos! It will be so great to know your opinion on the Ladder Schumman. I´m specially interested on how it compares to the Pontus II, since both the Ladder Schumman and the Denafrips Pontus II are what i´m considering as my best options (regarding price/performance) to upgrade from the Ares II (which was my very happy introduction to the R2R world). Thanks again and hope to some day have the pleasure of listening to a Galion TS120!

Very useful POV from Tony, the fact he picked up differences across these DACS and could define those differences in simple language should be the baseline for all of these comparo videos, not sure it's possible or something reproducible or just something Tony would/can do in a way other audiophiles would/could take the time and effort to try to do for a RU-vid video.

good work ...Thomas I had the Pontus 2 then purchased the Gustard R26 , after comparing I sold the Pontus kept the R26 , I just like it better , synergy w my gear

Really enjoyed this video. It's nice to have these types of comparisons, more based on a subjective point of view (vs measurements) coming from someone that isn't used to the gear and can notice the differences vs what he's used to. From the video i gather maybe the pontus 2 or the ladder dac would be the best for me as i listen to lots of different types of music, so maybe an all rounder would be the best choice. Nice job!

Love this guy and his knowledge. He doesn't pretend to be an authority but if you listen closely, you will soon realize that Tony knows music and has a great ear. I think you need to add Tony to your testing group Thomas. Perhaps he could be Mr. Turntable? :)

Hi Thomas, since u have spend lots of time with the Venus, could u share how is it different to the meitner ma-1 dac? As I own the Meitner and love it(I actually bought it used and plan to re-sell it to try after watching your video on it, but I kept it! I am not quite sure what to expect. I listen nearfield.

Thomas, any chance of reviewing the Audio Note 0.1X in the near future…Jay was impressed, very impressed, comparing to his Denafrips T. Love your thorough and honest reviews.

I saw you trying to get out of him what analog meant to him but that just didn’t come out Hahha. I’ve had an ares 2 for a few weeks and the biggest difference over delta sigma is mostly in how real and tonally accurate everything becomes, it’s smoother too. The notes just have more pop and life to them without harshness. Looking forward to the Schumann review Thomas!

Ladder ones are natural with quite the right tempo (time domain) as analog. And that is a big difference confronted with Delta Sigma dacs.

Great stuff.I am with folks who don’t want to spend more than $1K as the performance varies so much and you can get very good specs from Schiit and almost lab grade from SMSL and Topping.I was thinking.Gustard but with lacking bass and mids head to head this was informative

Finding "air": great topic. Apart from going outside more, are R2R dac the best way to find air since they tend to be rolled off in the high frequencies?

Hi Thomas I'm a big r2r ladder dac fan and I've had the holo May kte and loved it. I thought it was superior to the Terminator + which I had also demoed in my rig for a week before deciding on the May. I've since taken another big step up and recently purchased the Aqua Acoustics formula xhd rev 2. Now I'm in digital Heaven this dac is nothing short of stunning when it comes to converting digital into an analogue signal. End game for me, the next step is $50000+ and I'd have to win the lottery to even contemplate going there. Great video really enjoyed both of your perspectives.

Wonderful video and info

VMV D3 - the mythical dac, that I can't find anywhere to listen to :( Waiting for Your take on R26 and Ladder Schuman - a R2R round up\comparison would be nice also :) Possibly with and addition of Holo Spring 3

As someone who likes to listen at louder levels this kind of comparison is really helpful the venus ii goes to the top of my wishlist!

Nice discuss, very informative !

Got the R26 a few weeks ago, after some burn in, the connection to the singer really improves. Initially I found the DAC to be flawless but boring. After some recommended burn in, wow, the low end came alive! Anyway blah blah, it changed a few times but then it settled and it is smooth and detailed and clear. Love it

The Holo Audio Spring 3 (KTE) is missing in this list.

Very interesting. Are there high end dacs that don't draw too much power on use+idle, only for desktop IEM use? Buying Daps make little sense for a desktop use because I don't need a screen and a battery, buying large dac make no sense when I only need 1 watt of power in the transducers. Are there no high end, compact and balanced solution stationary iems ?

I wonder if they used USB inputs for this DAC shootout, or if they used DDCs or Gustard’s LAN. USB implementation can really vary between good DACs. Chord USB inputs are horrible, while Holo KTEs’ USB are great. Also, I wonder how many of the R2R DACs have a good amount of burn-in already. For this DAC shootout, I dunno if they were experiencing each DAC at their ideal performance. Tony’s correct though; not sure how you go back to DS after listening to good R2R.

Man I wish I had a friend like that. Awesome video

Valuable perspective, thanks. The Venus needs months and months of burn in, like 700-800 hours, to really hear its true self. Glad you gave him a burned in example, Thomas. The Venus is all I need - wonderful DAC for the money.

I really liked that video....got a new sub ! I am feeling the time to update my dac is near. I have kef r300, arcam a19 and arcam irdac. I am considering to update thr amp (yamaha as1200) or the dac with maybe denafrips ares 2. Any tips? I am into jazz, vocals, soul. But the system is used for everything...movies music games...

This was a great vid Thomas. I saw you with that Venus some months back and was wondering if a review was in the works. Happy to know your thoughts as well as Tony's, and I'm totally happy with mine. Will you be at the Toronto Audio show this weekend?

Here's the other thing to consider also. All six of these dacs were hooked up to his preamplifier and his amplifier. Who's to say that his equipment didn't have the synergy with some of those Dacs. Maybe one of the dacs that he didn't like or care for the least would sound great with somebody else's preamplifier and amplifiers and speakers. It's a huge rabbit hole! LOL

Great stuff👍now we should all go to Tony’s place for beer and music 😂🤣😂🤣 good job Tony👌

hi Thomas great review, will u gonna re-review the VMV D3 again in deep comparison?

This one's a gem Thomas.

Well done!! I would like to update my cambridge cxn v2 what do you recommend Gustard R26 or Gustard A 26 ?. Thank you

I myself just recently came to the realization that a DAC is more than just a tweak. It's as important as a phono preamp. Damnit, now I need more money.

Looking at Tony's basement, and the surfaces I'm left feeling the room would be very live, a bit of damping would likely make a huge improvement and tidy up the acoustics no end. Perhaps if he were to play around a bit,,, throw a few rugs around hang a some big blankets or duvets till he sees how it changes things. It tends to be the last thing people will do but until they do they cannot understand how it can change things .

I wish you added in a 650 USD DAC..... or the Denafrips Aries II

I was wondering how much burn in the different dacs had. Obviously the Venus had plenty but what about the others. I have a R26 and enjoy it very much!

Sorry Thomas, I don´t find this video being a serious review, as I have got to know you. I have been following you here on youtube for quite some time now for your most excellent reviews and not least the way you go about talking sound performance in a wider perspective. And I also find you being down to earth, when talking about the relation price/performance of what ever gear you are presenting a review for. As always, the best from me in Stockholm, Sweden.

looking forward the Thomas review of the ladder Schumann

Gustard R26 is improving after 100+ hours of listening!It is the real deal!

But what if you do need no DAC at all? Please review the Peachtree gan1 poweramp which has only digital input.

I've had the Gustard R26 about a month now and love it. Didn't realize how much I'd like the R2R DAC sound. Sold my Bifrost 2 DAC which I liked a lot after getting the R26. I immediately realized the R26 was a legit upgrade to the BF2 DAC

A very good idea this comparison. it would be nice to know type of connection Tony used. ladder dacs always play better with I2S, thats when you hear their real character

Hey Thomas, I know i`m a little late on the comment, but I have the Ares2 and I found the SPDIF to sound more refined than the USB input. Then came the HOLY COW moment when I tried the Ifi SPDIF iPurifier 2. This little device blew me away, to the point it may be the best hi-fi purchase to date. Powered with a quality 5v linear pws I got a Larger soundstage, impact-dynamics and quality bass instantly. A must try in my book.

I like this video and Thomas I like you as a reviewer but this is just another classic case of different flavors of sound. Just like speakers, amplifiers, and pre-amplifiers offer different flavors of sound. That's one of the frustrating things in the HiFi industry. There really isn't a best of category it's just what do you like the sound of. With so many options it can become overwhelming. Kind of like going to a ice cream shop with 48 flavors. If 100 people coming to the ice cream shop they are all going to have different favorites.

Can you please do a review on Gustard r26 dac? Want to know what you think.

I just got the Schiit Bifrost 2/64. Would be fun to test some pricier pieces though

Love this review, shout out Montreal , so many accents, Laval ?

I have the Ladder Schumann and can attest to the observations in this video. It heartily beat by Schitt Bifrost and offers incredible value for money ❤

@Thomas & Stereo great video, curious what settings do you prefer to listen with on the Venus 2, for ex. phase on, OS vs NOS and sharp vs slow filter also USB vs Coax vs i2s. Cheers!

Interesting comparisons. Thomas, are you going to review the Terminator II or T+?

Hey Tony, you have a great cartridge and table. Upgrade your tube phono stage. You will get the bass and air you are seeking …I got a 10 year old Audio Research ph8….that’s my end game phono pre…

I think when you're at this level of nuance with these DACs, IMHO it becomes very system dependent, and of course subjective depending on what your listening for/to. I never had a problem with lack of "air" in my system (Focal Kanta 2's, BAT amp/tube pre) and have been using the top measuring Topper DACs (for whatever that's worth) with an Aurender for some time. Detail abounds, great soundstage etc. But I wanted some of that silky magic I can get with analog. Denafrips was the obvious choice (Holo a close second) - a friend has the Ares II which sounds great. In my rig, I really like the Venus II (store demo), the presentation was certainly smooth, but it still seemed a bit dark next to the Topper. Especially considering the price. Then I tried the Gustard. TBH, I couldn't tell if I preferred it, it really sounded like the Toppers. At first. Fast forward 100+ hours break-in and I'm in absolute heaven. It opened up, the soundstage and space around instruments is amazing. And bass? Plenty, thanks. Balanced connectors of course. The R26 has the articulation, speed and slam of the delta-sigmas, but that silkiness and 3D space of R2Rs. I've found my match. It absolutely competes with my Technics SL1200G/Goldnote PH-10/PS-10 combo and MC/MM cartridges. _On my system._ The icing is it's half the price of the Denafrips.

Help me 2 Chanel hifi ...please tell me the best possible setup using my Dali rubicon 2 speakers...I'm presently using marantz model 40n, Rel T7x...class B to me sounds better than class D and I need ARC...I think I need more power do get the most out of these Dali rubicon 2 ...

It would be good to know what digital sources Tony also used.

Thanks Thomas I'm a big fan, please review some DDC,S

Having a $300 topping dac or something entry level would be fun.

My question is when and where or if any results will be published. I really don't have any desire to flip through all these entries. When, where will results be published, rated, decided, etc. Got a plan?? Inquiring minds want to know.

Sounds like Tony needs to track down a Herron VTPH-2A preamp for his turntable.

Will you be reviewing the gustard R26 and ladder Schumann? Would love to know your friends thoughts on these two against each other a bit more too. Even compared to the pontus II because they are all within the $1000-2000 market

Audio gear is like fine wine. Once you taste the good stuff it’s hard to go back. Very enjoyable review.

Oh how I love when I just buy a piece of gear and you guys come out with a review like this literally 2 weeks later. I owned Ares 2, Pontus and now Venus 2. I also have the Exasound like you Thomas. Ares and Pontus not really great. Venus, amazing midrange and vocals!! Nice pairing with Lumin U1 mini. Wondering about I2S connection and DDC from Denafrips

I am surprised about the Venus smoothness findings. From what I saw in some previous reviews elsewhere, it seemed something common in the few that I saw was it sounded a bit more sterile. I know that is different from smoothness, but for some reason I associated sterile with less smooth.

Hi Thomas, thanks for the video. I would like to see a comparison made by you of these 6 dacs. When are you going to review the Ladder Schumann?

Love my Gustard!

Thomas, please review the Holo Spring 3 (especially this one as it is more affordable for most audio enthusiasts ) and/or the Holo May. Many would like your opinion on this dac(s). I was set to buy a Denifrips, but now I am not so sure? Thx

@19:40 our hero really cuts to the heart of the matter. At least for me he does. The ability to create a holographic illusion in a semi dark room is the holy grail. Sitting around glowing vacuum tubes satisfies a primal need to worship fire. And if Dinah Washington is standing there singing to you, you will be a better person. I worship at the altar of the single ended triode. And burn sacrifices. Well, they're not really sacrificed, just burnt. Like about twenty minutes ago.

Thanks for the video guys, but I wonder what was the source for all these DACs thanks

Hey Thomas, in the south shore Brossard, how do I get into your group so I can learn about audio.

What streamer was used?

Thanks Thomas for great video👍 I made my own test of dacs CA 851N (1000USD dac section only) Earmen Tradutto(800USD) Hidizs s9Pro (110USD) Noname china crap(10USD) volume matched on my Master 19 on Moondrop Variations IEM. The differences on the first 3 was very very subtle (thumps up for Hidizs for 110 bucks) the last 10USD crap was the worse of course, but for 10USD it was not so horrible.. mabe im def😀. the difference between 10usd dac and 100usd was big (audible noise, anemic bass, bad detail) but the difference between 110 and 800usd was very subtle.. the diminishing returns beginn by relativelly low price..

My Ladder Schumann DAC was defective upon arrival. Won’t use again. Went with Gustard A26, and VERY happy after auditioning various Dacs.

I got a tip for you. Best endgame DAC might be Audio Music DAC/1. At £13,000, it allegedly sees off DACs in the £40k price range. Not many know about it. I got one recently and it’s blowing me away. Doesn’t sound digital at all. It does it all. Giant killer.

Hi Thomas everything I've read on the Gustard R26 has never stated that they were bass thin what's your opinion on the bass on the R26

Hi Thomas, is the venus dac better than Hegel H390s dac?

He made good explanations.

Which one would you choose: Gustard R26 or Ladder Schumann?

Is that a cover of a Police track? If so what is the name again?

I wonder when people talking about smooth sound is that means narrow frequency range(slow)with very strong power supply?

How would you rate these 6 DACS from good to excellent?

Over all the old Burr Brown .. Warm and musical

You should try the Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE 😊

Hi Thomas thx for the video you should finally try the Audio-gd DACs you will thank me later. Tony s turntable would probably be at another level with better phono just my 2 cents. Cheers

Will you be reviewing the Gustard R26, that one looks quite interesting.

I'd give the yggdrasil LIM a shot.

And not a single one of this dac's dont have a remote am I right? :(

Someone else did a review of the Ladder Schumann and said it was really good, but I question it because at the time there were no specs at all and it appeared to have no electrical safety assurance done on it. I can buy it locally from an Aussie distributor, $2,000. The distributor states it easily outperforms the Pontus 2 and the Pegasus. Tony may want to care for his hearing if he likes listening at high volume with plenty of bass. As someone with hearing issues now, it’s not good.

How do you run a turntable through a DAC I’m confused as that’s analog and a Dac is digital to an analog converter ?? Thanks for your help as I’m new to all this

I loved the ares II so much but just like you, i couldn't live with that lack of bass. It was slow and lumpy and once i really honed in on it with my ears, i couldn't stop hearing it and focusing on it as a negative DESPITE the Ares II giving me maybe one of the most enjoyable listening experiences with digital since i started this journey. I had never gone through more albums start to finish compared to when i first got the Ares II. I couldn't wait to hear music with the Ares. I think back and wonder if i integrate a fast, punchy subwoofer-will that be enough for me to make up for the Ares II lack of good, tight fast bass and save myself several grand from my current pcm63 multibit dac?

you need to try the Holo Audio May KTE

Would love to see some Terminator II reviews. See a lot of T+ reviews.. very limited on T2.