Audio-gd R2R-11 Mark 2 Headphone DAC/amp Review

[@meangoooo]

Had this for a few months now. Wonderful sounding unit. Everything seems to have great presence which makes it effortlessly enjoyable. While a behind the Ares II in detail and stage, I end up preferring the r2r-11mk2 for casual listening as everything is meatier, more weighty, and more engaging. Also love how forgiving it is, as all the poorly recorded stuff I listen to sound perfectly pleasant and enjoyable. While it may obscure some low level details, it also subdues the nasties and just bring out the music. Dynamics feel absolutely spot on to me which I can't say about my experience with OG BF2 and Ares II (but I really really like both of these DACs). Feels more uncolored/unflavored compared to OG BF2 or Ares II. Even with the "warm sound" jumper, it doesn't quite come across as colored when listening. Maybe it's cliche to say, but I can just better feel the music off this unit. Volume control works well even with very sensitive headphones like LCD-X. Preamp sounds great and it's the only preamp I've tried (d1se, SA-1, El Amp II) that worked very well with Soloist 3xp in poweramp mode. Only negative is the locking tab on the 6.3mm jack can be very stubborn. Amp section is good too. Very full sounding and smooth but a little bit forward in presentation. LCD-X still sounds great off of it, but for me it just clicks with the HD58x/HD660s, resulting in a very engaging yet smooth and easy listening experience. Very easy to enjoy. Wish I had gone for a higher end model.

[@O.G.LIL-MAN]

Man, I love Audio-gd components...I already have a full rack of their amps and dacs. They're crazy reliable and solid

[@petercraig389]

Full rack here too. Audio-gd and Hifiman. It's a brand that delivers most to (a) audiophiles on a budget (b) audio nerds who can appreciate the engineering and passion from Kingwa and his crew.

[@zackw4941]

Which components do you have? I've decided to branch out from headphones into higher end speakers and ordered some Tekton Moabs. They are big, high sensitivity full range towers. I'm naturally considering a stack of components from Audio-gd.. If I really like the speakers, maybe I'll go as far as R8, HE-1 and Master 3A. That's really stretching my budget, but I know this setup would last me decades, if it all performs as expected. But otherwise, I had considered something more budget friendly. I could get an R27 and a second Schiit Vidar to run dual mono. As it is, I'm driving my JBLs with an Emotiva TA-1 and single Vidar. When I plugged in my R1 and Master 19, they blew the TA-1 out of the water...

[@Shozimus]

The orginal one was my first AudioGd, good memories :) After checking a lot of gear, got back to AudioGd with Master 19 and R2R 2 :)

[@Currawong]

In case you hadn't noticed, the Bifrost can be seen in the pan shots. I only got it back just after shooting the review, so sound comparisons are in the written version: www.hear.audio/2022/06/11/audio-gd-r2r-11-m2-review/

[@LukasVokrinek]

I've had the original R2R11 for many years now and it continues to be such a great piece of kit. Musical, detailed, very reliable... Probably the best purchase I've made so far; it's a great speaker pre-amp as well! Its successor is almost twice the price but it's still such a great value, I wouldn't buy anything else when this eventually dies.

[@topspin4hand]

Have the original too and it's great in almost every way. Could be more detailed, but I don't even want to complain about that cuz overall it's such a great experience to use one.

[@luezio8914]

And the newest hifiman ef400 just came out with a decent price, also a r2r dac amp. Competition is good.

[@compadre9783]

Thanks! When should we expect a full review of the R27HE you mentioned in your review? Would be interesting to understand the difference the introduction of the HE part makes..

[@Currawong]

hear.audio/faq :)

[@compadre9783]

@@Currawong I take it as .. soon enough.. :) Thank you for sharing your valuable opinion with the community.

[@anonyfamous42]

Teasing

[@peterdevito6524]

Great review! I never heard the original R2R-11, but have the MK2 and am very pleased by it. As Currawong states, the DAC is unusually clear (while still musical) for an NOS design. I paid Kingwa to add a 2nd RCA output pair on the back, allowing me to bypass the MK2's internal amp in favor of two others I like (Cavalli Liquid Carbon v2;l Monoprice Liquid Gold X)--giving me the best of both worlds. Overall, IMHO this AIO device punches far above its weight, both sonically & functionally (@Pharmaboy/Head-Fi)

[@mhchanellis]

The relay-switched resistors volume control is such a great (value) feature in audio-gd gears. On the GSX-Mini the stepped attenuator option would cost $200 extra and it is not even as good

[@FFosaG]

A topic often neglected is the Headphone Amplifier topology, I see the DAC-Topology has a bigger influence on the overall sonic outcome. But seeing their relay switched resistor attenuator, there might be a trick or two used in the headphone amp too. Did you comment on the neutral/ warm sound option? Maybe some global feedback switch?

[@zackw4941]

My friend has an R2R11 and he's very happy with it. Uses it on one of his desks to drive headphones and other equipment / speakers. He brought it over to my place once and it was surprisingly not far off from my R1 and Master 19 stack. I don't recall if I tried my LCD-4 on both, but we definitely used LCD-2c and whatever those $500 hifi-man are. Edition X maybe? (LCD-2c wipe the floor with hifiman, BTW)

[@3therspark63]

I have the original 11, while the amp is muddy and I never use it, the r2r DAC is soooo good, I'm still using it now with Focals and top Beyers. Just sounds natural and articulate

[@ubacow7109]

Why not denafrips or kitsune holo r2r dacs?

[@laszlokiss3578]

hi, thx for the great review 😊 i have a Topping D70S paired with a Nitsch Magni Piety. is it worth to upgrade the D70S to the R11 Mk2? thx

[@Currawong]

No, I don't think it would be an upgrade.

[@laszlokiss3578]

​@@Currawong thx, for the quick response 😊

[@tkhsu9092]

how would it compare with the old audiolab MDAC?

[@dieselphiend]

Holycow he's using a good mic!

[@anonyfamous42]

I wish I could afford the R27HE

[@badassmods3945]

mym original r2r11 causes crackling when using on my PC yet using it thru optical cable works fine anyone got any tips I cant figure it out now got new mobo and it has no optical so I have to figure it out

[@Currawong]

Could be the computer is sending out a radically wrong sample rate to it, something it wont do with optical.

[@badassmods3945]

@@Currawong any idea on how maybe I'd be able to fix it?

[@Currawong]

Use a music app that matches the computer's output with the sample rate of the music. I don't use Windows, so I'm not the best person to ask about that though.

[@mizujunior2519]

Will it play an android Dap through the USB?

[@Currawong]

Most USB-input audio gear should work with Android now. However, Android may re-sample all music, unless you're using an app that can bypass Android's USB processing.

[@carminedesanto6746]

Good morning from Toronto ☕️☕️ I’m still Subscribed..but I have to stop watching ..you’re reviewing gear that is just too good!..and it makes my wallet scream 😱 when you come on . Take care and yes I’m listening to this 😋

[@amadismusic_SWORDFISH]

So you are the inventor of all in ones?

[@Currawong]

No, but I had some responsibility for starting the trend with my original suggestion. Prior to that, some headphone amps had the option of including a cheap bitstream DAC.

[@exodusvelo]

3:55 LOL

[@EricRosenfield]

I think you should state at the top of your videos a kind of high-level takeaway of what you think as a thesis statement so we have a better idea what to expect.

[@Error_4x5]

Audio-gd's main boards are so sexy, lol