You can find my written review, as well as the picture of the inside of the DAC that many of you asked for, here: iiwireviews.com/ladder-schumann-best-r2r-dac-you-never-heard-about/
You’re one of the best audiophile reviewers in my opinion. Great vocab, unique and engaging way of describing the qualities of the product. And most importantly you seem very earnest and trustworthy. I’ve bought a few products because of your reviews. And they’ve delivered as per what you’ve described. Well done. Keep going. You deserve more followers. 🤟🏻
I apprciate your honesty, I have trouble trusting other audio reviewers - they are just a marketing piece. You are like a friend who gives good advice. Thank you Srboljub.
I really love Chord DACs and at home I use a Quest that, to my tastes, works very well with the kind of music I listen to. I listened to this R2R DAC in the shop where I repair turntables and it really hit me. Great soundstage and smooth, natural.sound. I won't change my Quest but this one is really great. Thank you for sharing, great video
Wow, you're the BEST audio reviewer at actually describing the SOUND of gear! I was curious as to whether these Ladder and Musician Monoceros models were just rebadged Denafrips models . Apparently they are different enough circuit or FPGA implementations to warrant separate consideration. Same factory for the casework maybe, but who cares? Thank you sir! PS: It's time for you to review the Ares12th ! I have it and the Ares 2 in different systems. Listening in the same system, they're STARTLINGLY different. More focus and space with the 12.... Soon as I overcome my lazy inertia, I'll upgeade the Ares2 to 12th firmware too. Good of DENAFRIPS to provide the firmware update for free. THANKS Alvin!!
Your description of an r2r dac really has me thinking I might need to try one. Sounds like just what I've been looking for. How do R2R dacs pair with tubes? Also your video quality and audio is notably better than earlier reviews you've done. I really really like your reviews. Keep up the excellent work.
I for a long time had a Denafrips Ares 2 feeding into a Schiit Valhalla 2 working as preamp into a Class D amp - very very special (spatial?) sound. Musical to the max.
It would be very interesting to compare this DAC with Gustard's new R2R the R26. It is a bit more expensive, but it has more features, including a pre-amp and streaming capabilities, however, a head to head comparison of the R2R sound would help buyers.
I'm testing both and the r26 it's more special it has the most detail I've ever heard ever! The ladder is a very good all rounder that has a ton of bass. Depends what your searching for......the r26 made me hear things I've never heard before!
Another very thorough review, thanks. This DAC is on my shortlist now, but I wish they’d spend just a little more on the logo. Sprayed on paint might be okay on something costing $50, but at this price I want something either embossed or at least tastefully done. In these days of scanning and computer printing, there’s just no excuse for that horror show of a logo.
I have one and share your world view, but it's well executed in real life. Doesn't look cheap (whereas an embossed one probably would on what is an otherwise minimalist fascia).
The Denafrips and Ladder DACs share the same buttons, original chassis, and feet. They also have a similar organization n the rear. The LEDs are basically the same too, with small holes and LEDs behind them.
As somebody with a primary interest in natural tonality, including vocals and speech, I can easily spot that your reviews include an extra benefit; You prove that, beyond your sincerity which can upset some brands which offer high prices but not quality (LOL), each listener must realize that the quest for a "perfect sound" must include a well-trained sensitivity to perceive it. Because of that, it may take months or even years to optimize the full hi-fi path especially if there is poor access to A/B testing. Not accidentally, I like very seldom available reviews done by folks who are guaranteed to possess that sensitivity, such as orchestras' members and their conductors.
@Allan Miller I would emphasize speakers, since they will be a most significant portion of the cost. Other suggestion worth emphasizing is that buying brand-new vs second-hand is not cost-effective.
@Allan Millernice choice! Many speakers do it well, but some play too much with psycho-acoustics. One of the issues I often observe (also present in many DACs) is a "living presence" effect achieved by manipulating some high frequencies. Those end up in changed tonalities, such as of high-register piano notes. For me, probably the most valued aspect of Zingali Twenty Evo 1.2 is their correct tonality: th-cam.com/video/RGnTcQmE7jQ/w-d-xo.html
Man my friend brought his Schumann over to compare to my Chord hugo Tt2 and M scaler combo. Let's just say that I put my Chord gear for sale the very next day. Soundstage on the Schumann was bigger, tonality of instruments and voices was more realistic. Music sounded more dynamic and just as detailed as the chord. The only things the chords did slightly better was the bass was a little tighter and separation of instruments was a little more clearly defined. Chord goes on about the transients being so quick with the 1 million Taps when you add the M scaler but honestly the Schumann sounded just as quick with the transients. Don't get me wrong I love the chord gear but it is seriously overpriced. $17K for tt2 and M scaler VS $1900 for the Schumann. No brainer.
Obviously the Denafrips designer is producing different models for an alternate distributor. Lots of companies do that to increase market share. It looks like a hybrid of Ares 2 and Pontus 2 and the price also suggests that. I wish you would have opened it up to show the internals....also it would have been helpful to know if this model allows for its I2S to be configured in order to be useful with multiple DDCs.
@@iiWiReviews it would appear that it's an Ares 2 with I2S and AES added. Not sure how the "FPGA" differs from original Ares 2 but it may also be a tweek on the original design. Only way to find out is to open it up and compare the internals....
Ordered one and received. Fantastic sounding DAC(using coax input) although I2S doesn’t work with its default configuration(sound is noisy and plays only on right channel). My unit didn’t come with manual as well so reached out to support for help.
Have you ever tried a Schumann Resonance Generator 7.83 Hertz? This device can make any system sound better. I suggest trying a higher quality version of one. Please look them up.
@@20CycleMonger I’ve seen a RR-888. I wonder if you can gain performance by adding a linear power supply with high end cabling? Possibly to match the RR888.
@@tubefreeeasy Can't hurt, but i haven't yet. I have an LPS. Should give it a try... But it WORKS without. I built a kit one once. Not as effective sadly. The 888 is an update. Probably better. I also have a cheapie one of Amazon for my living room system that works well. Dont overspend. If you dont perceive the effect with a $50 model youre probably immune. Regards:-)
You're making my life difficult!! 🙂 I'm looking forward to receiving Topping's D90LE to demo at home, but now you're making me think I should also be testing Ladder's DAC! Thanks for another brilliant honest review.
Hi there! Is there any chance that you will listen to the Gustard R26? I would really like to hear a review of a R2R dac with prestage so I can connect to a poweramp directly.
Insteresting comparision would be to compare with HoloAudio Cyan 2 DAC, because it is the same price, similar size, also R2R and it is even more bare bone DAC.
The Musician Pegasus (notice the naming convention) is VERY similar in build construction to the Denafrips Venus II, sharing the same feet, same chassis, leds, and button family. Internally they are different, but what this means is that there is a factory in China making at least three different brands of DACs and marketing them as though they are competing with each other.
expensive dacs are not about better sound in my humble o. any dac over $100 is going to sound like nothing is there because that's its job. to take 1010010101 and turn it into analog. congrats, we got that down to laser mathematical precision. get any of them. jds, schiit, geshelli, smsl, etc - all of them are going to be perfectly fine dacs. you only spend $500+ on a dac when you're getting something like the cayin idac or rme adi2. because with those you're getting about a billion extras along with "just a dac". like a tube pre stage or onboard amp and PEQ opinions are like orifices... but this is a good one. don't spend $1000 on "just a dac", no matter how it sigmas or ladders to get there...
Nice Review. This Ladder Schumann R2R DAC almost looks like the Middle child of the Denafrips Pontus II and Ares II. I recently picked up the Hifiman EF400 which is an R2R DAC/Amp combo and was pleasantly surprised by the R2R DAC sound. It's the first time I've heard an R2R DAC and now I know why people like them so much. btw.... the EF400 at $600 bucks could be a Giant Killer. Won't be as good as the crazy expensive R2R DAC's... but it gets you a real nice taste of R2R
Thank you for this wonderful review. I purchased one on the back of it and am in love. It bettered my Bifrost 2 by retaining that DAC's intimacy and organic sound while adding slam, resolution and soundstage. My only complaint is the lack of any manual - has anyone here had any luck with that? I've written to Shenzhen Audio and will report back here if I get one. The one by Eugene C doesn't explain the OS/NOS button operation.
Thank you for these excellent reviews. I bought ARES 2 and then SMSL 500 mk 2 based on your reviews which sounded great with Arya stealth and IFI Ican pro in Tube plus mode. It was the best sound I have ever heard but sound stage was in the head which made me seek R2R DACs. Unfortunately i sold my Ares 2 before I got IFI Ican pro because it lacked edge definition compared to SMSL 500 as you said. Now i have both Gustard R26 and Ladder Shumann which I am trying out for holiday season and plan to keep 1. I was disappointed by R26 a little. Sound is a little soft and vocals a little thin than i would like. Ladder Shumann seem much better and it has solved the soundstage problem easily. Enjoyable, airy, bassy, musical but vocals are still not as biting as I would like. So now I have ordered Pontus 2. I agree with Tharbamar's latest comparison of R26, Shumann and Pontus, at least for the first 2. While I am waiting for pontus to arrive, i am trying to tweak Shumann and I am really troubled by lack of user manual. How can they do this ? Thats why i am posting here. I was wondering how can I access OS2 modes you described. I can only turn NOS/OS off and on so far using the button and while OS ( LED off) has a little more definition of vocals , I am wondering if OS2 mode could be even better. Any guidance is most welcome.
Yes, Schuman has very full and present sound, especially with vocals. For changing OS modes press "setup" button (and release) then immediately after that press "mode" button. Everytime you press mode you should see one LED switching ON or OFF. That is selection between two modes. I got my unit very early for a review so I thought that was the reason for not having user manual. I can't belive they still haven't wrote it. For R26 just be sure to put a week or two of work into it before deciding about keeping it or not. It starts sounding a bit thin but relaxes later on... And that takes more time than usual. To my ears and in speaker setup R26 is the more precise one, but does push soundstage deeper behind the speakers (I guess with headphones it feels farther away too but haven't tried it in headphone setup).
@@iiWiReviews Thanks for taking the time for detailed reply. That worked. The setting with 4 lights on has the most treble (USB, mode, setup and sample rate light off and on ) and makes vocals more immediate even before burn in for Shumann. Everything else is near perfect already for me. I am not a typical audiophile and I just listen to low quality youtube music videos so less precision may not bother me as much. I cant imagine Pontus being much better than Shumann but I am on manic spending spree :) I think these DACs may be better served by speakers than headphones but I will continue to strive to stumble on the perfect sound for me regardless and I am getting pretty close with Ladder Shumann. I Will also give R26 another go cause amazon has extended return window till Jan 31 due to holidays. Thanks again. To state the obvious, You have a rare talent for describing the sound so accurately and I am very happy to be a loyal follower :)
@@iiWiReviews It was the least I could contribute. I have now bought the Acoustic Invader Power and Pre-amp because of your honest and thorough review. And now I also ordered Ladder Schumann. Will be a poor man because of you, but rich in musical experiences! PS: I'm dreading your review of Gustard! 🤣🤣
I don't know if it was commented on but is there a large difference in performance between RCA and XLR other than loudness? Do you lose detail, depth etc on RCA outputs?
XLR does sound slightly better, livelier... but RCA is no slouch either. It is really tough comparing just outputs on the DAC because every balanced preamp or integrated amp also sounds better when connected that way. Schumann is a truly balanced design, and so is my preamp, so using XLR does sound noticeably better. But that is a joint result of both devices in the chain. RCA can match XLR only if XLR is there for convenience and not truly a balanced design internally (many head-amps are doing that lately and there is no real difference between RCA and XLR).
R2Rs tend to sound slow and less dynamic compares to D/S dacs. Would you say that the OS modes on this make a difference in the time domain? Do they sound more dynamic compared to NOS mode?
Hi Srboljub, How would Ladder Schumann compare to Gustard R26. Since you reviewed both which one do which sound you prefer after burn in if you can only keep one and why ?
It's a tough choice. Schumann is fuller, more forward, more analogue like. R26 has cleaner tone and deeper soundstage. I've kept listening to R26 because I am a soundstage depth fan... But I can easily see many people preferring Schumann. I am aware this sounds like a political way of avoiding to choose a winner, so I'll say that on points I would give a win to R26 but in reality where different people have different preferences and systems, it is not that easy to proclaim an outright winner.
@@iiWiReviews Currently I have Gustard x26 pro and Musician Draco r2r. Really love that r2r sound considering upgrading soon. I love the analog sound and prefer one with the best 3d soundstage. Will be tough choice for sure lol :)
iiwi hi! Thank you very much for taking time reviewing this Ladder Schumann Dac. If you do'nt mind , Is the Ladder Bach preamp a best amp. to pair with Ladder Schumann Dac? Thanks and hope to hear you someday and God bless you!
They are a very good match, at least for my ears. Together they produce great soundstage and plenty of deteils, but with organic tone timbre. The only reason I see not to make this paring is if you like to have pronounced sharpness or some bling in the highs (which I personally don't, but tastes differ).
Those questions about same engineer as Denafrips Ares or not…I think that is a fair game question when someone asks you to review their product that so closely resembles another product.
It's all single source. Managerial staff, chief engineering, de-jure ownership, brand names, that all says nothing within P.R.China's export company branching. It's a just a simulation of market activity and competition.
How about voltage output? Regarding the Musician dac, some people have reported the output is too low and they have to turn their amp up too much. Did you experience this with the Ladder Schumann?
I don't have that info, it sounds as loud as any other DAC with anything I have. But both Musician and Denafrips DACs have high output impedances that like to be connected to amps and preamps with 10 kΩ or greater impedance input so no signal loss is happening. 99% of preamps and amps do have 10 kΩ or higher, but if you happen to own one with a lower input impedance then all these DACs will produce lower volume than usual.
Shame you didnt show the inside of this DAC, also as good as this maybe how long is this company going to be in business you could be left with an expensive paper weight!
I just purchased musician pegasus, and I would like to as you: Musician recommends using xlr output and I have impression that as per what they say, this is not only because of it can drive signal to long distances but there might be other quality reasning howewer they do not specify. I was triing to find briefly more information about diferencies between balanced and rca but evidently this will require more resarch. Now my question:), Do you thing xlr converted to rca by cable can be better than rca to rca in this case?
The price difference between Pegasus is 300-350 dollars which is not that small difference in price!In the other hand we got Denafrips Pontus 2 which is 300 bucks more than Schumann. I would love to see comparison between Pontus 2 and Schumann.
I have actually took some but forgot to show them in the video. I'll put them in the written review later. Nothing special to see really, just a neatly assembled R2R with a linear power supply, o-ring transformer, good Japanese capacitors, etc.
Please reply, even by memory! How do you find the Ladder vs Musician Draco? I know it is a long time since you reviewed the Draco but, any indication for how better is the Ladder will help. My 'issue' is that I had the Ares II but though good it never impressed me and I sold it. Currently like a basic dac I have the Chord TT2 but want something close like resolution, more or closely holographic (I am a big fan of big soundstage) but more musical, sweeter (not colored like big bass or standing out vocals, just sweeter).
Ladder Schumann is warmer and softer sounding but also more revealing than Draco. It was a very good DAC but nowadays you can do better. For example Denafrips Ares 15th has much more resolution than Ares II you had. Holo Audio Cyan 2 is an interesting and very strong option too (just came in for testing I have yet to review it). Maybe wait for that one before making a final decision. I will compare it to everything else in the price range.
@@iiWiReviews Very great of you replying that fast. And even better for mentioning CYAN 2 - I have identified that but not too many reviews and no comparison with something I know. So i definitely will wait. Поздрав из Бугарске!
You do a great job explaining the nuances of dacs. I just ordered a Pegasus based on your reviews. I will eventually upgrade the capacitors in the Pegasus as I do to all the hifi gear I own, based on what I like or dislike about the sound to something like Elna Silmic and that should make up the difference between the Pegasus and Schumann.
Love Elna Silmics too. I’ve fitted them to all my gear for general use. The only exception is when I can fit DNM slit foil caps for the main smoothing caps in my amps. They are stunning.
Great review. Can anyone advise me whether this DAC has a manual, as one was not supplied with mine. I really need to know how to change the default settings. Thanks.
How were the the RCA outputs vs the XLR? Most of the DACs in this range are optimized for XLR but many decent integrated amplifiers are single ended, so it seems like this DAC might be overkill for a 2-channel system.
I have my pegasus running with two sr purple fuses and sounds fantastic. I think for those that have the itch to try another similarly priced dac with a potentially better sound should look to other ways to optimize their system to get those 3-5% improvements, save your money for something in the next tier.
Hi iiWi I just bin watched your dac/amp videos and I'm glad that you like Zen Can. I'm currently looking for a dac to pair it up with Zen Can as it doesn't work with my home cinema receiver. My first pick would be Modi 3 plus but I cannot buy it in UK so I need your help :) There is few on my mind D10s, E50, DX30 Pro + or maybe you would pick something else. I cannot afford DX5 pro atm.
I think there are only 2 great almost reasonable costing DACS: Ladder Schumann and the Gustard R2. Which of the two is better in terms of what your ears tell you?
Have you tested the Gustard R26 yourself? Given that it is so detailed, I am wondering if any about it irritates you? The Ladder Schumann appears to be an OEM product of Denafrips, only with a couple of improvements but the same sonic signature. i would no longer purchase an Ares because it is dark but the resolution does not reach what either of these two accomplishes I do not remember a review by you of the Gustard R26. If you have done one, please list it here..
Can you do a comparison, Schuman R2R sound quality reference to SMSL M400 on AK4499Q. I am very curious about your opinion how both models sound, which one sounds better.
Does this dac have a FIFO buffer on it's inputs, or the FPGA does this differently? I can't have a Denafrips dac because it has an audio delay on it's inputs, therefore using a Denafrips dac on a PC, streaming audio will be fine, but gaming will not be good as the audio will be lagged behind the graphics. So I'm curious if there's an audio delay on this dac's inputs
From what I read, the denafrips units have a slight delay before playback which makes them not the best choice for video and gaming. Does the Ladder Schumann have this delay issue?
I did but just barely. Video and audio were not syncing perfectly and if I turn speakers on my TV at the same time while HiFi is on... I heard two audios are not perfectly synced. I just did the same thing with Schumann while writing this and can't notice sound from my TV and the DAC are mismatched. I believe this DAC has different, quicker, signal processing.
I'm looking for my endgame dac but so far I had real bad luck with chinese dacs. I had an entry level d30 die on me after a few months then I upgraded to an smsl su9 something. That died after 4 months (smsl was no help at all but I was able to return it to amazon and got my money back after some arguing). What happens if I fork out 1400 for the next one for a manufacturer's product which has no US presence and it dies on me like the others I tried? Are these companies standing behind their products?
Interesting and look forward to other reviews and sound demos. However at this stage I’m a bit suspicious of this device. No specs, no internal shots, no electrical safety conformity information. It might all be ok but I suggest buyer beware.
Clearly Ladder Schumann and Musician Pegasus and my Denafrips Pontus II are all manufactured in the same factory 😇…but that bothers me not…I find my Pontus to be exceptional, too and hope that you get a chance to have a spin with it in your system and report your findings. I would be very curious to see what you think. I am feeding my Pontus II with a Mercury Streamer via I2S which I think ups the streaming game a bit, too….but who knows! 🤷🏻♂️
In my opinion, sharing an OEM doesn't mean much to me as the end user. Many car brands are made in the same factory, and on the same platforms, but with clearly different end results due to different design priorities. BTW, I am getting Mercury soon too, wondering if it sounds better than already great Pi2AES. Cheers! 🍻
@@iiWiReviews GREAT! Looking forward to your take on The Mercury…especially if you are feeding the Ladder Schumann via I2S! That will be close enough for me!!! 👍🏼
The missing manual is only the obvious but shows me the philosophy of the manufacturer: pace before care. And I suspect that the device itself is no different. The unclear operation also speaks for it. And another no-go: there is SO much space on the Front but the user has to struggle with this micro font. Apparently it is enough that the developers and the designers are satisfied. The good sound quality should not excuse other shortcomings. I feel the same way with my SMSL 300 and 300MKII. A bad manual was the beginning and far too little space for the connections was not the end. Of course they were good for the price. But even the good price is not always an excuse.
@@RJohnODonnell Shows sample price (which is generally for industry members, reviewers, etc.) as $1,399 and the regular price $799. Think they're reversed by mistake, so can't be sure they'll honor orders at the $799 price.
the FPGA i really the key to make the R2R DAC work. theoretically you could shift 24bit that are coming from the serial signal directly into 3 cheap 8bit serial/parallel register chips where the output bits are connected to the R2R resistors. the problem is, that you don't get resistors on this planet that have the precision to be used in a 24 bit R2R DAC. and this is where the FPGA comes in. so, every bit does not have the exact ratio of 2 to the next bit because of real world resistors that have a tolerance that is too high. the FPGA needs to know the real values of the resistors and tries to do a compensation. that needs a calibration cycle at manufacturing. the calibration values are stored in the fpga (or a memory chip connected to the fpga) the fpga is going through the bits from the highest to the lowest and every bit has a correction level. all these correction levels need to be added and the new value, and this will be sent to the output registers/R2R resistors.
You can find the link to a manual shared by the user at the end of my written review here: iiwireviews.com/ladder-schumann-best-r2r-dac-you-never-heard-about/ Sadly, no official manual has been released as far as I know. It's truly mind boggling.
Can you give some more info about source of your music and input you're using? Crackling shouldn't happen no matter the settings on the DAC itself. So my first thought goes to digital source or digital cable not having good connection, or something like that.
Oops! Change of plans! Bought a brand new iFi Gryphon, a 3-month old iFi ICAN Pro Signature and a 3-month old pair of ZMF Atrium. Got to slow down first
Pozdrav. Iskreno je teško dati pametan savet ovde. Schumann je malo raskošniji i analogniji u srednjetonskom području, a R26 ima malo autoritivniji bas i generalno nešto čistiji zvuk. Kako bi vama legao koji zavisi i od pojačalo i sobe generalno... Ako imate nekih problema sa malo masnijim basom, onda bolje Schuman, ako imate utisak da vam je zvuk već malo više u sredini nego u ekstremima, onda bolje R26. Realno su nijanse u pitanju i nema grešne ni sa jednim.
While I appreciate the appeared to be a thoughtful and descriptive. I am curious why (unless I missed it) after multiple requests you still haven't posted any pics of the internals. Especially with the current internet chatter that this is actually just a rebadged Aries. Looking for to seeing behind the curtain soon.
Really great review and comparisons, and so appreciate finding out about an outstanding dac that just seems to have come out of left field. This may be a silly questions, but wanted to know if you compared the Pegasus and the Schumann using the coax and/or the I2s ports, respectively? Some feel the Pegasus sounds better through I2s than coax 🙏
I used I2S on Pegasus, it worked out of the box with my streamer. Didn't try it on Schumann since it looks that pinout is not the same and I didn't have enough time to bother with it. I2S really needs some standardisation. That said, even over Coax, Schuman sounds slightly better then Pegasus on any input.
@@iiWiReviews Thank you so much! Helpful to know 👍🏼🙏🏼And so agree. It’s frustrating. I’ve just received my Mercury streamer. Worlds better than the allo digione I’ve had for a few years. Only issue, the I2S pinout doesn’t conform with any of the options on my d70s. Not a dealbreaker, sounds so good already with coax that I can wait a while to upgrade. Hope the Schumann complies as does the Pegasus.
A problem I face when considering equipment is depreciation. For example there is personal advice from a hi-fi engineer how to DIY a linear power supply supposedly cheaper and better than these very expensive offerings. But after outlaying the money, what is the resale value of a DIY kit? Why is that relevant, well, the resale value of a new unheard-of Chinese company selling a DAC in the same price tiers as a Denafrips. If you have a Denafrips and want to upgrade later, you better believe you can resell that. But selling an unheard-of Chinese DAC for anything close to the $1000 you paid, it could be a sunken ship.
That's always a thing to consider. Personally, I find selling Chinese DACs quite easy here in Serbia. People are getting to expect more value from these brands and they're buying them just fine when I don't need some of these models anymore. DIY on the other hand is a different problem... It has to be really well done and someone has to personally hear it and like it very much. Not easy to sell unless you build yourself a good DIY reputation.
I haven't heard Pontus so I can't really. Many of my viewers comented previously that Pontus II and Musician Pegasus are roughly on the same level. If that is the case then Ladder Schumann should be slightly better. But can't say for sure without a direct comparison.
You can find my written review, as well as the picture of the inside of the DAC that many of you asked for, here: iiwireviews.com/ladder-schumann-best-r2r-dac-you-never-heard-about/
Thanks ordered one👍
You’re one of the best audiophile reviewers in my opinion. Great vocab, unique and engaging way of describing the qualities of the product. And most importantly you seem very earnest and trustworthy. I’ve bought a few products because of your reviews. And they’ve delivered as per what you’ve described. Well done. Keep going. You deserve more followers. 🤟🏻
Ditto that one for sure
I apprciate your honesty, I have trouble trusting other audio reviewers - they are just a marketing piece. You are like a friend who gives good advice. Thank you Srboljub.
Thanks for such high praise! Really appreciate it.
Thanks!
Thanks for your support! 👍
Hi mate. Do you mind opening the DAC and showin us the internals? There are no pictures of the internals to find on the interwebs so far. Cheers.
I really love Chord DACs and at home I use a Quest that, to my tastes, works very well with the kind of music I listen to. I listened to this R2R DAC in the shop where I repair turntables and it really hit me. Great soundstage and smooth, natural.sound. I won't change my Quest but this one is really great. Thank you for sharing, great video
which R2R DAC you have listened?
@@ayc868 Ladder Schumann FPGA R2R DAC
@@ayc868 I have the Qutest and looking for an upgrade. Any suggestions
Wow, you're the BEST audio reviewer at actually describing the SOUND of gear!
I was curious as to whether these Ladder and Musician Monoceros models were just rebadged Denafrips models .
Apparently they are different enough circuit or FPGA implementations to warrant separate consideration.
Same factory for the casework maybe, but who cares?
Thank you sir!
PS:
It's time for you to review the Ares12th !
I have it and the Ares 2 in different systems. Listening in the same system, they're STARTLINGLY different. More focus and space with the 12....
Soon as I overcome my lazy inertia, I'll upgeade the Ares2 to 12th firmware too.
Good of DENAFRIPS to provide the firmware update for free.
THANKS Alvin!!
I subscribed as I find you more authentic than many others.
Thank you, especially for the perspective at the end. DACs are changing rapidly, and it’s easy to obsess over the last 1% perceived performance.👍👍
Thank you as always for this in-depth and very informative review of this piece of equipment.
Your description of an r2r dac really has me thinking I might need to try one. Sounds like just what I've been looking for. How do R2R dacs pair with tubes?
Also your video quality and audio is notably better than earlier reviews you've done. I really really like your reviews. Keep up the excellent work.
I for a long time had a Denafrips Ares 2 feeding into a Schiit Valhalla 2 working as preamp into a Class D amp - very very special (spatial?) sound. Musical to the max.
Excellent re-watch. Cool runnings
It would be very interesting to compare this DAC with Gustard's new R2R the R26. It is a bit more expensive, but it has more features, including a pre-amp and streaming capabilities, however, a head to head comparison of the R2R sound would help buyers.
I'm testing both and the r26 it's more special it has the most detail I've ever heard ever! The ladder is a very good all rounder that has a ton of bass. Depends what your searching for......the r26 made me hear things I've never heard before!
@@Montreal_Audio_Systems Thanks, I've ordered one.
Another very thorough review, thanks. This DAC is on my shortlist now, but I wish they’d spend just a little more on the logo. Sprayed on paint might be okay on something costing $50, but at this price I want something either embossed or at least tastefully done. In these days of scanning and computer printing, there’s just no excuse for that horror show of a logo.
I have one and share your world view, but it's well executed in real life. Doesn't look cheap (whereas an embossed one probably would on what is an otherwise minimalist fascia).
The Denafrips and Ladder DACs share the same buttons, original chassis, and feet. They also have a similar organization n the rear. The LEDs are basically the same too, with small holes and LEDs behind them.
As somebody with a primary interest in natural tonality, including vocals and speech, I can easily spot that your reviews include an extra benefit; You prove that, beyond your sincerity which can upset some brands which offer high prices but not quality (LOL), each listener must realize that the quest for a "perfect sound" must include a well-trained sensitivity to perceive it. Because of that, it may take months or even years to optimize the full hi-fi path especially if there is poor access to A/B testing. Not accidentally, I like very seldom available reviews done by folks who are guaranteed to possess that sensitivity, such as orchestras' members and their conductors.
Well said....it can take years!
@Allan Miller I would emphasize speakers, since they will be a most significant portion of the cost. Other suggestion worth emphasizing is that buying brand-new vs second-hand is not cost-effective.
@Allan Millernice choice! Many speakers do it well, but some play too much with psycho-acoustics. One of the issues I often observe (also present in many DACs) is a "living presence" effect achieved by manipulating some high frequencies. Those end up in changed tonalities, such as of high-register piano notes. For me, probably the most valued aspect of Zingali Twenty Evo 1.2 is their correct tonality: th-cam.com/video/RGnTcQmE7jQ/w-d-xo.html
Man my friend brought his Schumann over to compare to my Chord hugo Tt2 and M scaler combo. Let's just say that I put my Chord gear for sale the very next day. Soundstage on the Schumann was bigger, tonality of instruments and voices was more realistic. Music sounded more dynamic and just as detailed as the chord. The only things the chords did slightly better was the bass was a little tighter and separation of instruments was a little more clearly defined. Chord goes on about the transients being so quick with the 1 million Taps when you add the M scaler but honestly the Schumann sounded just as quick with the transients. Don't get me wrong I love the chord gear but it is seriously overpriced. $17K for tt2 and M scaler VS $1900 for the Schumann. No brainer.
Obviously the Denafrips designer is producing different models for an alternate distributor. Lots of companies do that to increase market share. It looks like a hybrid of Ares 2 and Pontus 2 and the price also suggests that. I wish you would have opened it up to show the internals....also it would have been helpful to know if this model allows for its I2S to be configured in order to be useful with multiple DDCs.
I'll try to find that out and add the info once I write a review on the site.
@@iiWiReviews it would appear that it's an Ares 2 with I2S and AES added. Not sure how the "FPGA" differs from original Ares 2 but it may also be a tweek on the original design. Only way to find out is to open it up and compare the internals....
Ordered one and received. Fantastic sounding DAC(using coax input) although I2S doesn’t work with its default configuration(sound is noisy and plays only on right channel). My unit didn’t come with manual as well so reached out to support for help.
Congratulations on you purchase! Absolutely great sounding device, but I can't believe they are still sending it without a user manual.
Could you please tell us what you have connected to the Shumann’s i2s input? Is it a DDC?
@@freakin13guy pi2AES streamer
Have you ever tried a Schumann Resonance Generator 7.83 Hertz?
This device can make any system sound better. I suggest trying a higher quality version of one.
Please look them up.
I've been using the Acoustic Revive RR-777 for years now.
Makes music more palpable and acoustically 3D.
Amazing for a brain hack!
@@20CycleMonger
I’ve seen a RR-888. I wonder if you can gain performance by adding a linear power supply with high end cabling?
Possibly to match the RR888.
@@tubefreeeasy
Can't hurt, but i haven't yet.
I have an LPS.
Should give it a try...
But it WORKS without.
I built a kit one once. Not as effective sadly.
The 888 is an update. Probably better.
I also have a cheapie one of Amazon for my living room system that works well. Dont overspend. If you dont perceive the effect with a $50 model youre probably immune.
Regards:-)
Another great review thanks for sharing.
Sounds promising. I am a bit disappointed with the casework however. It is plain looking/constructed for a $1400 DAC.
You're making my life difficult!! 🙂 I'm looking forward to receiving Topping's D90LE to demo at home, but now you're making me think I should also be testing Ladder's DAC! Thanks for another brilliant honest review.
onkyo made good soundcards back then, think they still making amps nowadays
Hi there! Is there any chance that you will listen to the Gustard R26? I would really like to hear a review of a R2R dac with prestage so I can connect to a poweramp directly.
I'll look into it. I'm curios about it myself.
@@iiWiReviews Sorry if I am chatty! But there are also the BURSON AUDIO
CONDUCTOR 3X REFERENCE of course it is not a R2R!
Insteresting comparision would be to compare with HoloAudio Cyan 2 DAC, because it is the same price, similar size, also R2R and it is even more bare bone DAC.
For around the same price, you can get the Pontus on the used market (if you get lucky). I wonder how they compare.
Great review! Thanks for all your sharing 😉
The Musician Pegasus (notice the naming convention) is VERY similar in build construction to the Denafrips Venus II, sharing the same feet, same chassis, leds, and button family. Internally they are different, but what this means is that there is a factory in China making at least three different brands of DACs and marketing them as though they are competing with each other.
expensive dacs are not about better sound in my humble o. any dac over $100 is going to sound like nothing is there because that's its job. to take 1010010101 and turn it into analog. congrats, we got that down to laser mathematical precision. get any of them. jds, schiit, geshelli, smsl, etc - all of them are going to be perfectly fine dacs.
you only spend $500+ on a dac when you're getting something like the cayin idac or rme adi2. because with those you're getting about a billion extras along with "just a dac". like a tube pre stage or onboard amp and PEQ
opinions are like orifices... but this is a good one. don't spend $1000 on "just a dac", no matter how it sigmas or ladders to get there...
@@sauhamm3821which do you recommend ladder shumann , gustard r26 ,rme adi-2 dac fs or denafrips
Nice Review. This Ladder Schumann R2R DAC almost looks like the Middle child of the Denafrips Pontus II and Ares II. I recently picked up the Hifiman EF400 which is an R2R DAC/Amp combo and was pleasantly surprised by the R2R DAC sound. It's the first time I've heard an R2R DAC and now I know why people like them so much. btw.... the EF400 at $600 bucks could be a Giant Killer. Won't be as good as the crazy expensive R2R DAC's... but it gets you a real nice taste of R2R
Just got my Tradutto, thanks to you.
Enjoy it 👍
I want you to review the Gustard R26 and compared it to Ladder Schumann.Then i will know exactly which DAC i have to purchase. Cheers!
Thank you for this wonderful review. I purchased one on the back of it and am in love. It bettered my Bifrost 2 by retaining that DAC's intimacy and organic sound while adding slam, resolution and soundstage. My only complaint is the lack of any manual - has anyone here had any luck with that? I've written to Shenzhen Audio and will report back here if I get one. The one by Eugene C doesn't explain the OS/NOS button operation.
Thank you for these excellent reviews. I bought ARES 2 and then SMSL 500 mk 2 based on your reviews which sounded great with Arya stealth and IFI Ican pro in Tube plus mode. It was the best sound I have ever heard but sound stage was in the head which made me seek R2R DACs. Unfortunately i sold my Ares 2 before I got IFI Ican pro because it lacked edge definition compared to SMSL 500 as you said. Now i have both Gustard R26 and Ladder Shumann which I am trying out for holiday season and plan to keep 1. I was disappointed by R26 a little. Sound is a little soft and vocals a little thin than i would like. Ladder Shumann seem much better and it has solved the soundstage problem easily. Enjoyable, airy, bassy, musical but vocals are still not as biting as I would like. So now I have ordered Pontus 2. I agree with Tharbamar's latest comparison of R26, Shumann and Pontus, at least for the first 2. While I am waiting for pontus to arrive, i am trying to tweak Shumann and I am really troubled by lack of user manual. How can they do this ? Thats why i am posting here. I was wondering how can I access OS2 modes you described. I can only turn NOS/OS off and on so far using the button and while OS ( LED off) has a little more definition of vocals , I am wondering if OS2 mode could be even better. Any guidance is most welcome.
Yes, Schuman has very full and present sound, especially with vocals. For changing OS modes press "setup" button (and release) then immediately after that press "mode" button. Everytime you press mode you should see one LED switching ON or OFF. That is selection between two modes. I got my unit very early for a review so I thought that was the reason for not having user manual. I can't belive they still haven't wrote it.
For R26 just be sure to put a week or two of work into it before deciding about keeping it or not. It starts sounding a bit thin but relaxes later on... And that takes more time than usual. To my ears and in speaker setup R26 is the more precise one, but does push soundstage deeper behind the speakers (I guess with headphones it feels farther away too but haven't tried it in headphone setup).
@@iiWiReviews Thanks for taking the time for detailed reply. That worked. The setting with 4 lights on has the most treble (USB, mode, setup and sample rate light off and on ) and makes vocals more immediate even before burn in for Shumann. Everything else is near perfect already for me. I am not a typical audiophile and I just listen to low quality youtube music videos so less precision may not bother me as much. I cant imagine Pontus being much better than Shumann but I am on manic spending spree :) I think these DACs may be better served by speakers than headphones but I will continue to strive to stumble on the perfect sound for me regardless and I am getting pretty close with Ladder Shumann. I Will also give R26 another go cause amazon has extended return window till Jan 31 due to holidays.
Thanks again. To state the obvious, You have a rare talent for describing the sound so accurately and I am very happy to be a loyal follower :)
@@syed7926which did you end up keeping
Takk!
Thanks for your support! 🎶
@@iiWiReviews It was the least I could contribute. I have now bought the Acoustic Invader Power and Pre-amp because of your honest and thorough review. And now I also ordered Ladder Schumann. Will be a poor man because of you, but rich in musical experiences! PS: I'm dreading your review of Gustard! 🤣🤣
Hope you'll like all of them as much as I do. Enjoy!
I'd like to hear your take on Ladde vs PontusII Denafrips.
Excellent review and explanation! Would you review gustard r26 r2r dac next or compare it?
I don't know if it was commented on but is there a large difference in performance between RCA and XLR other than loudness? Do you lose detail, depth etc on RCA outputs?
XLR does sound slightly better, livelier... but RCA is no slouch either. It is really tough comparing just outputs on the DAC because every balanced preamp or integrated amp also sounds better when connected that way. Schumann is a truly balanced design, and so is my preamp, so using XLR does sound noticeably better. But that is a joint result of both devices in the chain. RCA can match XLR only if XLR is there for convenience and not truly a balanced design internally (many head-amps are doing that lately and there is no real difference between RCA and XLR).
I would love you to compare it with Denafrips Venus or Terminator!
You made it very useful. Thank you
R2Rs tend to sound slow and less dynamic compares to D/S dacs.
Would you say that the OS modes on this make a difference in the time domain? Do they sound more dynamic compared to NOS mode?
Hi Srboljub, How would Ladder Schumann compare to Gustard R26. Since you reviewed both which one do which sound you prefer after burn in if you can only keep one and why ?
It's a tough choice. Schumann is fuller, more forward, more analogue like. R26 has cleaner tone and deeper soundstage. I've kept listening to R26 because I am a soundstage depth fan... But I can easily see many people preferring Schumann.
I am aware this sounds like a political way of avoiding to choose a winner, so I'll say that on points I would give a win to R26 but in reality where different people have different preferences and systems, it is not that easy to proclaim an outright winner.
@@iiWiReviews Thank you so much :)
@@iiWiReviews Currently I have Gustard x26 pro and Musician Draco r2r. Really love that r2r sound considering upgrading soon. I love the analog sound and prefer one with the best 3d soundstage. Will be tough choice for sure lol :)
I never conclude about what DAC I should buy...
I'm waiting for your next review.
No new surprises coming soon... Feel free to choose your favorite flavor now. 😄
Antonio Sergio? Brasileiro?
I got a Denafrips Pontus II a month ago. Loving it.
Peguei um Denafrips Pontus II um mes atras. Estou amando.
@@iiWiReviews Jokes aside, I really like your work and I follow your channel which I consider to be an opinion maker
@@joaopedroscarcella422 Oi João Pedro, sim, brasileiro. Moro aqui em Sampa.
Would be nice if you could also review the Gustard R26 🙏
It's coming in few weeks.
iiwi hi! Thank you very much for taking time reviewing this Ladder Schumann Dac. If you do'nt mind , Is the Ladder Bach preamp a best amp. to pair with Ladder Schumann Dac? Thanks and hope to hear you someday and God bless you!
They are a very good match, at least for my ears. Together they produce great soundstage and plenty of deteils, but with organic tone timbre. The only reason I see not to make this paring is if you like to have pronounced sharpness or some bling in the highs (which I personally don't, but tastes differ).
Once again, thank you very much for the time you spent giving me an idea about pairing these two gears. More power to your channel and God bless all!
Those questions about same engineer as Denafrips Ares or not…I think that is a fair game question when someone asks you to review their product that so closely resembles another product.
It's all single source. Managerial staff, chief engineering, de-jure ownership, brand names, that all says nothing within P.R.China's export company branching. It's a just a simulation of market activity and competition.
Hi mate, great review. Do you still prefer the Schumann over the Gustards A26 and R26?
How about voltage output? Regarding the Musician dac, some people have reported the output is too low and they have to turn their amp up too much. Did you experience this with the Ladder Schumann?
Same question here 🙂
I don't have that info, it sounds as loud as any other DAC with anything I have. But both Musician and Denafrips DACs have high output impedances that like to be connected to amps and preamps with 10 kΩ or greater impedance input so no signal loss is happening. 99% of preamps and amps do have 10 kΩ or higher, but if you happen to own one with a lower input impedance then all these DACs will produce lower volume than usual.
Shame you didnt show the inside of this DAC, also as good as this maybe how long is this company going to be in business you could be left with an expensive paper weight!
I just purchased musician pegasus, and I would like to as you: Musician recommends using xlr output and I have impression that as per what they say, this is not only because of it can drive signal to long distances but there might be other quality reasning howewer they do not specify. I was triing to find briefly more information about diferencies between balanced and rca but evidently this will require more resarch. Now my question:), Do you thing xlr converted to rca by cable can be better than rca to rca in this case?
The price difference between Pegasus is 300-350 dollars which is not that small difference in price!In the other hand we got Denafrips Pontus 2 which is 300 bucks more than Schumann. I would love to see comparison between Pontus 2 and Schumann.
What input you were using? how is the USB input and also the SE output?
🤗👍 THANKS SRBOLJUB…FOR SHARING THIS WITH US …😎😍😍😍
very cool,great commentary
No pictures of the inside?
Hadn't yet seen pics of the inside anywhere.
I have actually took some but forgot to show them in the video. I'll put them in the written review later. Nothing special to see really, just a neatly assembled R2R with a linear power supply, o-ring transformer, good Japanese capacitors, etc.
@@iiWiReviews Awesome! 👌 👍
I'd love to see some pictures of the internals as well.
@@iiWiReviews thank you we all know what guts of Ares 2 look’s like and want to compare.
Just got the SMSL D300 With Rohm chip and now you got this, this is really pocket hurting
D300 is maybe the only DS DAC I know that sounds that natural - enjoy it. 👍
D300 is a bargain.
May i ask who is the manufacturer of this DAC? Cant find any official website...
It is a ShenzhenAudio store's brand. As for the manufacturer, all indicates that it's the same oem that produces Denafrips and Musician devices too.
Please reply, even by memory! How do you find the Ladder vs Musician Draco? I know it is a long time since you reviewed the Draco but, any indication for how better is the Ladder will help. My 'issue' is that I had the Ares II but though good it never impressed me and I sold it. Currently like a basic dac I have the Chord TT2 but want something close like resolution, more or closely holographic (I am a big fan of big soundstage) but more musical, sweeter (not colored like big bass or standing out vocals, just sweeter).
Ladder Schumann is warmer and softer sounding but also more revealing than Draco. It was a very good DAC but nowadays you can do better. For example Denafrips Ares 15th has much more resolution than Ares II you had. Holo Audio Cyan 2 is an interesting and very strong option too (just came in for testing I have yet to review it). Maybe wait for that one before making a final decision. I will compare it to everything else in the price range.
@@iiWiReviews Very great of you replying that fast. And even better for mentioning CYAN 2 - I have identified that but not too many reviews and no comparison with something I know. So i definitely will wait. Поздрав из Бугарске!
You do a great job explaining the nuances of dacs. I just ordered a Pegasus based on your reviews. I will eventually upgrade the capacitors in the Pegasus as I do
to all the hifi gear I own, based on what I like or dislike about the sound to something like Elna Silmic and
that should make up the difference between the Pegasus and Schumann.
Love Elna Silmics too. I’ve fitted them to all my gear for general use. The only exception is when I can fit DNM slit foil caps for the main smoothing caps in my amps. They are stunning.
How sounds drum kick on this dac? I didn’t notice you describing this point in the video.
Great review. Can anyone advise me whether this DAC has a manual, as one was not supplied with mine. I really need to know how to change the default settings. Thanks.
Hi man, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the holo spring 3 and how it compares.
How were the the RCA outputs vs the XLR? Most of the DACs in this range are optimized for XLR but many decent integrated amplifiers are single ended, so it seems like this DAC might be overkill for a 2-channel system.
I have my pegasus running with two sr purple fuses and sounds fantastic. I think for those that have the itch to try another similarly priced dac with a potentially better sound should look to other ways to optimize their system to get those 3-5% improvements, save your money for something in the next tier.
You need to try Quantum Science yellow fuses, unbelievable…. SR is staying behind now.
Hi iiWi I just bin watched your dac/amp videos and I'm glad that you like Zen Can. I'm currently looking for a dac to pair it up with Zen Can as it doesn't work with my home cinema receiver. My first pick would be Modi 3 plus but I cannot buy it in UK so I need your help :) There is few on my mind D10s, E50, DX30 Pro + or maybe you would pick something else. I cannot afford DX5 pro atm.
Great video.
When will the video about the DIY speakers come out?
Thanks! Speakers need a bit more testing done. 😀
I think there are only 2 great almost reasonable costing DACS: Ladder Schumann and the Gustard R2. Which of the two is better in terms of what your ears tell you?
R26 is arier and more deteiled, deeper soundstage. Schumann is bolder/fuller but slightly less resolving.
Also curious for this one, I suppose voices sound better with the Schumann?
Have you tested the Gustard R26 yourself? Given that it is so detailed, I am wondering if any about it irritates you?
The Ladder Schumann appears to be an OEM product of Denafrips, only with a couple of improvements but the same sonic signature. i would no longer purchase an Ares because it is dark but the resolution does not reach what either of these two accomplishes
I do not remember a review by you of the Gustard R26. If you have done one, please list it here..
@@iiWiReviews The RMI is then a substantial step backwards?
@iiWi Reviews do you think Denafrips A II would work best with tubed pre amp or solid state?
Can you do a comparison, Schuman R2R sound quality reference to SMSL M400 on AK4499Q. I am very curious about your opinion how both models sound, which one sounds better.
Does this dac have a FIFO buffer on it's inputs, or the FPGA does this differently? I can't have a Denafrips dac because it has an audio delay on it's inputs, therefore using a Denafrips dac on a PC, streaming audio will be fine, but gaming will not be good as the audio will be lagged behind the graphics. So I'm curious if there's an audio delay on this dac's inputs
From what I read, the denafrips units have a slight delay before playback which makes them not the best choice for video and gaming. Does the Ladder Schumann have this delay issue?
I can't notice it with Netflix, YT, and my casual SP gaming when optical connection to TV is used.
@@iiWiReviews Have you noticed on the denafrips?
I did but just barely. Video and audio were not syncing perfectly and if I turn speakers on my TV at the same time while HiFi is on... I heard two audios are not perfectly synced.
I just did the same thing with Schumann while writing this and can't notice sound from my TV and the DAC are mismatched. I believe this DAC has different, quicker, signal processing.
@@iiWiReviews Thank You!!!
Smsl su 9n dont have this delay, but dont know how compars in sound quality with denafrips ares 2
I'm looking for my endgame dac but so far I had real bad luck with chinese dacs. I had an entry level d30 die on me after a few months then I upgraded to an smsl su9 something. That died after 4 months (smsl was no help at all but I was able to return it to amazon and got my money back after some arguing). What happens if I fork out 1400 for the next one for a manufacturer's product which has no US presence and it dies on me like the others I tried? Are these companies standing behind their products?
Interesting and look forward to other reviews and sound demos. However at this stage I’m a bit suspicious of this device. No specs, no internal shots, no electrical safety conformity information. It might all be ok but I suggest buyer beware.
So.. this one is end game? Where to buy it in EU without import taxes?
Clearly Ladder Schumann and Musician Pegasus and my Denafrips Pontus II are all manufactured in the same factory 😇…but that bothers me not…I find my Pontus to be exceptional, too and hope that you get a chance to have a spin with it in your system and report your findings. I would be very curious to see what you think.
I am feeding my Pontus II with a Mercury Streamer via I2S which I think ups the streaming game a bit, too….but who knows! 🤷🏻♂️
In my opinion, sharing an OEM doesn't mean much to me as the end user. Many car brands are made in the same factory, and on the same platforms, but with clearly different end results due to different design priorities. BTW, I am getting Mercury soon too, wondering if it sounds better than already great Pi2AES. Cheers! 🍻
@@iiWiReviews GREAT! Looking forward to your take on The Mercury…especially if you are feeding the Ladder Schumann via I2S! That will be close enough for me!!! 👍🏼
The missing manual is only the obvious
but shows me the philosophy of the manufacturer:
pace before care.
And I suspect that the device itself is no different.
The unclear operation also speaks for it.
And another no-go:
there is SO much space on the Front
but the user has to struggle with this micro font.
Apparently it is enough that the developers and the designers are satisfied.
The good sound quality should not excuse other shortcomings.
I feel the same way with my SMSL 300 and 300MKII.
A bad manual was the beginning and far too little space for the connections was not the end.
Of course they were good for the price.
But even the good price is not always an excuse.
Hi, Can this DAC be use with a Topping D90SE preamplifier? Thanks.
Do you have a bit more technical detail about this unit? Like, what is inside the box, components, topology....
You didn't specifically say how the bass quality is on this Ladder DAC vs the Musician? Extension, control, dynamics, etc - thanks!
Same great extension, but Schumann's is a touch more agile and resolving of texture.
@@iiWiReviews Thanks! The Schumann seems like it is an "end-game" DAC?
@@NeilBlanchard yes for this week
Currently listed on Alibaba for just US$799 with free shipping (seems like they may have reversed their "sample" and regular pricing.)
Reversed their sample? What does this mean?
@@RJohnODonnell Shows sample price (which is generally for industry members, reviewers, etc.) as $1,399 and the regular price $799. Think they're reversed by mistake, so can't be sure they'll honor orders at the $799 price.
@@Bill.K Thank you!
Hi, it is way more detailed than the matrix mini i-3 PRO?
the FPGA i really the key to make the R2R DAC work. theoretically you could shift 24bit that are coming from the serial signal directly into 3 cheap 8bit serial/parallel register chips where the output bits are connected to the R2R resistors.
the problem is, that you don't get resistors on this planet that have the precision to be used in a 24 bit R2R DAC.
and this is where the FPGA comes in. so, every bit does not have the exact ratio of 2 to the next bit because of real world resistors that have a tolerance that is too high. the FPGA needs to know the real values of the resistors and tries to do a compensation.
that needs a calibration cycle at manufacturing. the calibration values are stored in the fpga (or a memory chip connected to the fpga)
the fpga is going through the bits from the highest to the lowest and every bit has a correction level. all these correction levels need to be added and the new value, and this will be sent to the output registers/R2R resistors.
Do you know the gain output on the rca v xlr ?
As every DAC , 2v RCA 4v xlr
Please review the Wattson Madison.
have you or anyone found a manuel for this DAC yet? Trying to find manuel or setup instructions
You can find the link to a manual shared by the user at the end of my written review here: iiwireviews.com/ladder-schumann-best-r2r-dac-you-never-heard-about/
Sadly, no official manual has been released as far as I know. It's truly mind boggling.
Thanks keep up the great reviews.
Dac came today. Music is playing but crackling. Any suggestions? No manual to check set up
Can you give some more info about source of your music and input you're using? Crackling shouldn't happen no matter the settings on the DAC itself. So my first thought goes to digital source or digital cable not having good connection, or something like that.
@@iiWiReviews node 2i streamer, xlr from Dac to amp.
Wide eye digital cable from source to dac
Will there be the Gustard R26 next?
I'm waiting for my unit to arrive. Hope to review it before the end of the month.
@@iiWiReviews think I’ll take the plunge and order mine tomorrow. Still, will looking forward to your video
@@iiWiReviews Any chance of an Audio Note 0.1X DAC review? Love your passion for this sport.
Oops! Change of plans! Bought a brand new iFi Gryphon, a 3-month old iFi ICAN Pro Signature and a 3-month old pair of ZMF Atrium. Got to slow down first
How does it compare to smsl m500 2? I owned the latter from your review.
Bigger soundstage in all directions and even more deteils and air. But everything else has to be good enough to show it.
is this dac a combo of sorts of the chord approach and r to r.
It's R2R. That FPGA part is used for signal processing before the actual D/A conversion that's done by R2R network.
It's a keeper👍
How long did you need to break in the ladder Schumann DAC to get best sound
Can't recall the exact time but something like a week or so to open-up completely.
What amps do you think would pair really well with this dac? How would the topping pa5 pair?
Mc7100
Pozdrav gosn. S. Da li ovaj DAC ili Gustard R26 za Wharferdale zvucnike?
Pozdrav. Iskreno je teško dati pametan savet ovde. Schumann je malo raskošniji i analogniji u srednjetonskom području, a R26 ima malo autoritivniji bas i generalno nešto čistiji zvuk. Kako bi vama legao koji zavisi i od pojačalo i sobe generalno... Ako imate nekih problema sa malo masnijim basom, onda bolje Schuman, ako imate utisak da vam je zvuk već malo više u sredini nego u ekstremima, onda bolje R26.
Realno su nijanse u pitanju i nema grešne ni sa jednim.
While I appreciate the appeared to be a thoughtful and descriptive. I am curious why (unless I missed it) after multiple requests you still haven't posted any pics of the internals. Especially with the current internet chatter that this is actually just a rebadged Aries. Looking for to seeing behind the curtain soon.
Funny watching the cc subtitles. Leather shoe man
Really great review and comparisons, and so appreciate finding out about an outstanding dac that just seems to have come out of left field. This may be a silly questions, but wanted to know if you compared the Pegasus and the Schumann using the coax and/or the I2s ports, respectively? Some feel the Pegasus sounds better through I2s than coax 🙏
I used I2S on Pegasus, it worked out of the box with my streamer. Didn't try it on Schumann since it looks that pinout is not the same and I didn't have enough time to bother with it. I2S really needs some standardisation. That said, even over Coax, Schuman sounds slightly better then Pegasus on any input.
@@iiWiReviews Thank you so much! Helpful to know 👍🏼🙏🏼And so agree. It’s frustrating. I’ve just received my Mercury streamer. Worlds better than the allo digione I’ve had for a few years. Only issue, the I2S pinout doesn’t conform with any of the options on my d70s. Not a dealbreaker, sounds so good already with coax that I can wait a while to upgrade. Hope the Schumann complies as does the Pegasus.
A problem I face when considering equipment is depreciation. For example there is personal advice from a hi-fi engineer how to DIY a linear power supply supposedly cheaper and better than these very expensive offerings. But after outlaying the money, what is the resale value of a DIY kit? Why is that relevant, well, the resale value of a new unheard-of Chinese company selling a DAC in the same price tiers as a Denafrips. If you have a Denafrips and want to upgrade later, you better believe you can resell that. But selling an unheard-of Chinese DAC for anything close to the $1000 you paid, it could be a sunken ship.
That's always a thing to consider. Personally, I find selling Chinese DACs quite easy here in Serbia. People are getting to expect more value from these brands and they're buying them just fine when I don't need some of these models anymore. DIY on the other hand is a different problem... It has to be really well done and someone has to personally hear it and like it very much. Not easy to sell unless you build yourself a good DIY reputation.
Can you compare Schumann with Pontus II please?
I haven't heard Pontus so I can't really. Many of my viewers comented previously that Pontus II and Musician Pegasus are roughly on the same level. If that is the case then Ladder Schumann should be slightly better. But can't say for sure without a direct comparison.
You talk about music like a musician.
Is it 2 or 3 times better than the smsl 500 2?...
Triggered to try my first R2R dac but no silver color option and the logo LADDER😭 on the front are a deal breaker 😬
Yeah feel the same. 'Ladder' is a deal breaker, sounds like a hooker's tights