Why do High-Efficiency Lovers primarily prefer R–2R DACs? And which specific ones?

[caesar]

Appreciate everyone's thoughts.

 

[paul79]

Because R2R done right tends to be allot more fluid, clear, and analog sounding. Think of your very sensitive very revealing speakers as a microscope. When you have that in your system, the rest needs to be right or they will tell you all about it. I will say though, that the most important thing to get right with a sensitive speaker is an amplifier that makes them happy.

 

[asiufy]

High efficiency is overrated, but R-2R/ladder DACs aren't.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

High efficiency is underrated, r2r DACs are overrated lol

 

[opus112]

Could be because high efficiency lovers are dynamics junkies and R2R DACs tend to avoid those dynamics-slaying devices called opamps?

 

[abeidrov]

So, if I move from GG2 (R2R) to Pacific (delta sigma), I’ll have to change my speakers to low efficient ones?

 

[KeithR]

High efficiency is overrated, but R-2R/ladder DACs aren't.

Says a YG dealer

 

[asiufy]

Says a YG dealer

And WIlson, and Evolution Acoustics, and many others
High-efficiency doesn't guarantee good sound quality, that's all. There are many ways to skin that particular cat, and not all of them lead to (to my ears) good results.

 

[Empirical Audio]

Probably they like R2R because the new ones are more discrete in design, which means that the digital filtering can be carefully selected or non-existent. Digital filtering is usually the culprit in Delta-Sigma designs. Orthogonal to high-efficiency speakers IME.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio