Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Apos Druid budget R2R DAC review
Global* - bit.ly/AposDruid
🔗 Improve your gaming connection: Check out GearUp for low-latency gaming pathways here*: gearup.sjv.io/Oe2jYG
*affiliate links help support the channel - thank you!
Need help? Message me on Minnect: bit.ly/HiFiHelp
Join my Patreon community: patreon.com/passionforsound
Become a Passion for Sound YouTube member: bit.ly/PFSMember
Get MERCH! bit.ly/PFSMerch
I dive deep into the world of R2R DACs with a full review of the Apos Druid. Many audiophiles are moving away from the "crisp" sound of traditional delta sigma DACs, and this budget component offers a genuine alternative. At just $160, I explore its core features, including balanced XLR outputs and, crucially, op-amp rolling. I compare the stock sound quality using the standard LM4562 op-amps against competitors like the FiiO K11 and Apos x Geshelli Labs Merlin. The real discovery comes when I upgrade the DAC with different op-amps, testing the OPA1656 and Sparkos Labs SS3602, revealing how this affordable digital-to-analog converter can compete with more expensive devices. If you're building a budget audiophile system or looking for the perfect R2R DAC to stack with the Apos Gremlin headphone amplifier, this video shows you exactly how to maximize performance.
BEST AUDIO BARGAINS BELOW!
World's Best Cable Pro interconnects
Review - bit.ly/44b8KtW
Global* - amzn.to/3UOFtAN
AU* - amzn.to/4et9NrE
Tipsy M1 IEM
Review - bit.ly/48del5v
tipsyaudio.com
Apos Gremlin headphone amp
Review - bit.ly/43FZjna
Global* - bit.ly/GremlinAmp
SMSL M20 DAC & headamp
Review - bit.ly/4oManqu
Global* - amzn.to/3YRxG79
AU* - amzn.to/3YiX59I
Schiit Mimir DAC
Review - bit.ly/4r3cuaI
Global - bit.ly/484APo8
FiiO FT1 headphones
Review - bit.ly/4lfVCLd
Global* - amzn.to/4iC4VTG
AUS* - amzn.to/3Rmdp5q
FiiO M21 digital audio player
Review - bit.ly/3K3PzeU
US & CA* - bit.ly/FiiOM21DAP
Global*: amzn.to/3HS7wfe
AUS*: amzn.to/47dKIkB
xDuoo TA-66 tube amp
Review - bit.ly/448jRoo
US & CA* - bit.ly/xDuooTA-66
Global* - amzn.to/3VWWSYS
AUS* - amzn.to/45MagTc
SMSL AS400 speaker amp & DAC
Review - bit.ly/480NiZQ
Global* - amzn.to/3JkFxWi
AUS* - amzn.to/48DC6oa
Topping DX5 II DAC & headamp
Review - bit.ly/47PmfR2
US & CA* - bit.ly/4mjCLy8
Global* - amzn.to/4ncA8zm
AU* - amzn.to/4psgLni
ADAM D3V active speakers
Review - bit.ly/4rhHeoO
Global* - amzn.to/4hw2Doo
AU* - amzn.to/3Ctaap6
SMSL RAW-DAC1 DAC
Review - bit.ly/43EXDKC
US & CA* - bit.ly/RAWDAC1
Global* - amzn.to/4hgqgkJ
AUS* - amzn.to/3PxxW6q
Aune S17 Pro EVO headamp
Review - bit.ly/4o2nrXF
Global* - amzn.to/4jU7AZx
SMSL PL200T CD transport
Review - bit.ly/4o9LDaE
US & CA* - bit.ly/SMSLPL200T
Global* - amzn.to/3IKlkIQ
AU* - amzn.to/46XOGNU
Nitsch Pietus Maximus headamp
Review - bit.ly/49nY3Yy
Global - bit.ly/3JQqkwC
Shanling EC Zero T portable CD player
Global* - amzn.to/47U9RR1
AU* - amzn.to/47DiMFc
Chord Mojo 2 DAC & headphone amp
Review - bit.ly/43F0Rhg
Global* - amzn.to/3E5GNKj
AUS* - amzn.to/4i4vAI3
FiiO K17 DAC, headamp, streamer & preamp
Review - bit.ly/42hKvIX
US & CA* - bit.ly/FiiOK17
Global* - amzn.to/3QWziIH
AUS* - amzn.to/42bZRyJ
SJY Horizon Closed Carbon headphones
Review - bit.ly/3DTKMd5
Global* - bit.ly/SJYHCCA
ZMF Bokeh headphones
Review - bit.ly/4hXLhAN
Global - bit.ly/42vMLwo
EverSolo T8 streamer
Review - bit.ly/4pdmo7V
Global* - amzn.to/4gjdSkx
AU* - amzn.to/4gmIIsL
Topping D900 DAC
Review - bit.ly/4oJNoMP
US & CA* - bit.ly/TopD900 (Apos)
Global* - amzn.to/44D157g
AU* - amzn.to/4kAt1i9
ADAM A7V active speakers
Review - bit.ly/4i2hO8L
Global* - amzn.to/43mIbma
AUS* - amzn.to/4i7oMJP
LTA Velo headamp/preamp
Review - bit.ly/42Eeknp
Global - bit.ly/LTAVelo
Gustard X30 DAC
Review - bit.ly/4p93yij
Global* - bit.ly/GUSTARDX30
Amzn* - amzn.to/3LenKRj
AU* - amzn.to/47zlhs2
00:00 Apos Druid review
00:22 Specs & details
05:36 Sound quality
09:57 Linear power supply
12:09 Op-amps
18:46 Final thoughts
#audiophile #hifiaudio #r2rdac #dac #headfi #headphoneamp #aposdruid #balancedaudio #deltasigma #opamprolling #budgetaudiophile #digitaltoanalogconverter #hifisystem
Apos Druid budget R2R DAC review
Global* - bit.ly/AposDruid
🔗 Improve your gaming connection: Check out GearUp for low-latency gaming pathways here*: gearup.sjv.io/Oe2jYG
*affiliate links help support the channel - thank you!
Need help? Message me on Minnect: bit.ly/HiFiHelp
Join my Patreon community: patreon.com/passionforsound
Become a Passion for Sound YouTube member: bit.ly/PFSMember
Get MERCH! bit.ly/PFSMerch
I dive deep into the world of R2R DACs with a full review of the Apos Druid. Many audiophiles are moving away from the "crisp" sound of traditional delta sigma DACs, and this budget component offers a genuine alternative. At just $160, I explore its core features, including balanced XLR outputs and, crucially, op-amp rolling. I compare the stock sound quality using the standard LM4562 op-amps against competitors like the FiiO K11 and Apos x Geshelli Labs Merlin. The real discovery comes when I upgrade the DAC with different op-amps, testing the OPA1656 and Sparkos Labs SS3602, revealing how this affordable digital-to-analog converter can compete with more expensive devices. If you're building a budget audiophile system or looking for the perfect R2R DAC to stack with the Apos Gremlin headphone amplifier, this video shows you exactly how to maximize performance.
BEST AUDIO BARGAINS BELOW!
World's Best Cable Pro interconnects
Review - bit.ly/44b8KtW
Global* - amzn.to/3UOFtAN
AU* - amzn.to/4et9NrE
Tipsy M1 IEM
Review - bit.ly/48del5v
tipsyaudio.com
Apos Gremlin headphone amp
Review - bit.ly/43FZjna
Global* - bit.ly/GremlinAmp
SMSL M20 DAC & headamp
Review - bit.ly/4oManqu
Global* - amzn.to/3YRxG79
AU* - amzn.to/3YiX59I
Schiit Mimir DAC
Review - bit.ly/4r3cuaI
Global - bit.ly/484APo8
FiiO FT1 headphones
Review - bit.ly/4lfVCLd
Global* - amzn.to/4iC4VTG
AUS* - amzn.to/3Rmdp5q
FiiO M21 digital audio player
Review - bit.ly/3K3PzeU
US & CA* - bit.ly/FiiOM21DAP
Global*: amzn.to/3HS7wfe
AUS*: amzn.to/47dKIkB
xDuoo TA-66 tube amp
Review - bit.ly/448jRoo
US & CA* - bit.ly/xDuooTA-66
Global* - amzn.to/3VWWSYS
AUS* - amzn.to/45MagTc
SMSL AS400 speaker amp & DAC
Review - bit.ly/480NiZQ
Global* - amzn.to/3JkFxWi
AUS* - amzn.to/48DC6oa
Topping DX5 II DAC & headamp
Review - bit.ly/47PmfR2
US & CA* - bit.ly/4mjCLy8
Global* - amzn.to/4ncA8zm
AU* - amzn.to/4psgLni
ADAM D3V active speakers
Review - bit.ly/4rhHeoO
Global* - amzn.to/4hw2Doo
AU* - amzn.to/3Ctaap6
SMSL RAW-DAC1 DAC
Review - bit.ly/43EXDKC
US & CA* - bit.ly/RAWDAC1
Global* - amzn.to/4hgqgkJ
AUS* - amzn.to/3PxxW6q
Aune S17 Pro EVO headamp
Review - bit.ly/4o2nrXF
Global* - amzn.to/4jU7AZx
SMSL PL200T CD transport
Review - bit.ly/4o9LDaE
US & CA* - bit.ly/SMSLPL200T
Global* - amzn.to/3IKlkIQ
AU* - amzn.to/46XOGNU
Nitsch Pietus Maximus headamp
Review - bit.ly/49nY3Yy
Global - bit.ly/3JQqkwC
Shanling EC Zero T portable CD player
Global* - amzn.to/47U9RR1
AU* - amzn.to/47DiMFc
Chord Mojo 2 DAC & headphone amp
Review - bit.ly/43F0Rhg
Global* - amzn.to/3E5GNKj
AUS* - amzn.to/4i4vAI3
FiiO K17 DAC, headamp, streamer & preamp
Review - bit.ly/42hKvIX
US & CA* - bit.ly/FiiOK17
Global* - amzn.to/3QWziIH
AUS* - amzn.to/42bZRyJ
SJY Horizon Closed Carbon headphones
Review - bit.ly/3DTKMd5
Global* - bit.ly/SJYHCCA
ZMF Bokeh headphones
Review - bit.ly/4hXLhAN
Global - bit.ly/42vMLwo
EverSolo T8 streamer
Review - bit.ly/4pdmo7V
Global* - amzn.to/4gjdSkx
AU* - amzn.to/4gmIIsL
Topping D900 DAC
Review - bit.ly/4oJNoMP
US & CA* - bit.ly/TopD900 (Apos)
Global* - amzn.to/44D157g
AU* - amzn.to/4kAt1i9
ADAM A7V active speakers
Review - bit.ly/4i2hO8L
Global* - amzn.to/43mIbma
AUS* - amzn.to/4i7oMJP
LTA Velo headamp/preamp
Review - bit.ly/42Eeknp
Global - bit.ly/LTAVelo
Gustard X30 DAC
Review - bit.ly/4p93yij
Global* - bit.ly/GUSTARDX30
Amzn* - amzn.to/3LenKRj
AU* - amzn.to/47zlhs2
00:00 Apos Druid review
00:22 Specs & details
05:36 Sound quality
09:57 Linear power supply
12:09 Op-amps
18:46 Final thoughts
#audiophile #hifiaudio #r2rdac #dac #headfi #headphoneamp #aposdruid #balancedaudio #deltasigma #opamprolling #budgetaudiophile #digitaltoanalogconverter #hifisystem
