So I tried the R2R 11 last night. Plugged it in and started playing around with the 6XX and was definitely happy with the initial impressions. Improved soundstage, slight bump to bass, way more headroom to work with and zero distortion of any kind at high volumes like I was getting with the uDSD. Overall a good sound and I was already happy with my purchase.
The problem was, this thing was still ice cold and I was fairly certain it could benefit from being allowed to get to operating temperature so I hadn't really taken the testing too seriously yet. I left some music playing and went off and made supper. Came back put my hand on it and it was still only just starting to warm so I decided to do some gaming so long with the X2.
The gaming went very well, I'm not sure how it does it but it gives the gunshots a sort of satisfying "pop" that doesn't dig right into my eardrums which allows me to increase the volume without going deaf as soon as I have to shoot. Played Tarkov and completely dominated Factory three times in a row purely based on having amazing audio. So I'm definitely sold on that front.
After this session it had been about 4 hours since I had first powered up the unit. It was quite warm to the touch but by no means hot, but didn't seem to be gaining any more temperature so I thought I'd go back for a proper listen with the 6XX. It wasn't long before the magic happened. I say magic because there is some kind of sorcery in this thing that just makes music sound amazing. I don't really know how to explain it but the vocals and guitar took on a richness and life of their own. Every song with amazing vocals or guitar had me melting into an audio coma and just couldn't tear myself away. I stopped worrying about listening for instrument separation or soundstage or clarity or any of that stuff, there was no need, in my mind it sounded "Perfect" so why bother. Somehow the combination of these two entities (6XX and R2R) just found the exact sweet spot I've been looking for. I just lay there until way past my bed-time listening to song after song and was amazed every time a beautiful sparkly acoustic guitar chord played, or a powerful warm fuzzy electric power chord, or Tracey Chapman's or Bon Jovi's or Axl Roses vocals just shined through perfectly with a special timbre I am sure would be tough to improve upon. Sure , maybe the R2R is adding some distortion or reverb or some such thing that would make a purely neutral/reference audiophile flinch but it didn't matter to me because it sounded amazing, simple as that. I reckon the designer of this unit is a genius and planned for this as I can't imagine something so packed with components stumbled onto this sound by accident. ASR sure doesn't seem worth reading after listening to this thing haha.
Anyway I will stop my gushing now, needless to say it was a great experience. I tried the X2 shortly and as was expected for me it's even further behind the 6XX now. Was great in games and will grab it for a bassey EDM session but to me the 6XX and R2R seem like a perfect match.
I most definitely won't be turning this thing off often as I am convinced keeping it warm improves the experience. And I definitely have no plans to ever be without a 6XX/HD650 as I reckon I will always need them as a benchmark.
P.S: I'd imagine the uDSD will be up for sale shortly
Mild size difference: