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Author Topic: The All Purpose Advice Thread  (Read 139979 times)

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Anaxilus

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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #390 on: April 02, 2014, 11:18:15 PM »
Quote from: Armaegis on April 02, 2014, 07:20:02 PM
*shrug* just hearing things differently I suppose. I have a Dacmini and used to have a dacport and liked both of them. I've heard a UHA6S and felt kind of meh about it (compared vs one of those iFi amps at the time which I liked more).

You listened to the DAC+amp or just the amp from another DAC and which opamps?  Kind of need to be specific when you say something is meh when a device has 2, 3 or 4 functional components that each might sound different.

As a DAC+amp via USB I could see the case for the DACPort as long as you don't use something fickle like the HD800.  Using optical or coax w/ the UHA6S should bring the two closer if not favor the UHA6S.  As an amp alone, no chance, the DACPort and M8 just get crushed (Unless you settle for an 8610).
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Armaegis

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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #391 on: April 03, 2014, 03:21:43 AM »
Fair enough. Funny enough, I think it may have been the most "unoptimal" situation you described: from usb with 8610 opamps.

I seem to recall a while ago that someone (possibly me) was asking about Leckerton and Centrance and you said Leckerton makes good amps but so-so dacs, and Centrance was the opposite.
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Anaxilus

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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #392 on: April 03, 2014, 03:38:50 AM »
Quote from: Armaegis on April 03, 2014, 03:21:43 AM
Fair enough. Funny enough, I think it may have been the most "unoptimal" situation you described: from usb with 8610 opamps.

I seem to recall a while ago that someone (possibly me) was asking about Leckerton and Centrance and you said Leckerton makes good amps but so-so dacs, and Centrance was the opposite.

Yeah I only suspected because I've had both the mk1 and mk2 and pretty much the thing through every variable imaginable over 3 years and also owned the DACPort and DACPort LX for 1.5 years.  In relative context your statement is absolutely true.  In my experience things are different in a more absolute sense.

That's correct, that is my impression to date.  Both Nick and Michael write code for various DAC manufacturers among other things.  To be fair to Nick, the UHA6 DAC was compromised by choice to allow better flexibility like USB on the Go and various other inputs.  Even the M8 can't do USB on the Go nor the Chord Hugo.  Choices...

In an ideal world I'd run DACPort LX>UHA6Smk2 w/ 4627BRZ.  No reason they both can't get along.
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Eric_C

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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #393 on: April 04, 2014, 02:11:39 AM »
Ahoy pirates, be seeking yer sage advice:
Looking for a DAC, deciding between Bifrost Uber, Parasound ZDAC, and Arcam irDAC. They're all at comparable price ranges where I live, but I can't A/B them because no one store has all 3 (or even 2). Which of these is the biggest step up from...well, DAC-less (first external DAC) play from an iPod Classic, CDP, and a Xonar DX sound card?
On a related note: if I connected a game console to a DAC via TOSlink, would I have to change console sound settings to stereo?
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iRo

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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #394 on: April 08, 2014, 01:41:04 PM »
Any recommendations for some comfortable headphones? The requirements are:

1) Detachable cable with standard 3.5 mm input;
2) Won't look like a fucking satellite on my head.

Unfortunately, Fidelio L2 didn't work for me as all-around home/portable solution. Headband caused long term discomfort no matter how i adjusted it. And while i like their looks it does protrude a little too much i think. There are gaps between my head and headband, i wonder if that's the cause of both comfort and appearance  issues.

I was thinking about new XS headphones by V-MODA, which seems to address some of my problems with L2. The only thing that worried me is that they're on-ears. Anyone with on-ear experience can chime in on how would they fare long term for indoors use?
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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #395 on: April 08, 2014, 01:53:05 PM »
Eric_C: I'd go with the Bifrost Über out of those, it's niiiice. should be even better with that USB-gen2 upgrade as well.
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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #396 on: April 08, 2014, 02:45:36 PM »
Bifrost Uber + USB would be a super solid choice, based on my experience with the Gungnir (very good if you like a smooth sound). I'm also currently sampling the Mini-I w/ dual AD1955s, and it's a solid unit at around $380 (has a no-frills headphone amp built in too).

If the DAC is a 2-channel DAC, you'll want to give it a 2-channel input.
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AustinValentine

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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #397 on: April 08, 2014, 03:01:16 PM »
Quote from: iRo on April 08, 2014, 01:41:04 PM
Any recommendations for some comfortable headphones?

The V-Moda M-100 with XL pads are still the most comfortable portable headphones I've ever used. Low profile, great case, decent build quality. Bass heavy with a mid recess though and slightly artificial highs - so the sound quality might not be tolerable. If you can find them aftermarket for around $200 bucks I think they're a good portable buy for everything you get.

I'm a huge fan of on-ear headphones for on-the-go use because my glasses don't interfere with their seal. However, in my experience, I've never stuck with on-ear headphones for at home use. The same thing that makes them isolate and stay put on the go, their clamping force, makes them less viable for long term comfort. I currently have two Amperiors, a M-80, a PX100, and a pair of KSC-75's mounted to a Portapro headband. (I had a DT1350 around recently as well.) They all get sidelined when I get home for the comfort of my larger circumaurals.

I've heard that the V-Moda XS has pretty low clamping force though. They may be more comfortable for long term use than the other ones I've experienced. I don't have personal experience yet as mine won't arrive until the end of this week or beginning of next week. For your combination of fashion needs/profile size and removable cable 3.5 cable, I think it may be your best option. If you can relax the requirement to a 2.5mm plug, Tyll just measured the ATH M-50x redux the other day and it looks like they made some nice sonic improvements. The M50's really aren't as large as they look, and they might be a good option. The Shure 840 series also uses a 2.5mm removable cable and as a result there are ample replacement cables around.
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Eric_C

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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #398 on: April 08, 2014, 03:55:30 PM »
Gah!! I just emailed Emotiva about ordering the DC-1 (thanks to Gunner's review comparing it to the Gungnir).
Did I just make a foolish choice?
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Stapsy

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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #399 on: April 08, 2014, 04:56:56 PM »
Sounds good to me. I was just about to recommend you look at the Emotiva. Pretty good value right now at $499.
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