The All Purpose Advice Thread

Discussion in 'Advice Threads' started by purr1n, Sep 26, 2015.

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  1. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

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    Agree I am leaning towards the second Emotiva, there are two used for sale on CanuckAudioMart.
     
  2. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

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    Found eBay, Yaqin MS-30L. It looks very good and price is reasonable. Has anyone tried this amp? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
     
  3. aamefford

    aamefford Nothing like chamberpot coffee

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    I had the dacmagic several years ago, so comparison wouldn’t be fair or really possible. I recall not disliking it (as opposed to liking it), if that helps. If you need xlr for a low price, it might be a decent option, as would the emotiva. I don’t have experience with the emotiva though.
     
  4. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

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    Thanks, I will go through a few days of comparing Emotiva DC-1 to Hifiberry DAC Pro XLR, I got from Amazon and then decide.
    My first test was with JBL LS305 and I was impressed with Hifiberry. Yes, after some nitpicking it is not DC1 but in terms of sound stage, instrument separation and bass impact it comes pretty close. Very promising, I may settle on a really cheap option (Hifiberry) if it is still up to task with the headphones like HE1000 v2 and DT880 in the next round of listening. I am not going to use it most of the year so if DAC Pro XLR gets me like 95% to DC1 I may just get a proper steel enclosure from Hifiberry, iPower, and be done with it.
     
  5. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    @wormcycle , forgive me for hijacking your question to ask you and the audience a related one of my own...

    My current living-room system features a Modi Multibit and Magni2U being fed wireless from the computer via a Pi-Digi+ and CD player. A second system, closer to the computer, is warranted. Under consideration is a new headphone amp (for either system) and RPi-DAC, or a one-box solution like the DC-1 (which again could go in either room) which would negate the need for another Pi.

    Considerations would therefore seem to be: is the DC-1 decent cf Modi Multibit as a DAC and Magni2U as an amp; and is direct USB-in on either DAC dire enough that another Pi-Digi (DAC) addition (substitution) should be the priority?
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2018
  6. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

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    I did not have chance to listen to Magni2U but I would certainly recommend DC1, particularly if your source is Digi+. I have a preference for resolution and microdynamic over tonality, that may not be your cup of tea. I liked Modi Multibit, but my strong preference is DC1.
    I prefer it as a DAC, the build in headphone amp is decent but not great. But DC1 is very transparent, works very well with my very old class A Talisman 35HP, as well as dual mono HA200s, through balanced out. What I mean there is a good chance you will not be limited in your choice of an amplifier.

    I am allergic to USB, if you can feed DC-1 from Digi+ SPIDIF or BNC, it is the best combination I tried.
    Otherwise even something like that http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/deta...nitor-01-usd-usb-converter-shipping-included/ between your computer and DC1 would do a pretty good job.
     
  7. dropadred

    dropadred New

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    What do you reckon? I have three candidates for next headphones purchase,
    - Monoprice M1060,
    - Audioquest Nighthawk,
    - Hifiman HE-500.
    Which would you recommend?

    As of now, I have just one HPs - Mr.Speakers Alpha Dogs. I am looking for a new experience (I have had none of the aforementioned ones). I generally prefer wide sounding headphones (probably my favorite "property") with a quality bass (I appreciate if the sub-bass is present, when there is not an excessive mid-bass bump). All of these are, after adding the shipping, somewhere around 350€ (for M1060 and Hawks) and 385€ for HE-500.
     
  8. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    Degrading your DAC choices just so you can "go balanced" or indulge a fascination with budget monoblocks seems pretty stupid. You would have been better off sticking with the Modi Multibit and spending the money on a better amp, rather than getting two HA200 and grubbing around for a budget balanced DAC.

    Good balanced DACs aren't cheap, and most people will benefit more from spending money on the best-sounding stuff in their price bracket, SE or balanced. You really don't sound like you're trying to drive something HE-6 hard (and if you were, using speaker taps would probably work better), so you won't get a massive advantage from monoblocks anyway.
     
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2018
  9. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Best budget amp for HD 580s? Rest of the chain is an RPi2 with 502 DAC hat feeding coax to a Modi Multibit, outputting to a Saga.

    Curveball: I may want to plug in my IEMs as well, two of them are DDs but I also have Andromeda.

    Curveball two: I own an ALO Rx Mk. 3-B. Would my money be better spent buying a balanced cable for the 580 and just using that? It’s no good for my IEMs though.
     
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2018
  10. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

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    @Kattefjaes, after reading the first sentence of your response, it is comforting to know that you are mostly harmless :).

    I bought 2xHA200 really cheap $200) for my desk setup and I like them so much that did not sell even when I offered more than I paid. Balanced or not I have not heard anything that good and with enough power in $200 price range.
    And I already have a DAC that works pretty well dual HA200, that is DC-1.
    But I decided to leave HA200 in my vacation home, but do not want to leave DC1 there. Hence my question about maybe cheaper, used alternatives. There do not seem to be any, except Hifiberry DAC Pro XLR, which I trying right now and it is pretty acceptable. Particularly with JBL LS305. Not DC1 but maybe close enough.
    My main setup is all Bryston: BDP-2, BDA-2, BHA-1. I am not planning to buy any better DAC, maybe Iggy but only after direct audition against BDA-2.
     
  11. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    Excuse me while I bite my tongue, and walk away facepalming gently. Should have known better.
     
  12. ksat90

    ksat90 Acquaintance

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    Thanks people! That was helpful for my decision making - likely to save up for the Modi Multibit then.

    Yes I did search various threads and had a few options, however for me, living in Germany, Schiit was the most available option, and has a distributor close by to me in case of repairs/warranty/support. From searching around, AFAIK the SDAC was only available through Massdrop, and though I've requested it, I don't think it's as available as say the Schiit Modi variants.
     
  13. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    So what's the deal with DACs with World Clock connections?
    http://www.apogeedigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Ensemble-Thunderbolt-Close-Up-Wordclock.jpg

    I remembering reading from Mike Moffat that those are the best connections to use on a DAC.
    Aren't they just digital converters like with Singxer SU-1 & Schiit's Eitr?

    I don't think I ever saw a separate World Clock unit other than from dCS & their Vivaldi Master Clock unit sells for $15k.
    Is there anything a little cheaper to try out?
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2018
  14. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    Isn't that just an external clock connection (rather than the internal clock, typical in DACs, the clock is fed from an outboard unit.)? I've seen this on other devices as well such as SoTM streamers.

    Don't think this is the same thing as the BWD connection/protocol Mike was talking about not so long ago, but could be wrong...

    EDIT: I think maybe you're talking about this post: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/wha...n-robert-hunter.784471/page-272#post-13651203
     
  15. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    Yeah that's the one.

    dCS is the only one I see selling separate world clock units, usually from their stack, (clock, DAC & transport), but their prices are way too much for what I would spend.
     
  16. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    :eek: o_O

    Now I know what was wrong with all the music I ever listened to. It was not synced to the atomic clock at the centre of the Earth.

    Wait... Everything is synced to that clock... isn't it?
     
  17. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    No no no, it's not the Atomic Clock, it's the World Clock. It changes sound to match the time zone. It aligns the frequency response of the DAC to the sound signature preferences of people they know from their area, which of course are different where they live vs. everywhere else.
     
  18. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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    The atomic clock is not at the centre of the earth, it's in Ft. Collins.
     
  19. digitaldave

    digitaldave Acquaintance

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  20. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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