Audeze Deckard

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Scubadude, Jan 29, 2016.

  1. Scubadude

    Scubadude Almost "Made"

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    After posting on the 'Best amp for HD800' thread that I did not think the Audeze Deckard works well with the 800's, I had the good fortune of picking up a gently used Deckard for a keen price Just couldn't resist.

    Any Deckard owners out there that pairs it with anything other than LCD-2 or LCD-X? What is your favourite match?
     
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2016
  2. Scubadude

    Scubadude Almost "Made"

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    OK, so I did a bit of reading on the similarities (and more importantly differences) between the Deckard and the Matrix M-Stage HPA-3U. Pics of the innards of the two amps can be found here ... http://www.head-fi.org/t/749486/audeze-deckard-class-a-amp-usb-dac/120#post_11872066 and http://www.head-fi.org/products/matrix-m-stage/reviews/13475

    Clearly a lot of shared design and components here, but not identical. In all cases Deckard first, M-Stage second:

    - DAC Chip: TI Burr Brown PCM5102A vs TI DSD1793
    - DAC Resolution: 32/384 (no DSD) vs 24/192 and DSD64
    - Power Supply: Uprated vs standard
    - Component Mounting: Through-board vs surface mount
    - Component Selection: Different output stage caps
    - Buffer Stage: Discreet "diamond buffer" vs integrated circuit
    - Exterior Industrial Design: BMW Designworks vs Chinese utilitarian
    - Output Impedance: 3 ohm vs 0.4 ohm
    - Power Output: 4W at 20 ohms, 795mW at 33ohms, 465mW at 300ohms, 235mW at 600ohms vs 2800mW at 33ohms / 420mW at 300ohms / 210mW at 600ohms at THD+N=0.01%
    - Mass: 2.1 kg / 4.6 lbs vs 1.7 kg / 3.75 lbs
    - Price: US$699 vs US$419

    So definately not identical twins these! I have not heard the M-Stage but after spending some quality time with the Deckard I am quite smitten!
     
  3. pavement714

    pavement714 New

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    I have the Deckard with my HE-400i. I use it as an amp only for my Bifrost Multibit. I absolute love the combination of the three.
     

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