boneyjangles
Member
UK - epoz aktimate
USA - any of the swans stereo desktop multimedia speakers (not the 2.1 models)
USA - any of the swans stereo desktop multimedia speakers (not the 2.1 models)
Relaxed, pleasant and detailed sound. No harshness and no fatigue.
But the price fml...
IIRC you have a Plinius class A right? That's a nightmare scenario for me...get a huge ass amp shipped to get it fixed. It sounds like some of the capacitors might have quit playing nice. See if you have any local audio techs around you, and may be get a friend to help you just drive it there.
As for the DAC, the solid state devices apparently take a long ass time to burn-in. I'd say, let it run some random music for a few days and then do some critical listening.
But I would think the sound will normalize once everything is burned in...plus are you listening using headphones now?
But anyway, if you wanna switch it, you may also wanna try Eastern Electric:
http://www.eeaudio.com/
I can vouch for his equipment, I use the phono preamp, and it's amazing. The top of the line DAC is a tube/SS design, you can switch output stage depending on what you like. And the Junior is SS only, because most users ended up liking the SS sound more and they were all defeating the tube stage of the DAC Supreme, so the guy just decided to design a pure SS DAC, for a cheaper price.
Check out the reviews, his stuff is very impressive sounding.
Here is the US dealer website:
http://www.morningstaraudio.com/
Well I wasn't planning an upgrade, it's when the tube preamp started acting up, I just got fed up with it. As a replacement, I was definitely looking at gear that were a step above though, so in a way I guess I was looking to upgrade. I think I may sell off the tube preamp eventually, as it'd just be a waste and someone else can enjoy it.Thanks for the recommendation. Not a bad price on those units at all. Are you done with the upgrade chain or are you still on the upgrade path?
I'll keep my tube phono amp for now, as I love it, and the Perfectwave also sounds amazing, and I can't really differentiate between high res files and DSD, so not sure if I need to upgrade the DAC. But you never know, DACs improved a lot in the last 5 years, so I may replace it as well.
Well I wasn't planning an upgrade, it's when the tube preamp started acting up, I just got fed up with it. As a replacement, I was definitely looking at gear that were a step above though, so in a way I guess I was looking to upgrade. I think I may sell off the tube preamp eventually, as it'd just be a waste and someone else can enjoy it.
What I know is that an Ayre power amp would possibly be a lot better than my McIntosh, but I just love the way it looks, and frankly I don't know what I'm missing since I haven't auditioned an all Ayre system with my speakers...so I am ok with it for now! However, my local dealer offered me a very good price on an Ayre integrated amplifier...so eventually I may sell off everything and get Ayre's highest end integrated amp...it'd be a very minimal system at that point but I'm sure will sound amazing.
I'll keep my tube phono amp for now, as I love it, and the Perfectwave also sounds amazing, and I can't really differentiate between high res files and DSD, so not sure if I need to upgrade the DAC. But you never know, DACs improved a lot in the last 5 years, so I may replace it as well.
Just for curiosity I may look into different speakers as well. But none of these upgrades are planned for now.
That's pretty much what I like as well, I like the dynamics and rhythm, what's called PRAT, detailed, as in transparent with a hint of warmth. Overly analytical gear sounds very sterile to me, they are impressive at first like whoa...listen to that! But get pretty old soon. I also like a nice, wide sound stage, but that has a lot to do with the total system, room and speaker placement as well.I've pretty nailed down the kind of sound I like. Slightly laid back and smooth, but not overly so, with bite when needed. Can't stand super fast, aggressive sound and I can't stand overly laid back and polite. The sound has to be on the warmer side of the scale, but not overly so. There also has to be the appropriate amount of body/weight to the sound. Tone and body are more important than hearing every little detail. Lean, bright sound with overly crisp detail will have me going the other way. I'm finally at the point again where I can listen to the music without being agitated about something or the other. I'm finally getting 'gorgeous sound' at times from this setup. If this Yggdrasil continues to settle in, I think I'm going to skip out on playing with other DACs. It was sounding bright at times to me, but right now it's sounding great. Smooth, but not overly so and that harshness seems to have rounded off a bit.
Also, if you're looking to save a lot of money, check out audiogon or different audio message boards for sale section. Great way to save a ton of money. hifishark.com is an excellent site.
I'll bite. I have a pair of KRK Rockit 5 and an Avid Mbox Mini 3. This was the setup I used when switching from analog to digital. I have considered selling it, due to how I mainly use it when editing videos and searching for music. Wondered how they stacked up in the Audiophile world.
That's pretty much what I like as well, I like the dynamics and rhythm, what's called PRAT, detailed, as in transparent with a hint of warmth. Overly analytical gear sounds very sterile to me, they are impressive at first like whoa...listen to that! But get pretty old soon. I also like a nice, wide sound stage, but that has a lot to do with the total system, room and speaker placement as well.
Yeah, I'm a huge proponent of buying used, in fact you wouldn't have to go through this burn in period for example. But Ayre's higher end stuff usually don't come up for sale. But when I'm ready, I'll look at used sales first.
Anyone has any impression of the new Schitt Jotunheim with the DAC module?
$500 is a really attractive price if the DAC module is a little bit more than decent.
Haven't heard that particular unit, but is your main goal getting an integrated for around $500?
Pretty much anything by:
Easily the best sound company at the best price.
I'll keep that in mind, actually just bought a high res audio player for the subway commute as well as for the car...and I currently use IEMs which are great but if I get the itch to switch it up in the future, who knows.If you ever get a pair of headphones, definitely get an LCD 3 for a more laid back sound or an LCD x for a more visceral approach.
Yeah, with XLR outputs for my pair of Genelecs.
Why an integrated, don't you need merely a pre?Yeah, with XLR outputs for my pair of Genelecs.
Anyone has any impression of the new Schitt Jotunheim with the DAC module?
$500 is a really attractive price if the DAC module is a little bit more than decent.
What does this even mean? Hou got a balanced xlr for headphones?Wow, it's amazing how much of the experience I was missing out on by not going balanced. These headphones sound completely new. I went to guitar center and got a couple of cheap XLR cables. I had no idea I was missing out on all of this. Using single-ended with balanced equipment = missing out on a ton.
Wow, it's amazing how much of the experience I was missing out on by not going balanced. These headphones sound completely new. I went to guitar center and got a couple of cheap XLR cables. I had no idea I was missing out on all of this. Using single-ended with balanced equipment = missing out on a ton.
What's your setup? Headphones, amp/dac, source?
What does this even mean? Hou got a balanced xlr for headphones?
Xlr isn't some magic that will make anything sound better unless you have extremely long cable runs.
Wow, it's amazing how much of the experience I was missing out on by not going balanced. These headphones sound completely new. I went to guitar center and got a couple of cheap XLR cables. I had no idea I was missing out on all of this. Using single-ended with balanced equipment = missing out on a ton.
I know this is a thread about PC speakers, but anyone have experience with the Sonos wireless speakers and subwoofer?
I almost bought some 530s myself but were slightly out of budget.I bought jbl 305's and they sound unbelievably good for the price.
I almost bought some 530s myself but were slightly out of budget.
You could check out something like Teak:
http://hifiheaven.net/shop/TEAC-AX-...q8AlpG0tAGsWGehFvHgR3U7k_RLjA3NBZuBoC_OLw_wcB
They make good, affordable products under the Teak brand. And extremely good high end products under their Esoteric brand. So essentially they know their shit.
Why an integrated, don't you need merely a pre?
Bought one. Love it. DAC is definitely the weaker component of the two as it was clearly designed as an amp first.
I don't really have super crazy sensitive ears though, so I haven't noticed anything with the 4-5 pairs of headphones I've used with it. It'd be a good buy if you want to replace a separate amp and DAC into one box.
Another option would be the O2+ODAC.
What is your budget?
I ended up building my own subwoofer and buying some Ascend 170s on sale and lucking into some Polk RTi6's for dirt cheap.
I don't have a DAC yet for my PC setup. Since my desk setup is space-limited, I'd prefer an integrated unit.
How is the sound quality on those?
Are your Genelecs active speakers? Meaning are they powered? Then you don't need an integrated, all you need is a DAC/Pre-amp.
There are many options for you, only issue being XLR outs are usually found on higher priced units.
This Teak UD-301 has XLR out, and it's a dual mono DSD DAC.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L9HZ5QW/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Then there's this, Cambridge Audio DAC Magic Plus, this has XLR out and they are a good audio company.
https://www.musicdirect.com/dac/cambridge-audio-dacmagic-plus-24192-dac
Ok, I didn't chime in previously because I have no experience with the XFi. But even if you have the latest version circa 2010....in DAC terms that's from the stone age.I see lots of mentions of external DACs. Does anyone here have experience with both external DACs and the original X-Fi? I'm curious if there is a noticeable difference, and if it would even be worth upgrading.
Though I guess I can't keep using a PCI sound card forever. Eventually I'm going to have to get something new.
If it helps with recommendations, I'm running it into a Schiit Vali 2, which then runs to either AKG K550 headphones or M Audio M30 speakers. (yeah I know they're not the best, but that's what the headphones are for)
Ok, I didn't chime in previously because I have no experience with the XFi. But even if you have the latest version circa 2010....in DAC terms that's from the stone age.
Firstly, the DAC chips themselves in external DACs are far advanced, even for the 2010/2011 models. Most external DACs use the Sabre ES9018S,(http://www.esstech.com/index.php/en/products/dac/) which are far advanced from what's in the XFi. Other DACs use TI Burr Brown DACs with similar specs. Most are capable of handling 24 bit 192KHz source signals.
Secondly, many of the DACs have asynchronous USB inputs, essentially they take the raw USB output from your source, and re-clock it, thus eliminating any noise introduced by the PC/Laptop/Source device.
Thirdly, the input circuitry, the amplification of the analog stage after the DAC processes the signal, and the output stages are much, much more advanced and capable in most external DACs. They could have class A amplification stages, dual mono configuration, source and output transofrmers to get rid of DC noise, huge banks of capacitors to handle dynamic swings in music...you name it.
So depending on your budget....here are my recommendations...for a dac/headphone amp setup for your music:
Nuprime DAC 10H - $1795
http://www.nuprimeaudio.com/index.php/products/dacs-and-headphone-amps/home-audio-dacs/dac-10h.html
This is a DAC/headphone amp.
There's a version without the headphone amp, the DAC 10, for $1495.
I am actually thinking of getting the DAC 10 to replace my current DAC.
PS Audio Sprout - $499
https://www.musicdirect.com/integrated-amp/ps-audio-sprout-integrated-amp
This is a dac/headphone amp/integrated amp
Meaning, it'll hook up to your PC, drive your headphones AND will drive passive speakers from the speaker outputs (50W/channel), if you ever plan to upgrade speakers. In case you go for this, you dont need the Schitt integrated.
PS Audio is a high end audio brand that has been around since the early 70's, I myself use their now discontinued top of the line DAC.
Oppo HA-1 - $1100
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TIYXTSO/?tag=neogaf0e-20
This is pretty well regarded, DAC/headphone amp.
Nuprime DAC 9 - $749
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019WV4MSI/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Standalone DAC.
Cambridge Audio DAC Magic Plus
https://www.musicdirect.com/dac/cambridge-audio-dacmagic-plus-24192-dac
This is a DAC/Headphone amp. Cambridge Audio also has been around a long, long time and they are well regarded.
Also check out the Teac units I mentioned in above posts. I linked from Music Direct but I have no affiliation with them...they just have good prices on gear, you can shop around other sites.
If you can, stretch for those:Any thoughts on Edifier and how good their products are? I was thinking about getting this, my current speakers are new, but really cheap. I'll probably donate them if I get these - my only concern is bass. I don't need a ton of it, but there's has to be some punch at least. I want to avoid getting a sub just for issues about space and cable management.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CDU3IAI/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Wow, they have come a long way.If you can, stretch for those:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CDIS6M0/?tag=neogaf0e-20
The R2000 have a pretty uneven output and generally a lot of flaws, the S1000 are a huge improvement in every regard. Evenness, transparency, extension etc. Though beware, at 30 pounds per box (!!) they are a... tad heavy.
They generally review very well for the asked price of $300.
If you can, stretch for those:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CDIS6M0/?tag=neogaf0e-20
The R2000 have a pretty uneven output and generally a lot of flaws, the S1000 are a huge improvement in every regard. Evenness, transparency, extension etc. Though beware, at 30 pounds per box (!!) they are a... tad heavy.
They generally review very well for the asked price of $300.
Though at least at the moment, Chane Music has a much better offer:
https://www.chanemusiccinema.com/m200mkiii
They seem to be pretty reputable and it's a 150 bucks less than on hivi.us . Seems they are clearing stock of all their Swans stuff.
Yes they are and design is also not that hard.I wonder those DAC costing hundreds to thousands, are they really that good? I thought those ic chips used in DAC are pretty cheap