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mydonkeykong
54
Apr 11, 2014
How is this compared to the JDS Objective DAC?
dag.odenhall
264
Apr 12, 2014
mydonkeykongPresumably the ODAC is unbeatable at its price point, but requires a separate amp when not part of an O2/ODAC combo and such combos go for about $100 more than this D3 drop, are much bulkier and externally powered.
Supposedly the D3 includes an amp in a USB stick form factor and is fully powered over USB. Probably beaten by the O2 amp but still, it has an amp built in; the ODAC does not.
I'd say go with an O2/ODAC combo for home desktop usage; stand-alone ODAC for portable usage if you already have a portable amp. Beyond that, I don't really know if the D3 is considered any good, but it does seem highly portable, easy to use and should include the necessary functionality. If it adds up to noticeably better sound than the native sound card, I can't tell you, you'll have to read reviews for that.
Hope that helps, and take note that I own or have tried none of the D3, O2 or ODAC; just going by rumors and specs.
dag.odenhall
264
Apr 12, 2014
mydonkeykongBTW see Sonido's posts on the first page:
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/audioengine-d3/talk#!22694
Sonido thinks the D3 is a better DAC than the ODAC but that the D3 amp is sub-par. It's possible they didn't realize the ODAC needs amping, and I imagine it will sound weak at the un-amped line level output. Perhaps more likely they just don't like the transparent sound the ODAC is supposed to provide, even properly amped.
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