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BaronVonYolo
29
Jan 28, 2016
im on the edge off buying this.... i have the extra money to just try it. With so many saying this is "much better then the O2 /odac " is there a blindtest or mayby a review comparing them out there?
And woud this really improve soundstage at all compared to the O2 ? I have plenty off headphones right now. Not one off them i think sound bad on my O2.
(x2´s, ath-r70x, hd650, HE400i, TH-X00, and my favorit HP right now HD800s´sssses the spacious sound just amazez me and is just freakin epic in games! woud this improve the soundstage even further ?
Fjrabon u seem pretty active around here mayby u can put me in the right direction ;).
fjrabon
456
Jan 28, 2016
BaronVonYoloIt's better than the ODAC/O2, yes. Is it worth it? Honestly nobody can say but you. It's more full featured than the O2/ODAC, is cleaner sounding (main reason for the increase in soundstage, which is very subtle), and the O2 tends to overemphasize leading edges on treble transients, which can make it sound a bit harsher. The O2 also tends to have a bit more high order harmonic distortions, which can, again, add to the harshness. The O2/ODAC is an incredible value and a great product. This is better. Twice as good? I find saying something "isn't twice as good" is a meaningless statement in audio. What it comes down to is how much that last little bit of performance is worth. It's well known in audio that the last 10% of performance is what you pay the most for. Here we have cleaner power, class A operation for most of its range, a DAC that manages to be smoother and more detailed, slightly more power (though I've never found the O2 lacking for power). And it retains all the strengths of the O2 (neutrality and ultra low output impedance). All that being said, ultimately the biggest difference to me is the design, warranty and feature set. Crossfeed is a necessity for me. The actual volume level display has become something that amps lacking it annoys the heck out of me. The decibel stepped volume control is a big deal that makes going back to conventional volume knobs seem annoying after using the m9XX. Being able to be both 5V DC powered or USB bus powered is a big deal. 5 year warranties are unheard of in headphone audio. Grace's customer service is always exemplarary. I'll never have anything bad to say about the O2/ODAC for what it is. It revolutionized what was a very primitive market. Before the O2 most headphone amps were 10 ohms or more. Many weren't neutral. Almost all were wildly overpriced. The O2 threw a gauntlet that forced amp makers to really make something special if they were going to charge more than $250. The m9XX is something special.
BaronVonYolo
29
Jan 28, 2016
fjrabonThank you, greatly appreciate your answer. my jds labs O2 have served me well. I´m in
Villy
68
Jan 28, 2016
fjrabonI agree with FJ's points, especially on design (m9xx's uncluttered look is downright awesome), portability (being able to power it with battery pack on the go is a killer function), reputable build quality and support. The way they implemented the various settings/functions, everything really into one knob is ingenious. And yes, having a knob for volume beats stepped-up control every day in my book too, can't wait to receive it!
Also wanted to comment on something about DSD-capable DACs that hasn't been stressed (or stressed enough). The fact that resolving 16-bit/44k, CD quality files thru DAC is a level above simply playing the files thru the phono plug on your device or computer speakers. But streaming DSD (and equivalent sampling rate), and thru quality DAC? This takes the music resolution, clarity and detail, the whole experience really to a level altogether different - so different, it is a completely new ballgame! The point is, M9XX like many of the new breed of DACs is capable of streaming DSD, yet most nobody seems aware of the experience this feature can open for fans of the music. My jaw drops again, and again, and again when reading that people use their DACs to play MP3 files from their computer or device, seemingly unaware of what's really sitting at their fingertips.
The first time I heard DSDS128 record it felt as if a veil covering my head for my entire life has been lifted, a blessing! But I instantly realized that in a way it is a curse too, for I knew I reached a point of no return. Now I don't want to listen to music with lesser resolution levels thru headphones anymore, the kick from DSD quality is that great. That comes with downside for me though, for I have accrued 1,200-strong CD collection which now with few exceptions I no longer have the desire to reach for :( ... maybe I should have stayed ignorant, maybe ... naaah, I'll just bite the bullet and start accruing SACDs (and hone my negotiation skills so my wife don't divorce me :):):)
pwnerman
453
Jan 29, 2016
BaronVonYoloI know you already said you were in regardless but rest easy because even if you buy it and don't like it you will quickly sell it on headfi and get what you paid for it back.
richieboy38
Feb 8, 2016
fjrabonNONO, is this the version with the revised 2015 converter 24 or 32 bits and it revolutionist nothing if you were allready in studio/dj/hifi gear and have a masterdegree micro-electronics. Don't forget that the majority of what is called state of the art dac and adc's dsp are 10-15 year old models..... no they've integrated the clocks in the ic itself, which i think is a bad thing. And the ones with a 9volt recharchable block accu are insane.... A lot of companies also thought batteries are better..... the non-recharcable ones are not that bad, though have a lot of noise and sparks allready, but then it will be lipo or other ones, but none of them are good. Even though they offcourse built in every pad phone laptop.... and with crappy chargers, which i don't understand they deliver with it, since smps is finnaly use-able. And then usb....not clean... While there are really good cargers ont market, but everybody seems to want a crappy thin ,small phone, tablet etc.... and pays 700euro for a phone , which still need an external amp, since those 3 mm thinner looks better, only the amp for good sound ,stronger wifi doesn't fit.... _mini/micro usb... and you get a nice downgraded mcu/memory speed, since it otherwise gets too hot.
BaronVonYolo
29
Feb 8, 2016
richieboy38what the...... what are u talking about ? and what does it have to do with fjabon´s comment ?
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