Massdrop x Alex Cavalli Liquid Carbon X Amp Discussions | Drop

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Massdrop x Alex Cavalli Liquid Carbon X Amp

Sep 18, 2017

DAC & Amp Family UPDATE 9/18/2017: https://www.massdrop.com/talk/2363/audiophile-custom-products-dac-amp-update-9-18-2017

Sep 18, 2017

MusicIsGreat

205

Sep 18, 2017

CEE_TEESo you're saying there might be a possibility of Cavalli LCX amp + SDAC? If so, I'd be more in favor of dropping this combo, I am looking for another reasonably priced DAC to match with the LCX so that would be welcome, specially if it's balanced.

Sep 18, 2017

Feanorean

Sep 19, 2017

CEE_TEEThanks @CEE_TEE. Nice to see you've listened to the peoples feedback!

Sep 19, 2017

Wilz

126

Sep 19, 2017

CEE_TEEI think we need a balanced standalone DAC in the $299 range to make the LCX make sense. Cramming the SDAC in the LCX doesn't work for people that prefer to have a stack of standalones.

Sep 19, 2017

nizwiz

Sep 20, 2017

Wilz This was about 330 USD last time: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/topping-dx7
Might be close enough to the 299 to consider.

Sep 20, 2017

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Varholiaglimp

939

Sep 22, 2017

CEE_TEEIs there any possibility that your SDAC version of the Liquid Carbon will include more I/O options? I can't use an amp unless it offers RCA outs at the very least, nor can I use a home DAC that only has a USB in.
All of the excellent-looking collaborations on MD are made for home use, yet none take into account the setups that people tend to use at home.

Sep 22, 2017

Vote

CEE_TEE

3480

Sep 22, 2017

VarholiaglimpHey Varholiaglimp, The Carbon does have an RCA pass-through so you can feed the Carbon with a DAC and if you don't use the Carbon but need the signal to "pass-through" to another device...you can. What it will not do is act like a volume control (passive pre-amp).
When the SDAC is added, there will be a 3.5mm line-out from the DAC that you can use a 3.5mm to RCA cable with. The SDAC was designed to be as simple + plug and play as possible, USB in only and lower cost. Which non-USB input do you need?

Sep 22, 2017

Varholiaglimp

939

Sep 23, 2017

CEE_TEEThanks for the swift reply. That's great news about the coming version of the LCX/SDAC.
Ideally, what I need is a coaxial input in addition to USB. Toslink would also work.
At some point, it would be great to see a collaboration on a desktop hybrid that offered the I/O and preamp options of the iFi Micro iDSD Black Label, only with higher-end partners who excelled at specific areas of that desktop device and/or modular setup.

Sep 23, 2017

slartibartfast86

Sep 24, 2017

CEE_TEEWill the LCX+SDAC retain the pass-through and both balanced and unbalanced inputs from the LCX? I'm wondering about this because I would mainly use it for analog sources and then pass through to my regular amp when I want to use my speakers, but I also like the idea of having the option of connecting it to my computer in a desktop setup.

Sep 24, 2017

CEE_TEE

3480

Sep 25, 2017

slartibartfast86Yes, that's the plan if it all fits and works out: -SE RCA input (phase split into fully balanced through amp) -SE RCA pass-through -BAL 3-pin XLR input -microUSB input -3.5mm DAC line-out

Sep 25, 2017

slartibartfast86

Sep 25, 2017

CEE_TEESounds great! Instant buy for me if it works out. Any idea how the input selection would work at this point, seeing how it has two analog sets of inputs in addition to the SDAC?

Sep 25, 2017

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