PRODUCTS YOU MAY LIKE
Trending Posts in Audiophile
SpaghettiMonster
PC38X microphone volume too low
How can I increase the volume of the microphone of my PC38X? On my new Lenovo X1 extreme with Windows 11 the sound for my listeners is too low and I've tried everything available on Windows 11 and related drivers for the Realtek Audio 'card'. I've found a way to boost the volume using Sonar of the Steelseries GG Software. What other options would you advice me?
Aug 8, 2022
allsmilesb
To slow for drop.
Man drop brought back the 789 and the balanced grace dac but was gone in a flash. Anyone know how much they were selling the balanced grace dac this time?
Aug 3, 2022
TheMithrandir
Best Headphones (without DAC) under $150
Hello folks, I've been following this blog for a while, and after a really long time, I've decided to get some nice cans. I am a student, so I don't think I can go higher than $150, and I don't have a DAC. I've researched on the following headphones- Beyer DT 770 80 ohm, AudioTechnica 50MX, Meze Noir, and some Senheiser models. As of now, I am leaning towards the DT 770's. Any recommendations as of 2022 on models I should check on? Any solid options?
Jul 30, 2022
Mee_owtH
Having Issues With Lack of Support From Customer Service and Missing Item
Hello everyone, I am here because I do not know what else I can do at this point. For a little background, I purchased a headset back when Drop had their competing Amazon Prime Day sale. It was my first purchase ever from this company but I saw a good deal mentioned by a YouTuber and made the jump to purchase on sale. The product was definitely not cheap ($419) but in comparison to the cost before sale ($529), I thought it would be worth it. Fast forward a few days, I get a notification that shipment from carrier (UPS) would be delayed. I did not think much of it but followed up with it and update stated delivery scheduled to Friday, two days later than what was originally scheduled. Friday comes but no package. What's more concerning is that when I checked my email, Drop sent me something saying it was delivered Thursday. Apparently, the carrier changed from UPS to USPS without any explanation or notification as to why. Concerned, I asked my neighbors and leasing office if anything...
Jul 30, 2022
noaen
My amp's 6922 dual-triode vacuum tube was broken. what Should I do?
I have a MASSDROP X ALEX CAVALLI TUBE HYBRID AMP (CTH) and the amplifier tube fell and broke. What can I do or what should I do? I would like to get a new tube but I'm not sure where exactly/ how much should it cost and etc.
Jul 22, 2022
I'm very intrigued by this DAC. However, I have both the ODAC Rev B/O2 amp combo, and a straight up O2 amp, both from previou drops here on Massdrop.
To be perfectly honest, I'm not a fan of how they sound. While the numbers and measurements are good, and it is a competent performer, I find it sounds somewhat clinical and mechanical. I find it lacks a sense of soul.
That's my personal feeling on the performance. Others do find satisfaction from the ODAC and O2, so it's not for me, that's all.
I'm curious if this amp is essentially a remake of the ODAC design. Important to know, because I would personally rather not purchase one if the sonic performance is similar to the ODAC.
Any reviews we can reference to get an idea of the personality of this DAC? That would be most helpful.
Thanks.
ODAC and SDAC are both budget DACs, and 79.99$ is not a big amount at risk here to try it out. Some early reviewers says it sounds better than the Modi and the ODAC. I guess we will only know when it is released to the consumers that have ordered it on this drop. I also matches the looks of the O2 that I bought a few weeks ago from Massdrop. Enough said to take a 79.99$ chance on this item...
While I definitely agree with you about changing the overall system sound via amp and headphone choice, I respectfully disagree with thought that all decent DACs sound the same (you had specifically mentioned tonal balance, but I believe that's the gist of what you said).
In my experience, I have noticed clear differences in musical presentation among DACs. Among those I have used are the ODAC, Modi, Teac UD501 and UD503, Denon DA-300 USB, Grace mXX, SMSL M8, amongst others. I do hear differences in presentation. This is all in the context of the same supporting system.
I don't know if there's any difference in frequency response. The differences lie more in things like sense of space in the soundscape and around instruments, the naturalness of the textures of the instrumental and vocal sounds, the naturalness, speed, and depth of note decay, the complexity and richness of the harmonics, the musical flow and sense of rhythm in the song or piece, etc. Things like that.
I don't know too much about the technology of digital playback. I just plug in the DAC, maybe play around with the filters and settings, and listen to music.
I found, particularly, that the ODAC did not bring me the enjoyment that I found in some of the other DACs I own.
On my computer, I had a hard time discerning the difference between the Modi and an original Audioquest Dragonfly, so I won't say I hear a difference all the time. But most of the time the differences led me to prefer one DAC over another for long term listening.
That's my experience, anyway.
I did not enumerate the other different components used by each DAC, like the Op Amps, which are probably all different in each aforementioned DAC model. In the case of the SDAC, the op amp is a Burr Brown OPA1652.
In other words, all of these DACs are different, using different components. So your dislike the ODAC (Original or revisionB, I don't know which you tried) that doesn't mean that you will dislike the SDAC in the same way. For 79.99$, you should give it a try. That is what I'm doing, I have ordered the standalone SDAC.
By the way, the original Dragonfly uses the same DAC as the original ODAC, the ESS ES9023 24 bit Sabre DAC with Delta Sigma architecture and Texas Instruments USB controller TAS1020B. Current Dragonflys use the ESS ES9010 32 bit DAC (Dragonfly Black) and ESS ES9016 32 bit DAC/AMP chip (Dragonfly Red) with USB controller Microchip PIC32MX. All different configurations...
Live and learn, I guess.