USB Nervosa Thread Decrapifiers, pro interfaces, and bears oh my

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by zerodeefex, Sep 28, 2015.

  1. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

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    @Gravity - this is the problem. Before even owning the amp or dac you're concerning yourself with the usb gizmo's. I know your planning for the future, but plan less, listen more.

    What @Hands is saying is that all systems have bottlenecks or components that are the weakest link. In case of your proposed setup, hd650 and Gungnir Multibit will resolve more info than BW can output. But that doesn't mean the system isn't already ridiculously way way more resolving than most others. Get an amp, get a dac, listen listen listen. Then is you feel like you are missing out, try out a usb gizmo and see what you think.
     
  2. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Yeah, this landscape is changing rapidly. Don't stress it much now. And BW is quite good, really. I'm not sure many SS amps will be better so much as just different. Some might be more revealing but less to one's taste tonally, for example. I generally find tube amps will give you more. But even then, the sky is the limit. A bottleneck can be very, very minor, too. Just saying if you have other amps in mind, you may want to consider those more first.
     
  3. Madaboutaudio

    Madaboutaudio Friend

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    Last edited: Aug 29, 2016
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    The AGD DAC-19 is a nice sounding DAC. Sure AGD's USB implementations have sucked ass; but I wouldn't play with USB gizmos until you finalize your DAC. Also, understand that the Gungnir Multibit and Yggdrasil are very different sounding from the DAC-19. You may end up not liking the DAC-19, and preferring something like a pcx reconditioned Sonic Frontiers DAC (what AGD R2R DACs aspire to be, but somehow fall short). At least you have a reason for USB gizmos with the Sonic Frontiers DACs as they only have SDPIF and AES3 inputs.

    But before you finalize your DAC, address the amp. The weak link in your chain is the LC. The LC synergizes with planars, but it will hold the HD6X0 back. If you were planning to get a Gungnir Multibit + USB gizmo for $2200, you would be much better off buying a DNA Sonett, building a T3, finding a used Super 7, saving up a bit more for a ZDS, or checking to see if EC has a new old stock Super 7 shoved in the back of a closet.
     
  5. philipmorgan

    philipmorgan Member of the month

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    Hell of an easter egg there!!
     
  6. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    waitaminnit wot!?
    hurry up! my credit card is yours. gonna pair it with @MisterRogers Uber 7 and dub thee EC Balanced Super 7.
    :D
     
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Seriously? It was a manufacturing prototype and would be sold as used at a discount. We do need to check to see if it works first.
     
  8. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    well I'd consider adding a second Super 7 to the arsenal, have enough 6SN7 tubes around. har har.
    would depend on price and how different prototype was from final version?
    yet also would not be a greedy pig and stand in the way if a worthy SBAF Friend was lusting after a Super 7 as their end game amp, based on sound or budget.
     
  9. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

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    I am a big fan of the USB fuckery thread quickly turning into the exact opposite audio device, a tube amp that used 7 tubes.
     
  10. recarcar

    recarcar Friend

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    If @jexby doesn't take it and it works I would love to have it to pair with my Omegas!
     
  11. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    The ultimate USB defuckifier...7 tubes!
     
  12. FlySweep

    FlySweep Friend

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    The defuckification technology in the ECDF7 is so advanced, a USB port isn't even needed!
     
  13. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Is it a prototype with Mk1 transformers? :)
     
  14. Gravity

    Gravity Friend

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    @Hands @Marvey @JoshMorr I'll take your advice and stop worrying about decrapifiers untill I get my hands on a DAC and amplifier that I'm happy with. Thanks for keeping my sanity in check.

    How does Gungnir Multibit sound compared to DAC-19? From what I understand Sonic Frontiers can only be found used, which is fine by me, but I also live in Europe so I don't think they come with EU plug?
    Is Gungnir Multibit the only DAC, that is still in production, I should consider at $1500 and under?

    Yes, I indeed feel like LC is the biggest issue in my chain at the moment. I was planning to go for Gungnir Multibit but I would wait with usb gizmo untill I'm happy with my whole system. So I'd need to get another amplifier as you recommend. It would need to be a solid state though since tubes would not be practical with kids running arround etc. Don't really like Schiit amplifiers, at least not those I have heard. HeadAmp GS-X MKII was way too bright. Simaudio MOON Neo 430HA wasn't bad per se, but I didn't feel like it really hit the mark either - especially for the price. Just to give a few examples. I think this is why BW2 might be a good option since people have said it has tube-like qualities despite being solid state and that it's tilting to the warm side.

    Really appreciate the advice guys!
     
  15. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    No, Gungnir Multibit isn'y necessarily the only option to consider under $1500, but it's probably the most well-rounded and safest bet for 99% of people. Some might prefer the Audio-GD sound, and some might be inclined towards something the Metrume Musette, which is non-oversampling. I'd say just stick with Gungnir Multibit, and if something isn't to your liking, you should be able to return or sell without issue and reevaluate.

    BW2 should fit your needs and tastes. You can always get a tube amp down the road when kids are less of a worry. Though, I'd think if you kept it out of reach, maybe covered when not in use, and taught them not to touch it much like a stove top, it might be OK? I wouldn't know. Closest thing I have is a cat that likes to get up on things and is not capable of listening whatsoever. :)
     
  16. MisterRogers

    MisterRogers Ethernet Nervosa

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    +1 on the general counsel, and on considering a Musette.
     
  17. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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    Hmm...confirming my suspicions. So not a totally irrational need on my part to look for a different amp for my HD6X0. (Do like the LC w/LCD-X.)
     
  18. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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  19. johnjen

    johnjen Doesn’t want to be here but keeps posting anyways

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    HAHAHAHA

    And with a usb to spdif DDC no less…

    JJ
     
  20. FredM

    FredM New

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    Ifi also have a USB version :D
     

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