Help Me - Apogee Duet vs. Headroom Desktop Portable
I use my computer as a source all the time. I have an Apogee Duet and I have the Headroom Desktop Portable (2007 version). I typically use Grado RS1 or AKG 701s for listening.
Although the Apogee is damn good and I'm impressed at any number of levels, I still think the Headroom provides a more neutral, high resolution, and musical choice. Of course, the Headroom is twice the price more or less. Couple of questions for the everyone:
1. Do you think the Headroom DAC is better and accounts for some, or most of the difference?
2. I've wondered whether a combination might be best of all. That is, essentially use the Apogee as the DAC, convert the Apogee cables to RCA outputs and run them through the analog inputs on the Headroom.
3. What am I missing?
Thanks all.
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Home Headphone Rig: Source: iMac (Apple Lossless), Esoteric DA-60; Master Clock: Esoteric G-03X; Meridian 808.2: DAC: Bel Canto DAC3; Interconnects: AudioQuest - Colorado Balanced XLR; Amplifiers: Ray Samuels B-52 (two units); Headphones: AKG 701 (Balanced), Grado RS-1 (Balanced); Ultrasone Edition 9 (Balanced - Balanced Silver Dragon), Denon AH D5000 (Balanced - Silver Dragon)
Portable Headphone Rig 1: Sources: IMod, Macbook Pro; Amplifier: Headroom Desktop Portable with Home Module; RS XP-7; DAC: Apogee Duet; Interconnects: ALO Silver; Headphones: Ultrasone Edition 9 (Silver Dragon)
Portable Rig 2: Source: IMod; Amplifier: Rudistor XJ-03; Interconnects: ALO Cryo Silver; Headphones: Denon AHD5000; Ultrasone Edition 9 (Silver Dragon)
Portable Rig 3: Source: Sony UX380, Imod; Amplifier: iQube; Interconnects: USB Cable; Headphones: Ultrasone Edition 9 (#1043)
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