HeadRoom Micro DAC Arrived Today - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

luckybaer · #1 (**permalink**) 07-05-2006, 03:50 PM

My HeadRoom Micro DAC arrived today at my office.

My anxious little fingers quickly opened everything up and got it set up:

Sony Vaio Laptop -> 192 Kbps .mp3 -> Foobar -> Micro DAC -> No-Name I/C -> PA2v2 -> E4c

It sounds darn good, but I don't really have the time right now to compare a with and without the DAC scenario.

I am going to take it home tonight and hook it up to my home desktop PC. At least there I will be able to try 320 Kbps .mp3 files as well as CDs and some other players - Foobar, WinAmp, WMP.

After I get comfortable fooling around with it going through USB, I'm going to try and use the optical out of my X-Fi Xtreme Music and see if that makes any difference in sound. Also, I have a little Cardas mini-to-mini interconnect coming in the mail. I don't think that will make much of a difference, but I don't like having a coiled-up 18" interconnect obscuring my view of the Micro DAC.

Chri5peed · #2 (**permalink**) 07-05-2006, 05:47 PM

I love my Micro, so glad I forked out the $300 for it. I'm using the optical, I like that my music is a beam of light!

I've got a little Cardas mini-to-mini going into my amp too.

luckybaer · #3 (**permalink**) 07-05-2006, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chri5peed

I love my Micro, so glad I forked out the $300 for it. I'm using the optical, I like that my music is a beam of light!

I've got a little Cardas mini-to-mini going into my amp too.

What kind of digital out do you have from your PC? I have a X-Fi Xtreme Music, and it has a 3-in-1 multi-jack with 3.5mm jack. I'm going to try a mono mini-to-mini cable that I supposedly can get from Radio Shack for pretty cheap.

Xyrium · #4 (**permalink**) 07-05-2006, 06:30 PM

It's a shame there are so many cards out there with that 3.5mm jack. I wonder if doing pigtails from the board would be much better with RCAs or maybe even BNCs on the ends.

Chri5peed · #5 (**permalink**) 07-05-2006, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckybaer

What kind of digital out do you have from your PC? I have a X-Fi Xtreme Music, and it has a 3-in-1 multi-jack with 3.5mm jack. I'm going to try a mono mini-to-mini cable that I supposedly can get from Radio Shack for pretty cheap.

I use the Optical-out of my Juli@. Supposedly its as good as the digital-out of the $1000 Lynx card?
I'm using it Bit-perfect too.

Have you got an amp? You need one with the MicroDAC.

mrarroyo · #6 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 01:43 AM

Congratulations on your Micro Dac. I think it is a great product.

luckybaer · #7 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chri5peed

I use the Optical-out of my Juli@. Supposedly its as good as the digital-out of the $1000 Lynx card?
I'm using it Bit-perfect too.

Have you got an amp? You need one with the MicroDAC.

Oh, yes. I'm using my PA2v2 until I scrape together enough coin for the Micro Amp.

What is a Juli@?

warrior05 · #8 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 02:45 AM

the juli@ is a very nice relatively low-cost card that has digital out as well as the option to choose between RCA or TRS analog i/o. well regarded around here and it's the card i'm planning on getting soon fwiw.

luckybaer · #9 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warrior05

the juli@ is a very nice relatively low-cost card that has digital out as well as the option to choose between RCA or TRS analog i/o. well regarded around here and it's the card i'm planning on getting soon fwiw.

Oh, silly me! It is a sound card! I went and googled it and learned about it.

Sounds like a nice card for music.

Maybe I'll sell my X-fi and try one of those Juli@ cards. I guess I'd have to be pretty sure that I'm done gaming, though. I've quit BF2, and I don't really want to get into games now, but then again, the last time I said that, I only lasted a few months before I got into BF2 hard core.

luckybaer · #10 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 03:47 AM

This shouldn't come as a surprise for anyone, but I figured I'd toss it out there anyway.

I've tested the following configs off of my home PC:

[A]: Sony DRU-710A -> Windows Media Player -> USB -> Micro DAC -> No-Name I/C -> PA2v2 -> DT 770 Pro/80

[B]: Sony DRU-710A -> Windows Media Player -> Creative X-Fi Xtreme Music -> DT 770 Pro/80

Configuration [A] sounds much, MUCH better than configuration [B]. I am currently listening to Roxy Music's Country Life HDCD, and here's what I'm finding:

[A] has a much less congested soundstage
[A] is much "cleaner" sounding - the mids seem to be brought forward a bit (which helps with the DT 770's tendancy to recess the mids) and the bass is clearer and less muddy
The timbre of the various sounds just seemed more distinct and "meaty" with [A]. I don't know if this is a function of the DAC or the amp, because I get this feeling of "meatiness" when I use the amp with the line out from my iPod.
The combo still isn't enough to bring the mids- and vocals up to where they need to be. Although an improvement, vocals are still better with my E4c. This is a limitation of my DT 770, though.

BTW, basic set-up of the DAC went very well. Just plug in and check to make sure it is set as your output device in whatever player you're using. I really like the way the DAC is put together, and I can't wait to get the Micro Amp. Not that there's anything wrong with the PA2v2, but I want it to be my portable amp, not the one that powers my PC rig, lol!

akg_man701 · #11 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 04:56 AM

Try a/b-ing optical and usb. I tried real hard but, despite the general consensus on this board, I couldn't tell any difference. My micro has zero noise through usb so I'm using that and I'm using the optical for my iriver iHP-140. Get to use the handy little input switch that way.

Chri5peed · #12 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 01:22 PM

I like how with using the optical, the MicroDAC is not connected to the PC other than through a piece of non-conducting glass/plastic, which also won't transfer any interference. USB is metal right? So its physically connected.

luckybaer · #13 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 08:27 PM

Chrispeed,

Did you notice a big difference between USB and going optical?

I tested my digital line out from the X-Fi to see if I'd get sound via my set-up. I used a mono mini-to-mini connector, and obviously, it sounded poor compared to the USB connection.

I am interested in seeing how much of a difference going coaxial or optical will make. I am discussing the possibility of having a custom made cable with Bluemoon Audio, but I really don't want to have to spend big $$ unless it is going to provide me a noticeable improvement over the USB.

Thanks.

luckybaer · #14 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akg_man701

Try a/b-ing optical and usb. I tried real hard but, despite the general consensus on this board, I couldn't tell any difference. My micro has zero noise through usb so I'm using that and I'm using the optical for my iriver iHP-140. Get to use the handy little input switch that way.

What kind of optical interconnect are you using?

Chri5peed · #15 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 09:09 PM

I've never tried the USB on mine? It would be real easy to A/B them, but I've never bothered.

I'm of the opinion with short runs all optical cables are the same. It either works or it doesn't, how can a blinking light be bettered?*
I guess with longer or non-static runs, durability and flexibility of expensive cables become a factor?

*My opinion!