Help Me - Apogee Duet vs. Headroom Desktop Portable

[BigEat]

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.

[PhaedrusX]

you seem to be in a better position to answer your own questions than anyone else.

for the price of a couple 1/4" to RCA adapters, you'll be able to compare the two DACs through the Headroom Amp, and make an informative decision based on your own ears.

it's not going to cost you more than a few dollars, and you can tell us your impressions.

[BigEat]

Fair enough but the cable mods for the 'apogee are impossible. I haven't done much listening frankly on the Apogee. Any speculation or insights would nevertheless be appreciated.

[grawk]

what do you mean cable mods for the apogee are impossible? I've got a custom breakout cable with rca ins and outs. Apogee gives out pinouts on request.

[BigEat]

Well that is helpful. Who did the cable mods if you don't mind me asking? I tried to find the pinout configuration but I thought that Apogee might be hesitant to give it out (proprietary maybe). Thanks so much. How have you found it? How do you use the Apogee with the rca outs?

[grawk]

The person who made my cable doesn't take outside work. But I got the pinout by emailing support@apogeedigital.com.

I use the rcas to connect to my sacd player (to the inputs) and my amp (for the outputs)

[BigEat]

Thanks for the tip from Apogee; I didn't expect that. Your response about the cables though is kind of what I was alluding to insofar as I've found it very, very hard to find vendors or anyone else to do the cable mods.

[jp11801]

Originally Posted by BigEat

Thanks for the tip from Apogee; I didn't expect that. Your response about the cables though is kind of what I was alluding to insofar as I've found it very, very hard to find vendors or anyone else to do the cable mods.

you could simply go to guitar center or radioshack and buy the $5 1/4 to rca convertors, while this is not as good potentially than a custom made breakout cable it will get you most of the way

[BigEat]

Thanks again. Let me see if I follow. You mean use the stock cable and simply get an RCA cable for each of the female rca outputs (i.e., male to male)? Again, thanks for the help.

[PhaedrusX]

Originally Posted by BigEat

Thanks again. Let me see if I follow. You mean use the stock cable and simply get an RCA cable for each of the female rca outputs (i.e., male to male)? Again, thanks for the help.

doesn't the breakout cable use 1/4" outs?
all you need is an adapter that will be 1/4" female on one end and RCA female on the other. then you can use your own RCA cables to complete the connection.

[BigEat]

yep. That's right. It is the 1/4 outs you would need. So that makes sense. 1/4 terminated to 1/4 RCA male.

[grawk]

That's what I used until I got my cable.

[jlipton]

It's hard to imagine any DACs (unless they are insanely expensive) being better than the Duet's. Apogee is known for having among the best DACs, and the Duet has the same DAC circuitry as the studio quality Ensemble. I have a Duet also (I use it mainly for recording), and I think it's great. BTW, I still use a RSA XP-7 most of the time for an amp, but the Duet's headphone section is pretty good.