| Computer Audio Discussion of computers as source components, sound cards, USB DACs, media servers, etc. |

02-16-2008, 03:08 AM
|
 |
500+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 603
|
|
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.
__________________
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)
|

02-16-2008, 05:18 AM
|
 |
500+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Left of Center
Posts: 605
|
|
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.
__________________
"And what is good Phaedrus, and what is not good... Need we ask anyone to tell us these things?" -Plato
|

02-16-2008, 05:27 AM
|
 |
500+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 603
|
|
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.
__________________
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)
|

02-16-2008, 05:42 AM
|
 |
Headphoneus Supremus Moderator
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Southern York County, PA
Posts: 7,181
|
|
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.
__________________
CanJam 2010 Coming next summer to Chicago, IL!
Team Rig All Blowed Up, Future Uncertain
duet->hhf1/hf2, iphone->esw9,iM716, da500->e/90->ESP950
|

02-16-2008, 05:47 AM
|
 |
500+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 603
|
|
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?
__________________
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)
|

02-16-2008, 05:49 AM
|
 |
Headphoneus Supremus Moderator
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Southern York County, PA
Posts: 7,181
|
|
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)
__________________
CanJam 2010 Coming next summer to Chicago, IL!
Team Rig All Blowed Up, Future Uncertain
duet->hhf1/hf2, iphone->esw9,iM716, da500->e/90->ESP950
|

02-16-2008, 05:53 AM
|
 |
500+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 603
|
|
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.
__________________
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)
|

02-16-2008, 06:07 AM
|
 |
Headphoneus Supremus aka JP-nums or JP-numbers Lead Organizer for Can Jam '09 Moderator
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: East Bay, CA
Posts: 2,721
|
|
Quote:
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
|

02-16-2008, 06:15 AM
|
 |
500+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 603
|
|
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.
__________________
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)
|

02-16-2008, 06:26 AM
|
 |
500+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Left of Center
Posts: 605
|
|
Quote:
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.
__________________
"And what is good Phaedrus, and what is not good... Need we ask anyone to tell us these things?" -Plato
|

02-16-2008, 06:45 AM
|
 |
500+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 603
|
|
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.
__________________
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)
|

02-16-2008, 11:00 AM
|
 |
Headphoneus Supremus Moderator
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Southern York County, PA
Posts: 7,181
|
|
That's what I used until I got my cable.
__________________
CanJam 2010 Coming next summer to Chicago, IL!
Team Rig All Blowed Up, Future Uncertain
duet->hhf1/hf2, iphone->esw9,iM716, da500->e/90->ESP950
|

05-29-2008, 01:36 AM
|
|
Junior Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 23
|
|
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.
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 11:15 AM.
|
Head-Fi's Sponsors
(Premier Sponsors bolded) |
|
|
Can Jam '09
(2009
International
Head-Fi Meet)
Impressions,
Reviews, Photos |

Can
Jam '09 graphic
courtesy of Edwood
Click on the links below
for Can Jam '09 photos,
impressions and reviews:
blubliss
1,
2,
3
dallan
1,
2,
3,
4
santacore
1,
2
nhat_thanh
1, 2
vpivinylspinner
1,
2,
3
amb
1
augustwest
1
eaglejo
1
johnsonad
1
shellylh
1
Jon L
1,
2,
3,
4
Germancub
1
zippy2001
1
IPodPJ
1
bhd812
1
Edwood
1,
2
abellaw
1,
2
minidiscs
1
atothex
1
HighLife
1
achristilaw
1
SiBurning
1,
2,
3,
4
SiBurning
5,
6,
7
LFF
1
Iron_Dreamer
1
doping panda
1
morphsci
1
ironbut
1
shaizada
1
jasper994
1,
2
jp11801
1
Uncle Erik
1
drubrew
1
(More impressions/photos
still being added.)
|
|
|
Head-Fi Blogs
and Facebook |
|
|
Head-Fi's Sponsors
(Premier Sponsors bolded) |
|
|
|