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If planning to use one of the two devices in question exclusively as a DAC, I would think the Duet is clearly the way to go. Can the Pico even be used as a DAC to feed a headamp? I didn't know it had a line out (just a headphone jack) or RCA outputs, unless I missed something.
I bought my Duet strictly to use it as a DAC. I had been waiting for a long time for the ESI-Audio Duafire to be released, but finally gave up on it. It's also FireWire bus powered, but has lots of bells and whistles and knobs (kind of like an E-MU 0404 USB), which I suppose the Duet has too, but at least the Duet's breakout cable hides this unused ugliness.
I'm beginning to wonder, how transparent Pico is?
If you're using Pico as DAC, isn't that suffer colorization from Pico's amp?
Isn't double amplification is never recommended for purist audiophile?
__________________ "Visually everything here is imperfect, but sonically they're mesmerizing" Head-Fi Feedbacks
Portable rig iMod Photo → Xin SMIII V6 (2x BUF634 + 2x OPA627) → Yuin PK-1
Home rig X-FI Xtrememusic (as transport) → BJC Coax → OMZ v4.1 → VanDeHul "The Name" IC → Lisa III XP → AKG K701 (w SAA Equinox) / Denon D2000 Current sources: iMod Photo, iRiver IFP-180TC, Sony D-EJ925, & OMZ v4.1 DAC Current cans: DENON D2000, AKG K701, Yuin PK-1, Etymotic ER6i, Alessandro MS-1, Sennheiser MX500, Koss UR-30 & KSC-55 Current amps: Yamaha Natural Sound Stereo Amp A-420, Xin Supermacro III V6, & LISA III XP Current speakers: Klipsch Promedia satellite speakers + Megaworks Subwoofer Wish list: Stax rigs, Darth beyer, Xin Reference, Tube Amp, Ultrasone Edition 9 & Balanced rigs Gone but not forgotten: Heed Canamp, iBasso D1
If planning to use one of the two devices in question exclusively as a DAC, I would think the Duet is clearly the way to go. Can the Pico even be used as a DAC to feed a headamp? I didn't know it had a line out (just a headphone jack) or RCA outputs, unless I missed something.
I bought my Duet strictly to use it as a DAC. I had been waiting for a long time for the ESI-Audio Duafire to be released, but finally gave up on it. It's also FireWire bus powered, but has lots of bells and whistles and knobs (kind of like an E-MU 0404 USB), which I suppose the Duet has too, but at least the Duet's breakout cable hides this unused ugliness.
May I ask which head amp you are using with your Duet, and how you have connected the two? Also, which headphones are you using? I have Grado RS-1s and will probably add the HD650 soon (or possibly hold off for another year and save up for the GS1000 instead)
I've been experimenting with a Corda Move as a DAC connected to my Little Dot MKV and ALO-AKG 701's, but not noticing any significant difference.
I'm feeling I need a better DAC for my MacBook Pro as well, so I'd be interested to hear more about people's experiences too. What I'm wondering is how I'd hook whatever DAC I get into my MKV. Ideally it would be via RCA, as there is a greater selection of cables available to complete the picture, so to speak. I'd like to know what set-ups people have used that got great results with both the Pico and Duet or any other USB or FW DAC for that matter.
This may be stating the obvious but the Apogee Duet is designed primarily for musicians who wish to record and arrange their own material. The Mac is especially well suited for this. I have a Predator (which I'm very satisfied with) and had an order in for a Pico (because I was curious how different it may be) but ultimately purchased the Duet instead because of its utility for musicians. I play electric bass and keyboards and wanted the extra functionality.
The Duet also sounds very sweet through a set of Edition 9s.
May I ask which head amp you are using with your Duet, and how you have connected the two? Also, which headphones are you using?)
I did many hours of auditioning my Duet's built-in headphone amp with HD-580s and DT770-80 Pros, and as much time was spent listening with the Duet connected via 1/4" mono-to-RCA cables to a home headphone amp, and came to the conclusion that there was no improvement at all with the home amp in the setup. So, at least for now, I'm very content using the Duet as an all-in-one rig with the headphones I mentioned. I have to say that I'm really loving my HD-580s now thanks to the Duet. I thought of selling these headphones a while ago, but that would have been a HUGE mistake.
Linear Mode
