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| Computer Audio Discussion of computers as source components, sound cards, USB DACs, media servers, etc. |
02-20-2008, 12:44 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 337
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oicdn
I'm curious as well. Not that I wouldn't like to hear what the higher end DACs have to offer, I just don't think my digital source is serious enough, or dedicated enough to warrant such a purchase. I would much rather keep it how it is, and explore my amplification options, as I feel much above both the cost and performance of the Keces unit will be fairly diminishing returns.
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I agree. If you are using a comp as your source, I think the DA-151 is a better option, and offers great build and parts quality for it's price. If you have a fairly decent CD-player/transport (or something with a good, clean (low-jitter) SPDIF/coax/toslink output) as your source; then the 131 might be a better choice. For USB-use only though, I'm liking the 151. I guess that's the thing that bugs me about alot of the higher-priced stuff out there.
Apogee and Benchmark DACs (for example, have great products), but they offer a multitude of connection options that I'll probably never use. That makes them too-expensive for my budget. I wish they'd just give the consumer the option of USB only, and sell something in this price range. I'd rather just have a well constructed USB-only DAC. For me, it simplifies things...and as oicdn has mentioned, leaves me free to upgrade my amp...and maybe eventually my cans. My comp and my headphones is my source and transducer, and I don't have any plans to go back to a speaker, CD or turntable-based home system. That for me, makes the DA-151 a better choice.
__________________
Computer: Audigy 2 ZS > generic 6-ft. mini-mini/RNB Diamond Reference > Shellbrook Maxi Head Signature w/Elpac power supply > Grado SR 225
Portable: iriver Slimx 350 or Creative Zen Micro 5g > RNB Diamond Reference Mini > Maxi Head Signature > SR 225
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02-20-2008, 05:49 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: In Sunny NE Florida
Posts: 3,347
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Quote:
Originally Posted by courierdriver
I agree. If you are using a comp as your source, I think the DA-151 is a better option, and offers great build and parts quality for it's price. If you have a fairly decent CD-player/transport (or something with a good, clean (low-jitter) SPDIF/coax/toslink output) as your source; then the 131 might be a better choice. For USB-use only though, I'm liking the 151. I guess that's the thing that bugs me about alot of the higher-priced stuff out there.
Apogee and Benchmark DACs (for example, have great products), but they offer a multitude of connection options that I'll probably never use. That makes them too-expensive for my budget. I wish they'd just give the consumer the option of USB only, and sell something in this price range. I'd rather just have a well constructed USB-only DAC. For me, it simplifies things...and as oicdn has mentioned, leaves me free to upgrade my amp...and maybe eventually my cans. My comp and my headphones is my source and transducer, and I don't have any plans to go back to a speaker, CD or turntable-based home system. That for me, makes the DA-151 a better choice.
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Exactly, with a PC as source, I think the diminishing returns also come into play. There's not really much you can alter a USB digital data generally speaking, whereas when you have a CDP, you have a ton of things that can come into play like CDP processor etc...not to say the same can't be said about a USB/PC, but I dunno, I just can't warrant a purchase for digital files. now if I have a huge CD collection and a dedicated CDP, sure, but with a PC...meh, not worth it, especially with the amount of SQ you get out of the Keces. I can't possibly imagine it getting better, when taking money into consideration. Sure, when money is no object, it's easy to imagine, but reality is...it does matter and I would wager this DAC being able to hang with the DAC1 (haven't heard it mind you), but meh...I just can't see it being better as the Keces circuit is very well implemented.
Last edited by oicdn; 02-20-2008 at 05:51 AM.
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02-20-2008, 08:33 PM
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Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 55
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oicdn how long did you take you to receive your 151. I just ordered one, and I dont have an amp or a decent pair of headphones yet.....damn you head-fi!!
__________________
Home Rig: Foobar->Keces 151->Little Dot MKV->Denon D2000
Portable Rig: Ipod 5.5g 80gb(rockboxed FLAC)->ALO bling->Little Dot MK1->Audio Technica ES7
Portable Rig 2: Sony NWZ-A728->Denon C700
Head-fi = evil
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02-20-2008, 08:39 PM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1,070
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where can you order one of the keces dacs from?
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02-20-2008, 08:48 PM
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Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 55
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ebay search keces
__________________
Home Rig: Foobar->Keces 151->Little Dot MKV->Denon D2000
Portable Rig: Ipod 5.5g 80gb(rockboxed FLAC)->ALO bling->Little Dot MK1->Audio Technica ES7
Portable Rig 2: Sony NWZ-A728->Denon C700
Head-fi = evil
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02-21-2008, 11:14 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 977
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Well, now I've done it...a keces-131 is on its way. I've been really disappointed with soundcard dacs (emu 0404, x-fi prelude etc) that an upgrade seems necessary.
So which one is better sq wise, a keces-131 or the 151? If they both have the LME opamp?
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02-21-2008, 11:28 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Posts: 584
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Actually you can order it here by PM me directly, since I'm the same guy that posts on ebay. :P
Ebay's pricing will be adjusted due to weakening US dollars and rising ebay cost (their discount only applies when you don't sell, when you do, they will recover the discount and more from the final value fees  ), however, those who order directly from me can still enjoy the old pricing for the moment. (Subject to change of course, but it should be like that for the mean time.  )
Thanks.
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02-21-2008, 11:35 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Posts: 584
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Quote:
Originally Posted by maarek99
Well, now I've done it...a keces-131 is on its way. I've been really disappointed with soundcard dacs (emu 0404, x-fi prelude etc) that an upgrade seems necessary.
So which one is better sq wise, a keces-131 or the 151? If they both have the LME opamp?
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If all things being equal, DA-131 for sure, 131 will have greater frequency extension (on both ends), more neutral sound and better sound stage to say a few.
However, such comparison cannot be precisely judged because the source cannot be identical...
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02-21-2008, 11:23 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 310
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maniac
those who order directly from me can still enjoy the old pricing for the moment
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Can you elaborate on this a little more? What is the price direct through Paypal? I would LOVE to buy a discounted Keces and skip ebay....
Thank you.
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02-21-2008, 11:35 PM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: California
Posts: 1,360
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Maniac, you may want to contact the mods or Jude to see about getting Member of the Trade status if you are going to use Head-Fi to facilitate your sales.
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02-22-2008, 06:27 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Madrid, Spain, EU
Posts: 217
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Has anyone had a chance to compare this to the Diyeden SVDAc05 ?
The CS4398 has higher specs, but not sure about the actual circuit quality for the rest of that DAC in comparison to the Keces 151
Pacific Valve & Electric Company Solid State DACs
I am undecided.
__________________
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*Cowon iAudio 7 mp3 player with Senn IE8/Px100/ UM1 for portable use.
*Nicely burned in (years) HD280pro for work
*Er15 earplugs for work
*Mint Linux PC -> HAGUsb -> Keces DA-131 -> NAD c740 -> Wharfedale Diamond 9.1
Returned: Westone 3
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02-24-2008, 11:37 AM
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Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by maarek99
Well, now I've done it...a keces-131 is on its way. I've been really disappointed with soundcard dacs (emu 0404, x-fi prelude etc) that an upgrade seems necessary.
So which one is better sq wise, a keces-131 or the 151? If they both have the LME opamp?
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I just ordered a DA-131 for myself with the LME upgrade and ordered a DA-151 for my brother-in-law.  If my brother-in-law lets me I may do some tests to compare the two. I'm interested to hear the differences between the two.
Best regards,
Ruben
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02-24-2008, 02:45 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: In Sunny NE Florida
Posts: 3,347
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^^ Wow...looking forward to hearing your impressions! I don't have an optical source (worth using), so I'm anxious to hear the differences as well!
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02-24-2008, 06:24 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Pori, Finland
Posts: 5,330
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An USB dac isnt necessarily better for computer use, IF you want to use your system for gaming also. If you have good soundcard for gaming, like X-Fi, you can plug normal external Dac to its digital output and there it is. It works in all modes, no need to switch cables from USB dac to soundcard and vice versa. On gaming mode the soundcard does all the necessary accelerations, 3D calculations and so on, and this signal then skips the built-in dac and opamp to external DAC, which turns it to heardable analog sound in better quality than mere soundcard. High-end gaming audio! On X-Fi, and X-Fi prelude, its very plug-and-play installation, so easyness of installation isnt really a reason to go for USB dac on pure desktop system if better device is available.
__________________
X-FI Elite Pro -> KECES DA131 with OPA627BP -> Stello HP100 or Little Dot MkIII -> Proline 750, SA5000 or SR225 or HF2
Feedback
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02-24-2008, 07:21 PM
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Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 31
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My DA-131 made it from Taiwan to NY in 3 days!
Unfortunately, I didn't expect Mr. Postman to pay me a Sunday visit, so I got the dreaded "Sorry, we missed you card"!
24hrs of burn in time - LOST!
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