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) |
|
|
|
| Computer Audio Discussion of computers as source components, sound cards, USB DACs, media servers, etc. |
02-24-2008, 09:31 PM
|
|
500+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 977
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by MaZa
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... |
Except that the Preludes digital out will not give you any accelerations or 3d effects under Windows Vista.
|
02-25-2008, 10:19 AM
|
 |
Headphoneus Supremus
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Pori, Finland
Posts: 5,326
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by maarek99
Except that the Preludes digital out will not give you any accelerations or 3d effects under Windows Vista.
|
But that is a problem with Vista drivers, not in the card itself.
__________________
X-FI Elite Pro -> KECES DA131 with OPA627BP -> Stello HP100 or Little Dot MkIII -> Proline 750, SA5000 or SR225 or HF2
Feedback
|
02-26-2008, 03:17 AM
|
|
Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 31
|
|
ignore the interconnects (LOL).
Will do some proper ABx'ing once she's broken in, but initial impressions are VERY positive. First thing I *seem* to hear is much more punch in the mids (vocals jump out at you).
No issues with setup (Laptop (foobar+ASIO+S/PDIF>MAudioUSB>DA-131>Preamp). Was up and running in 2 minutes.
Build quality (as has been mentioned) is excellent.
Cust. service was great; ordered it on W and it was at my door on S.
|
02-26-2008, 04:31 PM
|
|
500+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 977
|
|
Argh, my Keces has arrived in the customs. And I just blew up my computer. Oh darn.
|
03-02-2008, 05:24 AM
|
|
Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 43
|
|
I've had the DA-151 for a couple of days now. Before this I was just using the audio out of a very good motherboard (Intel BX2) plugged into a decent old-school NAD amp and some B&W speakers. So, I don't know how I tolerated it before, but now it really is like two layers of gauze have been taken off the speakers.
Of course I expected a significant improvement over onboard sound, so I was curious to hear how it compared to CD. I have what was once considered a very good Denon CD player, and I performed an A/B test using some favorite tracks (from Radiohead's In Rainbows - IMO there's no better band for A/B testing  ). I listened to each track on CD first, pushing the volume to the loudest it could get and still be enjoyable, then did same with same track in FLAC with the Keces.
With each track it became increasingly apparent that there was just no contest. The sound through the Keces was more open, with clearer separation; detailed, more punctuated highs, tighter, more controlled bass. What really stuck me was how much better it sounded at louder volumes. Through the CD, the threshold at which the music turned into a murky jumble was significantly lower. Unfortunately I don't have the equipment or living conditions to really push the Keces sound further.
So now for the first time, I'm realizing I am going to have to rip my whole CD collection if I really want quality sound - that's going to be fun 
Newbie that I am, I don't have another DAC to compare the DA-151 to. But as others have mentioned, it's very well put together, a solid and attractive piece that seems to be built to a high standard. I've paid a lot more for less. Also, it arrived well packed in 3 days to NY. Good stuff, Keces!
|
03-03-2008, 02:00 PM
|
 |
Headphoneus Supremus
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: South Loop
Posts: 2,304
|
|
Soon to be new owner here.
In the process of redoing entire rig.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nightfishing
Cust. service was great; ordered it on W and it was at my door on S.
|
So you got it before you ordered it?
__________________
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sometimes I wonder if this whole scene is just some sort of a sick
experiment on the power of suggestion put on by a team of sadistic
psychologists.
-Dept_of_Alchemy
--------------------------
Feedback
-----------
|
03-03-2008, 04:37 PM
|
|
500+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Posts: 584
|
|
Way cool I'm really happy that you guys like it If you hear something you don't like after the run-in/burn-in period, please let me know and I'll see about how to improve our product. 
thanks everyone
|
03-03-2008, 05:53 PM
|
 |
Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sweden
Posts: 65
|
|
Here's another very happy customer :-) Just need a better amp but the DAC sure made it more fun to listen.
__________________
If my rig still makes me smile, it's the right one for me.
Home rig: iTunes → KECES DA-151 DAC → Pro-Ject Head Box SE II → D5000 or DT-880 Pro.
Work rig: iTunes → Creative Xmod → Audio-Technica HA20 Amp → D2000.
Interconnects: IXOS Overture XHA516 PC-OFC Gamma Geometry™ Cables
Other sources: 2x iPod Touch 8GB
Other stuff: Denon AH-D1000, Sennheiser PX-200, Sennheiser PX-100
|
03-03-2008, 06:55 PM
|
|
Junior Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 8
|
|
Hey Maniac, can you answer this for me..
How long is the burn in period and what differences in performance will I see?
I'm very happy with my 151. Great bass and a warm musical sound so far..
|
03-03-2008, 07:44 PM
|
|
Junior Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NYC
Posts: 13
|
|
New to head-fi here. Ordered my Keces 151 and excited to hear it. I'm going to run my speaker system from it. LM3886 gainclone amp running a pair of Natalie P MTM DIY speakers. I really think the Keces will let the Natalie P's shine. Has anyone tried a similar setup?
Sid
|
03-03-2008, 11:24 PM
|
|
500+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Posts: 584
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rockabillybass
Hey Maniac, can you answer this for me..
How long is the burn in period and what differences in performance will I see?
I'm very happy with my 151. Great bass and a warm musical sound so far..
|
Well, IMHO it should be about 200 hours until everything settles down to a point of relatively few changes. Just use it as you would normally and it will eventually run its course.
|
03-07-2008, 04:09 PM
|
|
Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 82
|
|
Maniac, is the DA-151 a "usb-direct-I2S" DAC?
|
03-07-2008, 05:52 PM
|
|
500+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Posts: 584
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by nyc_paramedic
Maniac, is the DA-151 a "usb-direct-I2S" DAC?
|
Hello, it is using PCM2702's internal DAC, the receiver itself is also the DAC, and thus there's no need to send the digital signal outside of the chip.
Thanks.
|
03-07-2008, 06:21 PM
|
 |
1000+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: New Jersey, USA
Posts: 1,254
|
|
postponed the pico purchase due to some financial situation, and placed an order for da-151.
the waiting game sucks but i am extremely excited.
i was quite happy with a cheap usb dac(diyeden svdac04) before, and i cant wait to try da-151. guessing from what i've read on this thread, i think i made a good decision.
__________________
Altec Lansing im716, Koss KSC75, Cowon D2, Sansa Clip 2GB, Headstage Lyrix Total Pro USB DAC/AMP
Head-Fi Feedback
|
03-07-2008, 09:51 PM
|
|
Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 55
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by tjumper78
postponed the pico purchase due to some financial situation, and placed an order for da-151.
the waiting game sucks but i am extremely excited.
i was quite happy with a cheap usb dac(diyeden svdac04) before, and i cant wait to try da-151. guessing from what i've read on this thread, i think i made a good decision.
|
Congrats on the purchase. You will not be disappointed. I ordered mine 2 weeks ago and have been enjoying it immensely. Shipping didn't take long either I was surprised how fast international mail can be delivered.
__________________
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
|
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 11:55 AM.
|
