REVIEW: Keces DA-151 DAC 800+ hours burn-in

[KPT]

I ordered my 151 last week and it was delivered to Australia within two working days. Now, that is some kind of service.
And it sounds great!

I am sort of wondering about Vista audio device setup (please dont bash me about Vista)...

The existing audio devices can be disabled easily in the OS leaving only the 151 (which Vista recognised and installed in about 5 seconds) active. Is simply disabling the other audio devices enough, or would doing it in the BIOS offer some advantage? And is it okay to leave one part of another audio device enabled - specifically the HD audio input provided by the onboard chip?

[Maniac]

Originally Posted by KPT

I ordered my 151 last week and it was delivered to Australia within two working days. Now, that is some kind of service.
And it sounds great!

I am sort of wondering about Vista audio device setup (please dont bash me about Vista)...

The existing audio devices can be disabled easily in the OS leaving only the 151 (which Vista recognised and installed in about 5 seconds) active. Is simply disabling the other audio devices enough, or would doing it in the BIOS offer some advantage? And is it okay to leave one part of another audio device enabled - specifically the HD audio input provided by the onboard chip?

Disabling it is usually enough.

For people who have a sort of dual setup, where sound card is used for games and USB DAC is used for music. You can default it to play via sound card while use Foobar's setup to force music to be sent to USB DAC (or DA-151) for output.


Thanks

[G.Kennedy]

Originally Posted by Maniac

........ Not to mention that the volume control via computer is quite damaging to sound quality (which is why I told almost every DA-151 buyer to set volume to 100%)..........

Hmmm ... I am wondering if I am one of those peeps that should NOT use 100% volume.

I am having a good bit of distortion with everything set to max.

Here is my signal path.

Mac G3 laptop (400mhz Pismo), Keces 151, Vestax mixer, 300b tube monoblocks, Klipsch La Scalas. Using the Vestax as volume control.

It does not matter what kind of file I stream .... with the laptop volume set to max.... I get distortion. I also find I am dialing down the Vestax mixer way more than I have in the past. Seems like the signal out of the Laptop/151 is very hot.

If I set the volume to 1/2 .... and dial up the Vestax .... the sound is way cleaner.

Any thoughts on this ....

[G.Kennedy]

OK .... here is an update on my settings.

I can run the G3 laptop main volume at 100% .... but I have to run the iTunes volume at 50%. This combo gives me perfect undistorted sound.

My system has plenty of amplification, so I am not lacking any volume at the speaker ... still have not tried my Can setup yet ... maybe today.

I have also tried my G4 iBook and the settings are the same.

Just seems like too much Gain coming out of the laptop.

[shomie911]

Originally Posted by G.Kennedy

OK .... here is an update on my settings.

I can run the G3 laptop main volume at 100% .... but I have to run the iTunes volume at 50%. This combo gives me perfect undistorted sound.

My system has plenty of amplification, so I am not lacking any volume at the speaker ... still have not tried my Can setup yet ... maybe today.

I have also tried my G4 iBook and the settings are the same.

Just seems like too much Gain coming out of the laptop.

I am not sure how it is on a Mac but the computer isn't supposed to control the volume, you want it set to send the information directly to the DAC without modifying it (by letting the computer digitally manage the volume.)

[VeipaCray]

Originally Posted by Screamager

I got the DA-131 on Friday and Saturday afternoon finally got a chance to try it out.

Did you start out with the LME chip or the Burr Browns? You posted earlier that you were waiting for the 131 with the LME upgrade. Just curious as to your comparison of the two DAC chips if you did an A/B.

[G.Kennedy]

Originally Posted by shomie911

I am not sure how it is on a Mac but the computer isn't supposed to control the volume, you want it set to send the information directly to the DAC without modifying it (by letting the computer digitally manage the volume.)

Yep ... I understand that .... but ....

I think I am discovering ... it is only on some music ... probably poor recordings.

All day yesterday I was running everything at 100% ... sounded great....controling the volume with the mixer. Late in the day I played Bonnie Prince Billy's - Master and Everyone ... which is mellow strumming music. Distortion ... even at low listening levels.

Once I lowered the itunes volume (not the laptop main out) .... I could crank the mixer volume to the moon.

Weird .... I'll keep playing. Today I will hook the laptop and 151 to my headphone rig ... and play the same track ...see how it works. This will eliminate the mixer .. which is the weakest component in my 2ch system

[shomie911]

Originally Posted by G.Kennedy

Yep ... I understand that .... but ....

I think I am discovering ... it is only on some music ... probably poor recordings.

All day yesterday I was running everything at 100% ... sounded great....controling the volume with the mixer. Late in the day I played Bonnie Prince Billy's - Master and Everyone ... which is mellow strumming music. Distortion ... even at low listening levels.

Once I lowered the itunes volume (not the laptop main out) .... I could crank the mixer volume to the moon.

Weird .... I'll keep playing. Today I will hook the laptop and 151 to my headphone rig ... and play the same track ...see how it works. This will eliminate the mixer .. which is the weakest component in my 2ch system

My linux laptop does the same thing when I set the PCM level above 75%.

It most likely isn't the recording, but a setting gone awry,

[Golden Monkey]

Originally Posted by courierdriver

Dual: Very nice pics of your setup. I wonder if you'd be so kind as to post some impressions, or do a review in a new thread, on your LD Mk-V. Just as I was taken with the build quality, and visual appearance of the KECES DA-151 USB DAC (not to mention, it's price is within my rather limited range of disposable income); the same can be said for the LD Mk-V amp. I have seen numerous threads posted on many LD, but so far nothing on the Mk. V. Some listening impressions of your amp would be much appreciated

I have the LD MKV and Senn 650's. I also have a 151 at my disposal, but have yet to try them together. Hearing the DAC with Denon D2000's and a XS 708b though...sounds pretty nice. If I get the chance to mate the 151 with the MKV though, I'll let you guys know.

By itself, the MKV is a great amp for the money...I'm falling in love with some of my music all over again, but I'm getting off topic...

[G.Kennedy]

Originally Posted by shomie911

My linux laptop does the same thing when I set the PCM level above 75%.

It most likely isn't the recording, but a setting gone awry,

Again ... after listening more today .. I think your right ... its the Mac for sure ... not the recordings.

Running the volume at 75% ... give me great sound and plenty of volume at the knob ....

Maybe it could be better if I could run at 100% ... but it seems to be a bad combo here ....

[Maniac]

Hummm, can you take a look at the file in a Wave editor and see if the actual audio is clipped or not? I have seen a few that have clipped recording but only show up clearly with certain settings.

[Screamager]

Originally Posted by VeipaCray

Did you start out with the LME chip or the Burr Browns? You posted earlier that you were waiting for the 131 with the LME upgrade. Just curious as to your comparison of the two DAC chips if you did an A/B.

I started off with the LME chips (Although I believe the BurrBrowns came in the box separetly too. No A/B check yet. Got a chance to use the DAC last night for a party, and even driving the secondary system outside on the terrace (old Kenwood mid-sized stereo) the sound was very good. from 22:00 to about 7:30 the system poured out great quality sound.

Hopefully this week I can do an A/B with the HagUSB->DA-131 vs Audiophile 24/96.

As for the BurrBrown vs LME, I will probably be lazier for that. Due to having to open up the DAC and stuff, I spend most of the day with installations and support for PCs and AV equipment, when I get home I just want to enjoy the music.

[ktm]

I am currently using a usb Monica. The only thing I don't like is even
with the built in gain stage, the output is lower than most CDP's.
I wonder if this would sound like the Monica?
Between the low output, and a low gain tube preamp, It
has me thinking about this DAC. Any do a side by side?

[Maniac]

Originally Posted by ktm

I am currently using a usb Monica. The only thing I don't like is even
with the built in gain stage, the output is lower than most CDP's.
I wonder if this would sound like the Monica?
Between the low output, and a low gain tube preamp, It
has me thinking about this DAC. Any do a side by side?

KECES DA-131 and DA-151 are all designed and built so that it will output 2V RMS signal, which is about the most common "standard" for analog output level from RCA connectors. I'm not sure what's the level of USB Monica is set to output, but I so far have not found the KECES' 2V RMS setting to be inadequate.

[oicdn]

According to here:

41Hz Audio Forum - USB Monica, volume control options

The Monica only outputs .5V...pretty weak as it's too weak for his speaker system, but a 2V works just fine. I'm curious though, as to why the output voltage is so low...