Review: ZERO 24 BIT/192KHz DAC/Headphone Amp/Pre-Amp

[x_lk]

Originally Posted by derez

Hey guys, just ordered myself a Zero from Wang Shuzeng on ebay the other day, and I just checked the shipping status on EMS, and it says "访问过程中出现错误." Using a translator, that supposedly means "Visits in the process to present the mistake."

So is this to mean there was a mistake in shipping, or is it just that the translation sucks?

It's an error occurred on the web site. Loosely translated, 'Error occurred while accessing the web page'. Lots of Chinese web sites have M$ IIS + ASP. They are just not as stable as Apache. Reloading the web page sometime fixes the problem.

[derez]

Originally Posted by x_lk

It's an error occurred on the web site. Loosely translated, 'Error occurred while accessing the web page'. Lots of Chinese web sites have M$ IIS + ASP. They are just not as stable as Apache. Reloading the web page sometime fixes the problem.

Alright, thanks guys. I'll just wait another day or two, could be that it's just too soon to get a status. The page I get with "Visits in the process to present the mistake.", is just a blank page with that sentence in the middle, so not much else info to get out of it.

[Ben Diss]

Originally Posted by JohnnyLightOn

How good is the Zero DAC's sound after the basic mods in Currawong's intro thread (Moon HDAM, volume pot, etc)? Is it as good as mid-priced, well-respected DACs like the Stello Signature and the Lavry DA10? Or is it just very good for around ~200?

I have a Zero with just an OPA624 upgrade. I've compared it to a DIYEden Great March II and to a Lavry DA10.

On a 100 scale, if an iPod rates a 5 and the Lavry a 95, then my Zero is about a 60 and the Great March II is about 85.

[sandchak]

Originally Posted by Ben Diss

I have a Zero with just an OPA624 upgrade. I've compared it to a DIYEden Great March II and to a Lavry DA10.

On a 100 scale, if an iPod rates a 5 and the Lavry a 95, then my Zero is about a 60 and the Great March II is about 85.

WOW ! that says a lot about the Zero, when you compare with a Lavry which costs nearly a grand ! and I am sure with the HDAM and Franken the Zero would jump around 15-20% in performance @ a third of the price of Lavry..

[electropop]

Originally Posted by les_garten

It does say not alps on that entry. I compared it to pix of mine and they are identical.

I have that exact one on my CMOY. Works like a dime on it's part.. Easy and big parts for soldering. Took some space in my chassis though..

Not very expensive. Found it at an electric component store in Finland..

[Pricklely Peete]

Actually I wouldn't be surprised if the FrankenZERO handily beats them all...of course I haven't tried a Lavry yet...but compared to my old MSB Gold link/P1000 power base the Frankie is easily as good as that was if not better in some respects.

That DAC/PSU was 2KUSD 8 years ago, of course I'm biased so take my comments FWIW.

Peete.

[les_garten]

Hello,
Promised I would post pic of knob when I got it. The problems I was trying to solve were:

1) Better tactile feel, as opposed to lightweight plastic
2) Have an Indicator that I could see and feel telling me where the Pot was pointed to.

This one is not a perfect fit, but i like it. You can see the recess in the faceplate a little. If it didn't have the cutout, it would be perfect, but then it would not have the cutout which i like.

If I do anything else, it will be illuminated LED!

Knob PIX

Here's the place I bought it from:

Ebay Vender

Enjoy!

[electropop]

Just out of curiosity, since I haven't got much reference, has anyone put the stock Zero against an Emu 0202/0404 as a pure DAC?

Thanks

-K

[Ben Diss]

Originally Posted by sandchak

WOW ! that says a lot about the Zero, when you compare with a Lavry which costs nearly a grand ! and I am sure with the HDAM and Franken the Zero would jump around 15-20% in performance @ a third of the price of Lavry..

Yes, it's quite good. When you factor in the cost, it's amazing. I'm going to mod mine just a bit ... well OK, all the way see where it goes. The thing is, once you get into this range, there's nothing "wrong" with it.

BTW, on another note, my comparison of the Great March running balanced along side the Lavry was truely amazing. It was only after careful listening and only on some tracks I was able to A-B it and get it right, and then not all of the time. It's just that good. I'm taking it to work for my office rig which I'll run into a LD VI.

[Currawong]

Originally Posted by JohnnyLightOn

How good is the Zero DAC's sound after the basic mods in Currawong's intro thread (Moon HDAM, volume pot, etc)? Is it as good as mid-priced, well-respected DACs like the Stello Signature and the Lavry DA10? Or is it just very good for around ~200?

I liked the sound of the upgraded Zero better than my Apogee Duet. The duet is not quite as detailed as my Lavry DA-10, and less musical. The upgraded Zero is less detailed as well, but more musical.

Originally Posted by sandchak

WOW ! that says a lot about the Zero, when you compare with a Lavry which costs nearly a grand ! and I am sure with the HDAM and Franken the Zero would jump around 15-20% in performance @ a third of the price of Lavry..

I think unfortunately my Lavry will end up sold before I can compare it to the FrankenZero, but it would be interesting to do so.

Originally Posted by les_garten

Guys who run this thread. I'm making a formal request here that you remove reference to his product offering on this page:

Introduction to the Zero DAC and Headphone amplifier. - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

"We" should not be sending more unsuspecting customers to his page.

Even though I didn't have any issues with him, I wouldn't recommend him at all, and every time I see a reference to him on the intro page, I cringe now. We shouldn't facilitate his business here with members and have them be hurt.

That's why I posted "As of late October 2008, a few people have reported that their units from Lawrence arrived defective". I created the FAQ to answer people's questions. If people want the upgraded volume pot, for example, they have to either solder it themselves or get it installed by Lawrence, so if i remove any link to him, then people will just ask in this thread. It comes to the same thing. Maybe I should persuade Audio-gd (another Chinese HP amp and DAC maker) to design a competitor to the Zero? Then we all could have anything we wanted in the design and no rubbish about dodgy volume pots or burning headphones.

[les_garten]

Originally Posted by Currawong

That's why I posted "As of late October 2008, a few people have reported that their units from Lawrence arrived defective". I created the FAQ to answer people's questions. If people want the upgraded volume pot, for example, they have to either solder it themselves or get it installed by Lawrence, so if i remove any link to him, then people will just ask in this thread. It comes to the same thing. Maybe I should persuade Audio-gd (another Chinese HP amp and DAC maker) to design a competitor to the Zero? Then we all could have anything we wanted in the design and no rubbish about dodgy volume pots or burning headphones.

Hi,
We post links to where you can get an HDAM. I posted a link to the Alps pot specifically for this reason. Why would we do anything to help this guy sell more Junk? It's your FAQ, you can do anything you feel comfortable living with.

If it were me, I would link to the "Most popular" options people add-on to their Zero's and the resources to get them. Even if her were the only source in the Universe for that Pot, I don't think we should endorse him. Yes, you made a red text disclaimer, but your link still funnels commerce to him and exposure to him.
How about a Poll?

It just seems we should reward good vendors and not reward bad ones.

[djchaz]

Originally Posted by Currawong

I liked the sound of the upgraded Zero better than my Apogee Duet. The duet is not quite as detailed as my Lavry DA-10, and less musical. The upgraded Zero is less detailed as well, but more musical.

When you say upgraded which components are you referring to? I'm just curious because I'm thinking about buying a Zero soon but am not sure what upgraded version to buy. I'm seriously eyeing LC's sale on ebay, though.

Thanks,
-djchaz

[BigTony]

IDEA : I have three HDAM units which I use with my Zero in the DAC, Earth, Moon and Sun. I have been switching them about, but as my Zero is hooked into my main rig, I won't leave the top off, so its a drag.

Here's my idea : A three way selector. All the HDAM units are connected, but you switch to the one you want.
Before I go and start to see if I can a) fit all three inside b) find a suitable mechanical device c) solder-up some frankenswitch - is this a stupid idea? or can it be implemented without losing any thing SQ wise? I've already done some art work for a 3-way selector...
I love days off work !

[Lss]

Originally Posted by BigTony

IDEA : I have three HDAM units which I use with my Zero in the DAC, Earth, Moon and Sun. I have been switching them about, but as my Zero is hooked into my main rig, I won't leave the top off, so its a drag.

Here's my idea : A three way selector. All the HDAM units are connected, but you switch to the one you want.
Before I go and start to see if I can a) fit all three inside b) find a suitable mechanical device c) solder-up some frankenswitch - is this a stupid idea? or can it be implemented without losing any thing SQ wise? I've already done some art work for a 3-way selector...
I love days off work !

i had a similar idea but am unable to implement due to lack of technical skill.

however i was thinking that since you had 2 buttons to select optical or coaxial input, could it be possible to do something so that they share 1 button and toggle instead? with the other button, 2 opamp different op amp could be wired somehow and similarly toggled.

would it even be possible from a technical viewpoint?

[djchaz]

If I wanted to use the Zero as a DAC and pair it with something like the Little Dot MKV, what would you guys recommend I upgrade in the Zero DAC?

Thanks,
-djchaz