I have yet to see any sort of in depth review of the new 2007 Micro DAC. Any details or opinions on sound signature would be great. Ex. Does it sound warm, bright, spacious, condensed? Also does it sound similar to any other popular products?
We do currently have several brand-new HeadRoom Micro DACs in the hands of various outside reviewers so i would expect some writing on those devices to appear soon...
Imho, our new Micro DAC series maintains the typical HeadRoom sonic signature which is a fairly warm, smooth tonality with excellent musical detail resolution/clarity and a lovely soundstage 'openness' across the entire frequency range... The upsampling Ultra Micro DAC never fails to knock me out .... but, heck, that's just me!
Ok I already ordered one I was just curious to see how it compared to other DAC's in general I like the HeadRoom sound signature a lot. Being a music minor in college and stuff makes me like the more musical less analytical sound of things (probably why i have SE530s instead of Triple.fis)
The upsampling Ultra Micro DAC never fails to knock me out .... but, heck, that's just me!
Not JUST you, Jorge. I bought one toward the end of November 2007, with the Desktop PS. It locks on ALL of the digital audio sources/samples that I use (even the oddball ones), and the analog audio produced from them has never sounded nearly as good as from the Ultra Micro DAC. The liquidity, openness and depth of the audio it produces never fail to put an irrepressible grin on my face. I agree with you, Jorge, it's one knock out of a DAC!!!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU6fuFrdCJY Offline Rig: Pioneer DV563A, DV578A (VD David 1.0 PC) -> Sonicwave Glass Toslink -> Headroom 2007 Ultra Micro DAC (Desktop PSU, VD Nite II PC) -> VD Master 2.0 IC -> Mapletree Ear+ Purist HD (VD Nite Platinum PC), -> ALO Modded Grado SR225, Senn HD650 (Equinox Cable), Yuin PK1 Computer Rig: Terratec EWX 2496 (IeGO 70530 PC) -> Glass Toslink-> Same downstream as Offline Rig Work Rig: Creative MP3+ USB Sound Card -> Cardas HPI Mini-to-Mini -> Fiio Amp (Eneloop AAA) -> Yuin PK1, Shure SE530 Bedside Rig: 5.5G Redwine iMod -> ALO VCap Dock (VHAudio OIMP) -> VD Nite 2.0 IC -> KICAS Caliente, TTVJ Portable Millett Hybrid Amp -> HD650(Equinox), HD600(Cardas)
Not a very good reviewer, but here goes my take. This is not to be considered an all out review, but rather my impressions.
I have listened to the following DAC sources (all from computer using foobar bit perfect FLAC or ALAC files) and using the various cans listed below, as well as my Swan M200 desk speakers:
I have grouped them for several reasons. I found the first group 1-4 to be all very similar, although I got some mild improvement with the spitfire with opamp rolling. These were all pleasant sounding, and I could be happy with any (if I did not read this forum that is
The Desktop did have improved, more clear sound than the first 4, and I was very happy with this unit for about a year. My son is head over heals for this as his pre-amp currently.
I got the Lavry after reading a ton here, and it is a great unit also. Even with the Raptor and tube rolling, I still found it a bit too dry for my taste. Have not hear the Benchmark, and if it even more analytical than the Lavry, then I know I wont want one. The Lavry is now doing GREAT with my home speaker based system. The XLR outs, which required the special interconnects before, work great with my new amp, and I have computer and CD/DVD source running thru the Lavry via the real balanced connection.
I suppose I can sometimes be at fault of running with the FOTM crowd. I did order an UltraMicroAMP early on, and have fallen head over heels for it in my office computer based headphone system. It provided that little bit of extra warmth my system needed, without having to go to really mushy tubes in the Raptor.
Sound is sweet and clear, and just right for my listening preferences. As you will not here, I am only providing feedback on what I want to hear, and trying to translate that into some terms you can use for your decision.
One other positive note, this think is small, quiet, and has all the connectivity one could want. It is really doing well in my new Mac based system running off the USB, no drivers, no headaches. I put a Y mini stereo connector to the line out plug and run both my Raptor with a Zu Pivot cable, and some generic cable to the powered desk speakers.
Excitedly, my favorite DAC today. (Hell I read HeadFi, you know that wont last)
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[Office Unit ] iMac > USB > Ultra MicroDAC > Raptor > AT W5000 / Senn HD650 / Mardis v3.0 > Tekton 4.5
[Home Unit] Computer > XFi > Lavry Black DA10 / Denon 3910CI > Cambridge Audio 840a > Monitor Audio RS-6 / Senn HD580
[Travel] iPod+Crydoc > Hornet/Tomahawk > UE-10pro/Klipsch Image
[Laptop] MacBookPro > Apogee Duet > UE-10pro/HD580/Klipsch Image
[Gym] 2G Shuffle > ER6i
[Wife] MacBookPro > Airport Express/Apple TV > various home stereo units at home and the beach (you don't wanna know about the headphones)
[College Daughter] Cant get her out of iBuds and Bose first gen noise cancellation headphones
[College Son] iPod/Laptop+TotalBitHead > A700
[High School Son] Laptop > HR Desktop DAC/AMP > A700 / Yamaha Receiver > DIY Fostex Abby (he runs a Korg R3 keyboard through the reciever as well)
Thanks Bones13 for the good review,I using macbookpro too any idea if it use spdif from macbookpro to micro dac is it possible?and which 1 is the best sounding using USB or with spdif?
Thanks Bones13 for the good review,I using macbookpro too any idea if it use spdif from macbookpro to micro dac is it possible?and which 1 is the best sounding using USB or with spdif?
Yes, you can, and should use the spdif output in preference over the USB output if and when possible.
Micro DAC Reviews?
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