10-17-2008, 10:50 AM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 8
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This new Balanced Max Dac sounds very promising.
Is this new Dac a completely new redesign of the Balanced Max Dac that you currently supply in your Balanced Max amps.?
Will this new Balanced Max Dac compete above the Mid Level Dacs in terms of pure sound quality, such as Benchmark, Lavry, etc.
Thanks,
Kev.
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10-17-2008, 01:41 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
Moderator
Resistorous Conflagorous
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Seacoast, NH
Posts: 7,312
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I think I can help with this a bit, given my experience with the soon-to-be "old" max dac. Just to give you bit of background, I own the world's only stand-alone Headroom Balanced Max DAC. I've had it in my system for over a year now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Soundfan
Is this new Dac a completely new redesign of the Balanced Max Dac that you currently supply in your Balanced Max amps.?
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It's a complete redesign from what I understand based on different components.
Quote:
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Will this new Balanced Max Dac compete above the Mid Level Dacs in terms of pure sound quality, such as Benchmark, Lavry, etc.
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I've sent my DAC around to quite a few Head-Fi meets and let some long time members demo it in their own systems for extended periods of time. The feedback has been pretty universal that the "old" Max DAC already performed at or above the DAC's you mentioned. Some even found it to compare well to DAC's in the $2k+ range. I certainly feel it's no slouch and preferred it to the Wadia 830 that I had (which had digital inputs so I could use it as a DAC). Now, having said all that, if we believe the statements coming out of Headroom about the performance of the new Max DAC (and I have no reason to doubt them) then I think we're all in for a treat. Joe, HR's engineer, is a pretty no-nonsense type of guy and hearing his reports have got me setting aside any loose change I can put my grubby little hands on. 
Is it April yet?
__________________
SB3/Arcam CD73 -> Hertsens Signature DAC -> Project Menace -> Woody HF-1 or HF-2
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10-17-2008, 02:35 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: China
Posts: 1,678
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Quote:
Originally Posted by n_maher
Is it April yet?
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Not yet! I haven't started to save the +- $200/month necessary to buy this grail.
Headroom understand that music has to be sweet. That's why I'm waiting for this over, say, the DAC1 USB.
Can barely wait. (But glad that I have time to save.)
__________________
Portable: iPhone 3GS > UE Triple-Fi 10 Pro (Westone cable)
Movies: Pioneer DVR-550H > Denko ETPC interconnect > Millet Hybrid (diamond buffers) > Darth Beyer V3 (Wenge Blackmax)
Home: Thinkpad T60 (Maxtor external HDD, Foobar) > USB Monica > Headphile Blackmax interconnect > Earmax Pro (1949 Valvo ECC81 coin base + matched 1965 Philips E188CC) > Beyer DT880 (600 ohm)
(Other favourite gear: Headroom MicroDAC, Meier Headsix, iPod Video 30GB, iRiver iFP-799, Sony D77 eggos)
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10-17-2008, 05:53 PM
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Garmentus Vulgaris & Headphoneus Supremus Premier Sponsor HeadRoom
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Bozeman, Montana
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JorgeC
Tyll is, er, uncharacteristically understated -- Our HeadRoom audio engineer in charge of the design said the new DAC measurement specs were "so much better than anything we've seen before, its actually scary"  |
Yeah, in 16/44.1 mode there's basically no difference between the Audio Precision tester measuring itself or putting the DAC in the loop. In other words, the DAC performs so well the AP can't see it.
It can see some things at higher data rates ... like cross talk is something like 130dB down. Friggen ridiculously good measurements. The chip maker has done an unbelievable job, but Joe has too or you couldn't get measurements that low.
I'm very excited about this product.
(So, is that enthusiastic enough for you Jorge?)
__________________
Cheers!
Tyll (Like on the floor, only spelled different.)
I just blogged all over my keyboard.
Last edited by Tyll Hertsens; 10-17-2008 at 05:56 PM.
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10-17-2008, 06:03 PM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 8
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Tyll,
Does this new chip happent to be a new Dac Chip, if so, I have a very good idea which it is. 
Kev.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyll Hertsens
Yeah, in 16/44.1 mode there's basically no difference between the Audio Precision tester measuring itself or putting the DAC in the loop. In other words, the DAC performs so well the AP can't see it.
It can see some things at higher data rates ... like cross talk is something like 130dB down. Friggen ridiculously good measurements. The chip maker has done an unbelievable job, but Joe has too or you couldn't get measurements that low.
I'm very excited about this product.
(So, is that enthusiastic enough for you Jorge?)
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10-17-2008, 06:08 PM
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Garmentus Vulgaris & Headphoneus Supremus Premier Sponsor HeadRoom
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Bozeman, Montana
Posts: 2,855
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Soundfan
Does this new chip happent to be a new Dac Chip, if so, I have a very good idea which it is. |
Go ahead and guess, I'll tell you if you're right. It's not going to be a secret, we don't put spooge on our chips to prevent you from knowing, in fact, we usually put that stuff right in the product copy.
__________________
Cheers!
Tyll (Like on the floor, only spelled different.)
I just blogged all over my keyboard.
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10-17-2008, 06:15 PM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 8
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ESS ES9008 Sabre8 Dac Chip.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyll Hertsens
Go ahead and guess, I'll tell you if you're right. It's not going to be a secret, we don't put spooge on our chips to prevent you from knowing, in fact, we usually put that stuff right in the product copy.
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10-17-2008, 06:16 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Castle Rock, CO
Posts: 3,670
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyll Hertsens
we don't put spooge on our chips to prevent you from knowing
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Even this one? I don't know, you seem pretty excited...
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10-17-2008, 06:26 PM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Arizona
Posts: 1,147
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O good guess on the es9008, that is a very impressive chip, amazing actually. I wanna go with his guess also =D
Dave
__________________
Computer: CD WAV or ALAC --> Itunes w/Multiplugin (Foobar+WASAPI) --> Monster THX 1000 Series Optical --> Headroom Ultra Micro DAC --> SA Master Resolution Cardas Mini-RCA --> SA Boutique Millett Max --> SA Cardas K701s or Cardas HD600s
Mobile: Iphone -->SE530
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10-17-2008, 06:37 PM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 8
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The Suspence..........
Tyll, have you considered putting up a Pre-order page on your website with a Deposit for the new Standalone Max Dac.?
Kev.
Last edited by Soundfan; 10-17-2008 at 06:40 PM.
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10-17-2008, 08:30 PM
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Garmentus Vulgaris & Headphoneus Supremus Premier Sponsor HeadRoom
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Bozeman, Montana
Posts: 2,855
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Soundfan
ESS ES9008 Sabre8 Dac Chip.
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Ding ding ding ding ding!
Youz guyz iz smart!
Friggen GREAT chip!
__________________
Cheers!
Tyll (Like on the floor, only spelled different.)
I just blogged all over my keyboard.
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10-17-2008, 08:45 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Castle Rock, CO
Posts: 3,670
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Man, I'm just itching to hear this thing. That's the best chip ever.
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10-17-2008, 08:49 PM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 8
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You've just made my day Tyll.
I was hoping and praying it would be the ESS ES9008.
This is really going to be special, as you already know of course. This is definately going to be Headrooms bigest seller of all time.
I can't wait until April, counting down the days.
Kev.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyll Hertsens
Ding ding ding ding ding!
Youz guyz iz smart!
Friggen GREAT chip!
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10-17-2008, 09:01 PM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Arizona
Posts: 1,147
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That is an amazing chip,
I am so excited for this to come out. Now time to select interconnects.
Dave
__________________
Computer: CD WAV or ALAC --> Itunes w/Multiplugin (Foobar+WASAPI) --> Monster THX 1000 Series Optical --> Headroom Ultra Micro DAC --> SA Master Resolution Cardas Mini-RCA --> SA Boutique Millett Max --> SA Cardas K701s or Cardas HD600s
Mobile: Iphone -->SE530
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10-17-2008, 09:49 PM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 8
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Thanks for all the info below Nate, really appreciate it.
Now we know the new Standalone Balanced Max Dac is going to have the super new revolutionary ESS ES9008 Sabre8 Dac Chip, along with Headrooms New Dac design, this is indeed going to be one hell of a Dac.
Both I, and others have been waiting a long time for such a dac as this, as there isn't anything that sits just below the likes of the EMM Labs, and other such dacks at that level, and price wise, this looks like it will be it, after reading all the praise of the new ESS ES9008 Sabre8 Dac Chip.
This is really big news for Headroom, I've found all their staff to be absolutely great, I really can't wait.
Kev.
Quote:
Originally Posted by n_maher
I think I can help with this a bit, given my experience with the soon-to-be "old" max dac. Just to give you bit of background, I own the world's only stand-alone Headroom Balanced Max DAC. I've had it in my system for over a year now.
It's a complete redesign from what I understand based on different components.
I've sent my DAC around to quite a few Head-Fi meets and let some long time members demo it in their own systems for extended periods of time. The feedback has been pretty universal that the "old" Max DAC already performed at or above the DAC's you mentioned. Some even found it to compare well to DAC's in the $2k+ range. I certainly feel it's no slouch and preferred it to the Wadia 830 that I had (which had digital inputs so I could use it as a DAC). Now, having said all that, if we believe the statements coming out of Headroom about the performance of the new Max DAC (and I have no reason to doubt them) then I think we're all in for a treat. Joe, HR's engineer, is a pretty no-nonsense type of guy and hearing his reports have got me setting aside any loose change I can put my grubby little hands on.
Is it April yet? |
Last edited by Soundfan; 10-17-2008 at 09:53 PM.
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