Very interesting. I think my headphones are not very sensitive compared to most but I will take heed with your advice. It is going to be tough though. Old habits die hard...

I received the DC-1 yesterday and I am very impressed with it overall. The amp itself drives my K712's at higher volumes than my previous amp. The music sounds more lively and detailed than from before.   I do have a question though: how accurate is the volume on the DC-1 in determining how...

  Thanks, SBX Pro Studio seems to work now after I have followed your advice.

I recently purchased a Stealth DC-1 DAC/Amp combo and a toslink cable to connect it to my Soundblaster Z. I intend to use this connection to carry the surround sound from the SBZ to the DAC. I selected SPDIF-Out as the default device in Control Panel --> Hardware & Sound.   I have run into an...

Gotcha, I have ordered an USB cable and it should arrive tomorrow.   I received the DC-1 with Toslink Cable, and am trying to configure it with my soundcard. Once I figure out how to get everything working, I cannot wait to test it out.

Quote:   I will definitely be comparing the Toslink input vs USB input to see if there are any discern able differences. At first I wanted the optical input since I only have one free USB port available, but I would definitely use it if I like the SQ from it vs the optical input.   My...

  I did find out that the sound card has a toslink output, so I ordered a toslink cable earlier this morning.   Does the DC-1 include an USB cable? A few reviews I have read online suggest that it is included. If so, I can compare both connections to see if there are any differences in SQ.  ...

  Yes, there a few details I forgot to mention. Once I receive the DC-1, I will want to connect it through a digital connection with the SoundBlaster Z sound card. I do quite a bit of gaming along with listening to music; connecting the DC-1 to the sound card gives me the surround sound when...

I have decided to try out this DAC/AMP combo. Now I need to know which specific cable/adapter I will need to connect the DC-1 to my computer/sound card. I have a 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm stereo cable that was used to connect my amp to computer. An RCA cable will not work for the sound card. Thanks.

I have the JDS version and have no skill in modifying electronics, so I have no idea on how to revert the high to 3.5x. So I am going to move on to a different amp.

  Just an update from my previous post: I am open to separate DACs & Amps as I should be able to make space in the surge protector. I do want a more powerful amp than the O2 to drive my K712's at higher volumes without any hiccups. However, my max budget for both or one unit would be around...

$500 is my absolute limit for a DAC, so the dangerous source is not an option. Plus, it would be way too wide for my desktop.   I think I am straying this thread off-topic. Sorry guys, and thanks for the advice.

I have posted on the k712 thread in the headphones section, but no one with that combo has replied yet. This DAC with pre-amp/headphone amps features interests me since it will only use one power plug socket. I only have one socket available on my surge protector so that be very convenient for...

      Sorry guys, I did mean the headphone amp itself for driving headphones. I was wondering if it had enough power to drive a pair of more fickle headphones such as my K712s.

I have a question: How powerful is the pre-amplifier in the Stealth DC-1? How does it compare to other popular budget amps such as the Magni, Vali, O2, etc...?

  I will take a look at that DAC. Thanks for the suggestion. The thing is I do game quite a bit (non-competitive PVPs though) so I already have an internal soundcard in my PC. I would like a DAC with an optical/SPDIF input to allow me to use both the DAC and soundcard.   You are correct...

Anyone have any recommendations for a DAC with the K712's? I am saving my $$$ for something very good in the near future, perhaps with a budget limit of $500. It would have to be used with optical/SPDIF-input only; no USB. Here are two DACs that have interested me:   Schiit Uber Bifrost: $419...

  So are you suggesting that I had overreacted with the rattling in the first place? It does not seem right to me, and I thought that further rattling would instead gradually damage the drivers the longer they were used.   I was able to get a reply from Mr. Hernandez and did ship the...

I have recently noticed an issue with my AKG k712s in regards to rattling on the left driver while listening to low bass. So after inspecting the driver for loose hair (none found), I emailed AKG customer service and received a response from one of the reps. He stated he forwarded my email to...

Any advice on how to contact Hector Hernandez from the AKG service department without sending numerous emails and messages? I attempted to contact him via email & phone on Friday with no luck so far.

  Yep, that described my experience with the rattling as well. However, I really do enjoy the SQ from these headphones, and they are MUCH more comfortable than any other headphone I have tried for my huge head. Any other headphone would clamp my head, smash my ears/ rub against them, and touch...

How fast is AKG customer service typically in the US? I did inspect my headphones for the left speaker rattling issues during bass, and there were no noticeable hairs in the driver with a magnifying light.   I am already not in a good mood since my headphone stand had arrive earlier on Wednesday.

How common is rattling in the left driver for these headphones? So far I experienced such rattling only in one particular instance; every time I start a certain game that has a bassy/impactful sound before entering the main menu. Otherwise I have never noticed this before.   I hope it is not...

I am going to be testing my setup with the O2 amp at the lower gain setting. I am not sure if it will be lough enough since my foobar2000 settings lower the loudness by -13 Db due to crackling sounds (that is properly from the CD source themselves due to inadequate mastering).   But I do not...

  Hmm, how loud were the headphones at default gain? I have the k712s which people claim to have nearly identical drivers, and at 2x the sound is quieter/fainter with distorted bass in my experience.