Dared MP-5 Headphone & Integrated Amp with USB DAC - Page 7

After another full day of running the Sovtek tubes, the amp is no longer on the bass-heavy side, it's now very close to, perhaps slightly under, the microdac -> Aria combo in lower bass volume with the K701. While I miss some of that initial bass impact, it is very clean, dynamic, and controlled bass with the K701s, moreso than on the Aria. The midrange is fuller and richer than the Aria which is what has me currently quite engaged. Possibly the result of this, the soundstage with the K701s is far more open sounding with the MP-5, something I've found a bit lacking since I first bought them. This is much more how I expected AKGs to sound.

On the flip side, the bass seems slightly under the MP-5 in volume but likewise better controlled on the Aria with the HD650s... hmm. I noted from Elephas' picture of the internals that the MP-5 has 150ohm output impedance on the headphone jack and measured to confirm the same is true on the American version. I think this may be a large part of the inverse differences I am seeing between the two amps and cans.

The K701s are still the only cans I have at hand that don't exibit a significant noise floor with the MP-5.

Hopefully the tubes don't lose anything critical with further burn-in, I like them pretty well where they are.

It will be interesting to hear how people fare with other tubes. For now, I'm quite happy with the Sovteks unless I hear of something more intriguing. I'm sure I could significantly reduce the value of my investment swapping tubes.

Aside from the fullness of the sound compared to the aria, I can't especially pinpoint with clarity any more what makes this amp a tube/hybrid amp. The line with solid state is blurred, but due to the performance with the K701s and speakers, I don't much care. I have been glued to my desk all day long except for meals, listening to rock, alternative, jazz, classical, big band, soundtracks, electronica...

The amp is certainly not perfect, and I wouldn't expect it to be. I wouldn't recommend it to someone outright unless they thought they had a good use for it (particularly the speaker/headphone amp combo aspect), and were willing to work with its weaknesses. But I personally have gotten past just the visuals and am falling for its sonics... in my setup.

and I am very curious to hear what can be done with mods...

slippery slope...

IMHO the dared MP-5 did not pair well with the HD600 since the HD600 already heavy on bass. The dared seems to add more bass and make it even darker, does that make sense?.

I just order some Groove Tubes 12ax7. As I recalled, I really enjoy those tubes with the MG head Mark II I used to owned.

Did you hear any noise with the 600s?

Let us know how the groove tubes work out.

JYes I start to hear teh buzz/hum when I turn the knob to about the 12 o'clock position for both the 325i and the HD600. I certainly will let you know once the groove tubes get here

Hmm, but not at zero eh. I guess you got lucky and got a quiet one. The buzz you get when you turn the volume up is different from the one I hear at 0. The one you get at high volume is more of a typical EMI type problem that's coming down the signal path, and found on other amps as well - it also carries along the EMI noises that come from my powermac, such as every time there is activity on the NIC or Display (grr, no, apple does NOT really make high quality machines). It's also above comfortable listening levels so not really much of an issue.

The other noise that I am hearing is seperate, and constant, anywhere on the dial, including at zero, as Elephas described.

Well it's good to know that it's not a universal problem with the design (kind of), which means it should be fixable for those of us less fortunate.

I just plugged in my SA5000s, and I don't know if it's just my imagination but it seemed quieter tonight.

Enjoy, you lucky bastard.

I expected buzz from Elephas' reviews, so wasn't surprised when I heard it with the SA5k, Qualia 010 and ATH-W10VTG. I'll try them with the Grado HP1000 later. I think, for the most part, buzz is a fact of life with the headphone amp.

I thought an impedence adapter (just the Ety ER4P/S one, so not a huge jump) might help, but it does not remove the buzz with any of the aformentioned.

I'll give it time to understand what I'm hearing, but on brief listen, out of the headphone jack with these cans, I did not find the colouration/hardness I complained about with the K 1000.

Best,

-Jason

Oh, might have spoken too soon. I made my prior statements when I was using the Dared with another source.

I hooked it up to my laptop computer via USB and am hearing the hardness again with the HP2. Kind of odd given I don't associate the HP2 with having a hard sound. I really don't like this sound. I'm close to giving up on the DAC in this thing.

Devwild, you've had luck changing the volume level? I've tried it with the computer at about 60%, 80% and 100% volume, and adjusting the Dared appropriately, but it doesn't seem to help much so far.

What software are you using? I'm just using iTunes with the standard USB Speakers driver that pops up in WinXP. I'm sure there's some kmixer goodness going on. Anyone have any other ideas before I just

Dang. I had to take the HP2 off right now. This hardness/strain is really physically uncomfortable.

Best,

-Jason

I wouldn't stand for any buzz myself... but everyone has their own concessions they make I suppose.

I noticed it primarilly with the stock tubes. Originally, there was a distinct increase in the brightness when the USB DAC volume (system volume control on the computer, OSX in this case) was set to full. The brightness would decrease as I turned down the dac volume and consequently increased the amp volume. I don't really notice that effect anymore when I was messing around with it last night. Maybe I was imagining it, maybe it's the tubes, or maybe it's burn-in, I'm not sure.

I always leave iTunes' volume at full.

Control wise, the very bottom of the pot is a little weak, but that's typical. It's a problem however with a line level input and the K701s though because I can't get out of the weak area. That's why I still use the internal DAC. Wish I had a Lavry like Elephas.

I really wish I understood what you mean by hardness. (or maybe I don't, because then I would start picking at it )

Like my new laptop wallpaper?



Click the thumbnail for 1600x1200 version.

Just a few more thoughts on the Dared. I spent a few hours today listening with both the K 1000 and some SA5K/W10VTG. I also tossed in my lan modded Overture.

lan came by today and gave the Dared a brief listen, both with its internal USB DAC and with the modded Overture. We both agree that one of the interesting characteristics of the Dared is its soundstaging. I think it's an interesting one - it is 3D and not flat like many other amps. But at the same time, I'm critical as it doesn't sound as natural a 3D soundstaging that I'm used to. This might be just because I'm used to other approaches, but it just seems unbalanced to me. But it certainly has something to offer here.

It also does well with treble. lan thought that out of the cans I have (K 1000, SA5k, W10 VTG) the SA5k was the one to work with. But I don't know. It's too fatiguing for me, unless I use the Grace m902 as source. The modded Overture + Dared + K 1000 really tires my ears.


Hmm, what software are you using? I find my Overture (the predecessor to your MicroDAC) responds fine to computer based volume control. I now understand though the criticisms with the pot. The Overture (and MicroDAC, I imagine) is very high gain. Heh, lan wants his volume at between the 2nd and 3rd click on the stepped attenuator with the Overture. I'm happy with it at 4 or 5. In other words, with the Overture, damn it's loud!!

I'm glad we're both having different experiences with the Dared. I wish I could hear the K 701 setup you're hearing it with. So far I'm not 100% decided yet, but I'm close to concluding it is, in its stock configuration, unlistenable with the K 1000 and its USB DAC. This is surprising to me, given I can listen to the K 1000 out of just about anything. But, there is yet more burn-in and tuberolling to try.

Best,

-Jason

Jason,

Have you try to listen to the K1K without using the USB DAC?

The OSX system volume (and Windows) will not control the MicroDAC's volume. Individual application volume works, but I don't find that practical to adjust the volume with each application (especially since many reset their volume.... web browsing while listening to music can be painful....).

I'm with lan on the levels, and around the second notch, it is definitely a weak area of the pot... There is a channel imbalance that low (again, typical), and I actually hear more distortion with the microdac at that level than the internal dac set to listen in the 9-10 oclock position.

Related, I've been having an e-mail discussion with the american distributor about the features of the MP-5, and he commented that I may want to try some 5751 tubes, as they are lower gain. Makes me curious how the Electro-Harmonix 5751 EH tubes would fair, as they are reportadly the same basic construction as the 12AX7LPS tubes.

Uh oh, my wallet is flinching...

Here he mentions it:

Sorry, my bad!!!

Those are great shots Devwild... Look at your pictures made the wait so much more painful the past few days hahaha

Well I got mine today and its a wonderful unit, I find it works great with my K501s.. Since I'm pretty new to headphones and my experience is only with a PA2V2, Im really impressed so far. Diana Krall's Live in Paris CD sounds so much more lively, instruments seem much more real.. I'm playing it off my laptop and using the USB DAC and to me it sounds great. Unfortunatly I don't have much experience so I can't comment on how it compares to others but I'm happy with the purchase so far... How much of burn in did you all give it before it opening up?