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HeadRoom Micro DAC Arrived Today - Page 2

post #16 of 22
7/6/06 at 7:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by luckybaer
Did you notice a big difference between USB and going optical?
I don't still have the MicroDAC in my possession (it was a borrowed unit), but when I did have it, I thought it was a fantastic product.
The one and only thing that really disappointed me about it, though, was the USB sound. I'd take the optical sound over the USB any day, it just sounded slow and muddy and not as clean and precise as the optical. I don't mean the optical sounds overly analytical or anything, just that the USB seemed a long way off the pace to my ears. I really didn't get on with it.

Having said that, it's the only USB based DAC I've ever heard, so I don't want to say that the MicroDAC has a poor USB implementation, for all I know they could all sound like that.
It doesn't cost much for a decent optical cable and you're bound to have a USB cable lying around that will allow you to compare them for yourself though, so you should definitely listen and go with what your ears are telling you.
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post #17 of 22
7/6/06 at 8:17pm
Do I recall correctly that the MicroDACs USB connection has some sort of S/PDIF conversion or something?
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post #18 of 22
7/6/06 at 8:30pm
yeah the USB is converted to SPDIF which is fed to the dac chip. From what I understand.
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post #19 of 22
7/7/06 at 11:53pm
Thread Starter 
All I can say is that the Micro DAC really improves the listening experience when using my computer as a source.

Right now, I'm listening with this setup:
320 Kbps .mp3 files -> WinAmp -> USB -> Micro DAC -> No-Name I/C -> PA2v2 -> DT 770 Pro/80

I can't wait to move to this:
320 Kbps .mp3 files -> WinAmp -> USB -> Micro DAC -> Cardas Mini-to-mini -> Micro Amp -> K701
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post #20 of 22
7/8/06 at 9:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by trains are bad
yeah the USB is converted to SPDIF which is fed to the dac chip. From what I understand.
Thats not ideal then? Less conversions/adaptors is the main aim. Optical or Co-axial is in S/PDIF already.

The best USB to S/PDIF convertor in the world doesn't beat no need for one.
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post #21 of 22
7/8/06 at 3:36pm
True, but the best USB-to-SPDIF converter in the world could be just what the doctor ordered if you don't have SPDIF.
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post #22 of 22
7/8/06 at 4:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by trains are bad
True, but the best USB-to-SPDIF converter in the world could be just what the doctor ordered if you don't have SPDIF.
Thats true too. Although having to settle for less than the ideal as your circumstance dictates is not perfect.

If you're using a bit-pertfect stream, the aim is to get the purest signal. Adding a convertor in the chain is addinng a potential for noise.
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