Pie-in-the-sky, if you could have anything, product suggestion thread. - Page 8

Hello all,

It's been mentioned before to introduce an external balanced Max DAC but this is how I see it, I just HAD to write this down because I think it would work and imho it should attract more audiophiles to go balanced because of its versatility. Pie-in-the-sky:

2 desktop cases:

First one would be the balanced desktop as it is sold now but without the installation of a DAC so there's some room left for a variable RCA-plug output. Price: $1249? (incl. SA). Those who opt for the Home DAC should still be able to buy the current HRDB (with Home DAC, but without RCA output.).

Those who opt for the Max DAC for the balanced desktop shall have to buy a second case that houses a sufficiently powerful PS (to deliver at least enough power for the Max DAC and balanced amp), together with a balanced output & obviously Max DAC. This would be more or less comparable with the Benchmark DAC1, only with the addition of the PS. (I haven't seen the internals of the DPS though, so no clue if there's enough space to fit all this in a 130 Cubic Inches box. But: if the current one can take up to 6 audio components you could say let's downgrade this to 3 so there's space for the other components, at least I think.). Price: $699?

This way, you have balanced in- and outputs which saves you the cost for say a balanced CD player in case you don't already own one. The XLR connections each have a 1/4" SE plug, so this should be a very nice setup for +-$1948 (about $3 more then a fully maxed out Desktop SE + DPS).
I don't think the size of the cases should be increased so that they remain stackable with the desktop models as they are sold now, also, I guess the small footprint of the Desktop line is a big plus for many potential buyers. Those who choose not to go balanced and opt for the maxed out standard HRDSE + DPS have the advantage that it will most likely be cheaper, they'll have the Max Module (electronics), brightness switch, more VDC power outputs on the DPS and dual analog RCA inputs. But as I mentioned before, the Balanced Desktop with Home Module should still be available in 1 case for those who choose for the Home DAC. So there will still be a choice for the customer.
With the upcoming speaker amps you'll only need 3 compact cases including the balanced amp to be fully settled, provided that this is technically possible. If the PS in the second case is made powerful enough they could also power the speaker amps, but if this combo would produce too much heat for the electronics I wonder if a grate in the lower part of the case couldn't help. Suppose that this second case existed then it would also be possibe to connect it with the current balanced amp but you won't have a variable RCA-plug output and possibly two DAC's. Maybe these 2 problems could be solved in terms of an upgrade/ resp. downgrade.

what'd ya think

cheers

Edit: Something like this.. (5mins with paint )



and for the amp:

I don't have anything to add as to the ideas persay, but I really think it is great that you are working with this board to brainstorm for your next line up. I think anyone that reads this will be impressed with the fact that you are working hard to put out products with tangible influence from your customers.

Tyll, you have talked about putting a Parmetric EQ in the future SE Desktop revision. what thoughts have yawl had about putting one in a Micro enclosure to use with a MicroStack and other rigs?

a Hertsens DAC for the rest of us???

YES PLEASE..i'd sell my soul for a HERT!

micro amp + SPDIF DAC portable

Now that the recent Wadia announcement has uncovered the SPDIF output on the new iPod Classics, it seems natural to dream of a micro portable amp with a built-in "Apple authentication chip" and SPDIF DAC.

Portable USB DACs (like the Predator) just got a lot less interesting to those of us who have iPod Classics and SPDIF-equipped computers (e.g., MacBook, iMac, anything that can talk to an Airport Express).

When are we going to see these new products?

It's a whole new year.

Where's that official Headroom Hawaiian Shirt, Tyll?

If you make one, I'll buy it and wear it to CanJam.

-Ed

What is a Hertsens DAC?

And how it is compare to the Ultra Micro DAC?

Along the lines of the Grado-ish amp. I would like to see a non portable high end amp for multi driver IEM's. It seems to me that while all headphone amps are easily capable of powering IEM's some are still the "blow your doors off with massive impact and resolving power" and seem to lack the extreme finesse required to delicately but articulately drive a pair of high end IEMs. Since multi driver IEM's are by their nature more complex (because of the crossover circuitry) than dynamic headphones there are, most likely, differences in their dynamics and frequency response. Balanced armature drivers respond differently than dynamic drivers do and thus would perhaps have a more cohesive sound if driven in a different manner. Maybe about a Micro or Desktop size but reconfigured. An internal upsampling DAC wouldn't hurt either.