Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › Review: ZERO 24 BIT/192KHz DAC/Headphone Amp/Pre-Amp
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Review: ZERO 24 BIT/192KHz DAC/Headphone Amp/Pre-Amp - Page 10

post #136 of 9226
12/13/07 at 1:04am
Is the sound changing any on the Zero as time goes by?
Reply
post #137 of 9226
12/13/07 at 3:01am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamato8 View Post
Is the sound changing any on the Zero as time goes by?
Well, I've done a little Opamp swapping, so that would be hard to determine now. I'm very confident that the majority of changes took place during my review. I reached a plateau where nothing changed for over 25 hours, so I declared it done. Even with the stock Opamp, it sounds very good. The LM4562 sounds excellent in it and I'm going to re-visit the OPA627s again here soon. It is a wonderful DAC/Amp that I find myself listening too much more often than I ever intended.
Reply
post #138 of 9226
12/13/07 at 7:36am
Does anyone know how this compares to the zhaolu 2.5
Reply
post #139 of 9226
12/13/07 at 11:15am
Well I ordered one of these on Tuesday night from the eBay seller snow48_6. I hadn't read this thread in depth before then and in hindsight I wonder if it would have been better to order from the other seller - anyhow I'll report back when I get the Zero.
Reply
post #140 of 9226
12/13/07 at 1:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 304290 View Post
Does anyone know how this compares to the zhaolu 2.5
I browsed around some Chinese sites on Sunday, a few people posted that they prefer the D2.5 because it sounded more detailed/refined & better lows but the sound stage was narrower with a higher price tag(this doesn't necessary apply here in the States); I can only read a little bit of simplified Chinese but don't know how to type it, so I couldn't search further to see if they're testing the two units as DAC/amp combo or with a separate amp.

With a huge Asian population in my neighborhood, I'm sure I'll be able to find a Zhaolu in one of our audio stores and harass the owner to let me listen with my own cans to find out what all the fuss is about. However like folks here had been saying over and over again, keep in mind that higher performance does not always mean "good sound", personal preference is different from ears to ears, there's no way to be sure.
Reply
post #141 of 9226
12/13/07 at 1:53pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sushicide View Post
I browsed around some Chinese sites on Sunday, a few people posted that they prefer the D2.5 because it sounded more detailed/refined & better lows but the sound stage was narrower with a higher price tag(this doesn't necessary apply here in the States); I can only read a little bit of simplified Chinese but don't know how to type it, so I couldn't search further to see if they're testing the two units as DAC/amp combo or with a separate amp.

With a huge Asian population in my neighborhood, I'm sure I'll be able to find a Zhaolu in one of our audio stores and harass the owner to let me listen with my own cans to find out what all the fuss is about. However like folks here had been saying over and over again, keep in mind that higher performance does not always mean "good sound", personal preference is different from ears to ears, there's no way to be sure.
I agree. Also, another big variable for units like this, are the Opamps installed. There are so many and so many individual tastes in sound that it is hard to even comment on them. However, since this is Opamp swap central, I'm sure everyone will find the Opamp that really does it for them.
Reply
post #142 of 9226
12/13/07 at 1:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Penchum View Post
I agree. Also, another big variable for units like this, are the Opamps installed. There are so many and so many individual tastes in sound that it is hard to even comment on them. However, since this is Opamp swap central, I'm sure everyone will find the Opamp that really does it for them.
This unit seems to be to good to be true. A dac/amp combo with swappable opamps almost for free. It will be very interesting to read some comparison review later on when more people have it.
Reply
post #143 of 9226
12/13/07 at 2:39pm
Did Chan send some of the Zeros already, or is everyone waiting for him to ship? Impatient, me?...
Reply
post #144 of 9226
12/13/07 at 5:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nor_spoon View Post
Did Chan send some of the Zeros already, or is everyone waiting for him to ship? Impatient, me?...
i ordered on the 11th, he emailed me back telling me there is a 10 day wait before they are shipped.
Reply
post #145 of 9226
12/13/07 at 8:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Penchum View Post
I sometimes like to mod my amps exterior if I find something I don't like, or find something for it I do like. For the Zero, I found this replacement knob:



I purchased it from one of HeadFi's sponsors, Parts conneXion. It is a 26mm matte silver (just like the face on the Zero) and has a 6mm shaft diameter. So, if you get your Zero and the stock knob turns you off, just replace it with a nice one.
too small.. =)
Reply
post #146 of 9226
12/13/07 at 8:52pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kamal007 View Post
too small.. =)
For grins, I just measured the back end of the original knob. It is 28mm!
Reply
post #147 of 9226
12/13/07 at 8:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Penchum View Post
For grins, I just measured the back end of the original knob. It is 28mm!
lol =)
Reply
post #148 of 9226
12/13/07 at 9:17pm
Thread Starter 
I found out Santa is sending me some AD797's on a brown dog adapter, so I will have more to try out! Thank you Santa (and the elf that told me)!
Reply
post #149 of 9226
12/14/07 at 1:01am
it's not the size that matters...
Reply
post #150 of 9226
12/14/07 at 1:21am
Has anyone compared this to a better known portable or desktop amp? Just the sound of the amp compared to say a Hornet or a Xenos 1HA-EPC. Maybe an Arietta? Somebody must have heard at least a portable we can compare the SQ to!
Thanks to anyone who can shed some light here or even give an opinion.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Headphone Amps (full-size)
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › Review: ZERO 24 BIT/192KHz DAC/Headphone Amp/Pre-Amp