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Review: ZERO 24 BIT/192KHz DAC/Headphone Amp/Pre-Amp - Page 209

post #3121 of 9242
5/23/08 at 11:48pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by coredump View Post
I also got 50 - 60k readings from the APs I bought from Digikey and the BPs I got from tube_buyer. However I think the APs sound better because they have more sepration and clarity. I also thought my BPs sounded worse that the 2604 while the APs sound better.

My APs look more like your BPs than my BPs do.
My BP's look just like your BP's. Two colors, notch and no circle, different number though. If they check good, then that is good info.

There are some people who like the AP better than the BP. I read a bunch about it, before I ordered my BP's. It seems like it came down to a personal taste issue in the end. At least you know your BP's are good, so you could sell them to one of the folks here.
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post #3122 of 9242
5/24/08 at 1:57am
I know the Zero is an DAC+Amp but if I use the line out on the back does that come from the amp or direct from the DAC?
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post #3123 of 9242
5/24/08 at 4:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tb311 View Post
I know the Zero is an DAC+Amp but if I use the line out on the back does that come from the amp or direct from the DAC?
Line out is from the DAC, I believe. As I have the headphone amp board disconnected (less heat & sounds better to me) and the line output works just fine.
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post #3124 of 9242
5/24/08 at 6:13am
You can do both, if you don't have the phone/pre-amp light lit, it is directly from the amp (so volume knob has no use), if you press the phone/pre-amp button and the light is lit, it uses the amp, and you can use the volume knob.
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post #3125 of 9242
5/24/08 at 9:46am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tb311 View Post
I know the Zero is an DAC+Amp but if I use the line out on the back does that come from the amp or direct from the DAC?
Just to clarify. The DAC output is the RCA's on the back. This would be a normal fixed DAC output to a separate amp. But the Zero, has a pre-amp option you can use if you want.

If no headphones are plugged into the Zero, you can press the phones/pre-amp button to "on" and the green light comes on, which routes the DAC output through the headphone board and back to the RCA's. It is now a variable output, so you can use the Zero's volume knob to increase or decrease the output going to a separate amp.

This is nice if you have a separate amp that has no input adjustment (like the amp section of an integrated amp) or if the amp is furthest away from you and you want to control the volume from the Zero, which is closest to you. I have also used this pre-amp (variable output) to drive portable amps, that work better with less output than the fixed output of the Zero's DAC.
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post #3126 of 9242
5/24/08 at 9:48am
Well I am receiving a Meier HA-1 soon and I am wondering if it will benefit to use the Zero as a pre-amp then when connected with the HA-1.

The HA-1 WIll be better than the amp in the zero correct?
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post #3127 of 9242
5/24/08 at 10:07am
Quick question: does the Zero come with a digital cable?

If not, would any cheap optical or coaxial cable off eBay work fine?

Thanks
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post #3128 of 9242
5/24/08 at 10:13am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scottyyy View Post
Quick question: does the Zero come with a digital cable?

If not, would any cheap optical or coaxial cable off eBay work fine?

Thanks
Yes, it comes with a 1M Optical cable.
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post #3129 of 9242
5/24/08 at 10:14am
It comes with an optical cable.

edit: Ah penchum you beat me to it , thank you very much for answering my questions in the pm!
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post #3130 of 9242
5/24/08 at 10:32am
Nice, thanks guys.
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post #3131 of 9242
5/24/08 at 10:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Penchum View Post
My BP's look just like your BP's. Two colors, notch and no circle, different number though. If they check good, then that is good info.

There are some people who like the AP better than the BP. I read a bunch about it, before I ordered my BP's. It seems like it came down to a personal taste issue in the end. At least you know your BP's are good, so you could sell them to one of the folks here.
Don't know whether the APs I got from Lawrence will sound better than the BPs I ordered from tube_buyer (they'll take 2 weeks to arrive), but the APs are a step up from the default OPA2604 for sure: bass got more impact, while mids and highs gained some more clarity (I also replaced the NE5532s on the amp section for LME49720s I got from semielectric).

About the bass, consider that I'm listening to music through AKG K271S, which are known for being bass lean. These opamps brought them to life...
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post #3132 of 9242
5/24/08 at 11:00am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Almoxil View Post
Don't know whether the APs I got from Lawrence will sound better than the BPs I ordered from tube_buyer (they'll take 2 weeks to arrive), but the APs are a step up from the default OPA2604 for sure: bass got more impact, while mids and highs gained some more clarity (I also replaced the NE5532s on the amp section for LME49720s I got from semielectric).

About the bass, consider that I'm listening to music through AKG K271S, which are known for being bass lean. These opamps brought them to life...
That's great! I think you are right too. The AP may sound better to some folks, especially if their headphones are a different model than most. It will be interesting to find out which you like better with your headphones.
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post #3133 of 9242
5/24/08 at 11:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Penchum View Post
That's great! I think you are right too. The AP may sound better to some folks, especially if their headphones are a different model than most. It will be interesting to find out which you like better with your headphones.
I'll pick some of my CDs, do some listening through my other HPs with this opamp setup and post my findings.

Thanks, Penchum, for letting us know about this little jewel.
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post #3134 of 9242
5/24/08 at 12:29pm

tube like sound

I am using ZERO as the preamp to my tubeamp. my speaker uses metal tweeter which is bright. Recently I change the opamp back to stock which is OPA2604. However I still find that mid is not so sweet and warm.

can you recommend the opamp to be used for DAC.
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post #3135 of 9242
5/24/08 at 12:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Penchum View Post
My BP's look just like your BP's. Two colors, notch and no circle, different number though. If they check good, then that is good info.

There are some people who like the AP better than the BP. I read a bunch about it, before I ordered my BP's. It seems like it came down to a personal taste issue in the end. At least you know your BP's are good, so you could sell them to one of the folks here.
I though this was a picture of your BPs. It's hard to make out but but there is no white lettering and there is a circle.


LL
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