Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › DAC+amp: Mac (USB) >> DAC-amp >> Grado 325i -- around $500?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

DAC+amp: Mac (USB) >> DAC-amp >> Grado 325i -- around $500? - Page 3

post #31 of 113
3/27/08 at 11:36am
Sweetwater's a good choice then.
Reply
post #32 of 113
3/27/08 at 1:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by grawk View Post
The headamp on the duet is better, imho. The only time that isn't true is if you use hd580/600/650 and drive them balanced from the xlr outs on the minidac.
Really? I would guess that by virtue of the fact that it is AC, the mini DAC would provide better headphone performance, at least in driving hard-to-drive Phones. Though looking at the back of the mini DAC (and understanding that I really don't know what I'm talking about ) I see 14 volts, and if I remember correctly, the Duet draws 12 volts from the Mac via fire wire. Not much difference.

I get more confirmed on the Duet every day, myself, even if it doesn't provide the driving power of a stand-alone home amp. Really, the only reason I need a DAC is for headphone listening from my iBook, and the Duet provides a great DAC and a transportable amp that I can carry from the office to the den to the bedroom. I can always pick up a desktop home amp later if it doesn't seem to have the slam of the headphone jack of my digital receiver, but to be honest, control, clarity and detail mean a lot more to me than slam anyway.

Tim
Reply
post #33 of 113
3/27/08 at 1:51pm
for the price of the minidac, you can get a duet + an m3 or millett max, so even if the headamp isn't up to your needs...
Reply
post #34 of 113
3/27/08 at 10:45pm
... or you can have the minidac!... ... ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by grawk View Post
for the price of the minidac, you can get a duet + an m3 or millett max, so even if the headamp isn't up to your needs...
Reply
post #35 of 113
3/28/08 at 4:19am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ricmat View Post
... or you can have the minidac!... ... ...
Aaaaaagh

I should perhaps rather use the price difference to get a pair of cans that excel where the 325i are weaker. Sennheisers are too tight around my head (esp. the 650), but I have owned Beyerdynamic and was very pleased with the comfort, and AKG seems highly recommended if you want the deep bass but want the bass to remain controlled and not sloshy.

(What's wrong with the smilies?)
Reply
post #36 of 113
3/28/08 at 8:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by grawk View Post
for the price of the minidac, you can get a duet + an m3 or millett max, so even if the headamp isn't up to your needs...
Oh in the long run, I believe I can spend a lot more than that.

Tim
Reply
post #37 of 113
3/28/08 at 6:23pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tfarney View Post
Oh in the long run, I believe I can spend a lot more than that.
This place is poison to my wallet. I just decided to buy the Duet ... and then I wonder if adding a Glow or some other tube amp, and an (expensive) pair of more bass-heavy cans might be a good idea as well ... and while I'm at it ...
Reply
post #38 of 113
3/28/08 at 9:40pm
Thread Starter 
Damn ... those GS1000 look tempting! Price where I live is $2500 ... good thing I'm not dumb enough to buy such cans where I live. But then again: What is the amp requirement to do justice to GS1000?
Reply
post #39 of 113
3/30/08 at 12:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Solan View Post
Damn ... those GS1000 look tempting! Price where I live is $2500 ... good thing I'm not dumb enough to buy such cans where I live. But then again: What is the amp requirement to do justice to GS1000?

Man, are you really going to buy the GS1000?


well, I have just listen to GS1000 once (for about ~1hour)... I really liked tubes on them!
Reply
post #40 of 113
3/30/08 at 3:57am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ricmat View Post
Man, are you really going to buy the GS1000?

well, I have just listen to GS1000 once (for about ~1hour)... I really liked tubes on them!
I am tempted, but that would really, really be stretching my budget, but given the price difference between the US (whoch I will visit this summer) and home, the temptation is strong. But if I do: Is the Duet a sufficiently good amp to do the GS-1000 justice? Also, considering I already have 325i, are GS-1000 the right complimentary choice?

Another possible budget stretcher instead of a new set of headphones would be a tube head-amp in addition to the Duet. But then again, if tube amps don't go all that well with 325i, I should probably buy those extra cans first.

Another option is of course that of not stretching the budget at all.

PS: Wonderful collection of cans you have, ricmat: Beyer DT880, AKG701 ... I've considered those, too, and ATH-AD2000, instead of GS-1000. Again, if I decide to stretch budget.
Reply
post #41 of 113
3/30/08 at 4:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by grawk View Post
The duet ties you to mac, not to itunes.

You don't sacrifice anything with the DAC to have an included ADC.

The minidac is very good.

The minidac isn't much more independent of the computer, and much more expensive.
My mini-DAC is very independent of my computer, is that what you meant? Because I use it as a DAC (and soon as a preamp) in my main rig CDP and DVD (for coax and optical, not just USB for Mac/PC), and the headphone out is about as good as my DarkVoice 336i with high end tubes.

This is, of course, with my Sigma 11 PSU which is an audible improvement. Right now, the XLR go into a Jensen Transformers XLR>RCA transformer via Neutrik XLR cables, and into my Woo 6 via anti-cables IC's, and it is pretty impressive sounding.

So, being able to use it with Mac via optical or USB, PC via USB (or if PC has optical/coax), and via CD/DVD via coax and optical, it seems very flxible to me. I am also going to switch the internal jumpers today, and try the XLR out to drive my balanced HD650/600 later, making it an even better choice than the Duet. The ultimate plan is to add a balanced headphone amp/speaker amp later.
Reply
post #42 of 113
3/30/08 at 6:51pm
Sorry, I meant IS much more independent of the computer...
Reply
post #43 of 113
3/30/08 at 6:55pm
Thread Starter 
The Mini-DAC has independent clocks, which supposedly eliminates jitter. Does the Duet? And is the difference audible? (I'm leaning 90% to Duet now, btw, esp. since the Duet would help me do needle rips.)
Reply
post #44 of 113
3/30/08 at 6:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Solan View Post
I am tempted, but that would really, really be stretching my budget, but given the price difference between the US (whoch I will visit this summer) and home, the temptation is strong. But if I do: Is the Duet a sufficiently good amp to do the GS-1000 justice? Also, considering I already have 325i, are GS-1000 the right complimentary choice?

Another possible budget stretcher instead of a new set of headphones would be a tube head-amp in addition to the Duet. But then again, if tube amps don't go all that well with 325i, I should probably buy those extra cans first.

Another option is of course that of not stretching the budget at all.

PS: Wonderful collection of cans you have, ricmat: Beyer DT880, AKG701 ... I've considered those, too, and ATH-AD2000, instead of GS-1000. Again, if I decide to stretch budget.

Sincerely, IMO if you have the 325i already, and want to spend such amount I would go to RS1 if you're looking into the Grado line, and then spend the rest of the budget in other HP for other brands.

For me it is more important to have different sound signatures to listen to different music styles

I would buy the minidac as well, instead of the Duet.

(and I would sell the 325i as well )


You would get great great DAC /amp + RS1 (Rock) + K701 (Classical) + HD650 (all the stuff ) and maybe DT880 '03 (Jazz, ... .. )


quite a collection, hum!?


but that's just my opinion!
Reply
post #45 of 113
3/30/08 at 7:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post
My mini-DAC is very independent of my computer, is that what you meant? Because I use it as a DAC (and soon as a preamp) in my main rig CDP and DVD (for coax and optical, not just USB for Mac/PC), and the headphone out is about as good as my DarkVoice 336i with high end tubes.

This is, of course, with my Sigma 11 PSU which is an audible improvement. Right now, the XLR go into a Jensen Transformers XLR>RCA transformer via Neutrik XLR cables, and into my Woo 6 via anti-cables IC's, and it is pretty impressive sounding.

So, being able to use it with Mac via optical or USB, PC via USB (or if PC has optical/coax), and via CD/DVD via coax and optical, it seems very flxible to me. I am also going to switch the internal jumpers today, and try the XLR out to drive my balanced HD650/600 later, making it an even better choice than the Duet. The ultimate plan is to add a balanced headphone amp/speaker amp later.

I agree.
As I said, if you have the $$, go for it! It is worth it!
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) › DAC+amp: Mac (USB) >> DAC-amp >> Grado 325i -- around $500?