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Sound Improvement Micro DAC

post #1 of 19
1/12/09 at 7:46pm
Thread Starter 
Ok...So I have a Micro Amp and a set of HD650's


Can anyone please explain to me what kind of SQ improvement would a Micro DAC provide?
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post #2 of 19
1/12/09 at 10:51pm
Compared to which source? IE what do you currently have your Micro amp plugged into?
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post #3 of 19
1/12/09 at 11:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pltan View Post
Ok...So I have a Micro Amp and a set of HD650's


Can anyone please explain to me what kind of SQ improvement would a Micro DAC provide?
Depends on what you currently have doing your digital to analog conversion for you. When I switched to a dedicated DAC, I did so when originally using the headphone output on my iMac. I got both a DAC and headphone AMP.

I don't use the MicroDAC, but I'm sure it would make for superior Digital to Analog conversion when compared to my iMac. I use a FireStone Spitfire DAC and am sure the MicroDAC should be at least as good.

The HD 650's deserve a good source of sound and a good amp, so I'd recommend beefing up the source.
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post #4 of 19
1/13/09 at 8:52am
Thread Starter 
Straight from PC , Sound Blaster
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post #5 of 19
1/13/09 at 9:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pltan View Post
Straight from PC , Sound Blaster
Then the MicroDAC will make a big difference, especially if you're playing either lossless format music files or high bitrate mp3's. In my experience, the better recordings with very good sound production benefit most from the DAC.
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post #6 of 19
1/13/09 at 11:13am
Agreed, Aimlink.

Though I can't speak for the regular Micro DAC, the Ultra Micro I have offered improved speed, soundstage and fine texture over what I was using before (A Total Bithead connected to my Micro AMp w/ mini-mini). Compared to straight out of my laptop it's night and day.

EDIT: And the noise floor of both the Micro and Ultra Micro are fantastic. Huge dynamics!
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post #7 of 19
1/13/09 at 4:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by moogoob View Post
Agreed, Aimlink.

Though I can't speak for the regular Micro DAC, the Ultra Micro I have offered improved speed, soundstage and fine texture over what I was using before (A Total Bithead connected to my Micro AMp w/ mini-mini). Compared to straight out of my laptop it's night and day.

EDIT: And the noise floor of both the Micro and Ultra Micro are fantastic. Huge dynamics!
Even straight from the computer, the HD 650's sound way better than what the majority has ever heard from headphones.

To me, the quality moves from good to terrific. It can apparently be fabulous if you move up from just entry level DAC's to a more robust and as a result, more pricey one.
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post #8 of 19
3/2/09 at 1:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pltan View Post
Ok...So I have a Micro Amp and a set of HD650's


Can anyone please explain to me what kind of SQ improvement would a Micro DAC provide?
Everything gets significantly better, IMO. I have the 650s and a McCormack Headphone Amp, and the difference is startling. I listen primarily to lossless encoded music, but even MP3s benefit.

Better dynamics, bass, clarity, and on and on. The word that comes to mind to sum it up is resolution. I feel like I'm hearing deeper into the recordings, and that makes me very happy. And the noise floor is dead silent, which none of my PC sound cards could even come close to.

Once I got the Micro my computer became not only a fantastic headphone listening source, it is now an additional source for my hifi rig. The Micro DAC also improved the sound of my old Cambridge Audio CD4 stand alone CD player.
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post #9 of 19
3/3/09 at 10:06pm
The MicroDAC was my first good source. I couldn't believe how much better everything sounded. There was so much more separation or "blackness" between the notes. In fact, I had a hard time getting used to it at first. In many of my tracks, I could finally distinguish individual instruments much better, and the music seemed to move much more nimbly. I was having a hard time explaining what it was that I liked so much about it. Tyll summed it up pretty well: welcome to PRAT, or something to the effect. The MicroDAC is what made me realize that my home listening experience didn't have to be a big slurry mess.
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post #10 of 19
3/4/09 at 1:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Monkey View Post
welcome to PRAT
I've seen that expression a few times around here. What does PRAT stand for?
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post #11 of 19
3/4/09 at 2:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by fallsroad View Post
I've seen that expression a few times around here. What does PRAT stand for?
Pace, Rhythm, and Timing. I think there are lots of arguments out there about what this really means. Basically, I use it to describe that phenomenon when something gets my toe tapping when another piece of gear could not do same. And I readily admit I might be using the term incorrectly.
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post #12 of 19
3/4/09 at 2:09am
Pace, Rhythm And Timing. I don't think it's explained well and possibly overused. Now to find that link to the Stereophile glossary...
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post #13 of 19
3/4/09 at 2:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Monkey View Post
Pace, Rhythm, and Timing. I think there are lots of arguments out there about what this really means. Basically, I use it to describe that phenomenon when something gets my toe tapping when another piece of gear could not do same. And I readily admit I might be using the term incorrectly.
Ah!

I've seen the expression used many times before, just not abbreviated.

Thanks!
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post #14 of 19
3/6/09 at 1:14am
For me the difference between the Sound Blaster and Micro DAC was huge and that was the old Micro DAC!
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post #15 of 19
3/6/09 at 6:50pm
It sounded so good, it made clear differences in headphone sound signatures.

My HD595, Klipsch X10, HD497, pretty much all sounded similar with a little more bass here and there.

I have an old (05) MicroDAC, and these days I CLEARLY prefer the HD595 because of the fidelity and dynamic range it drew out of this phone. Clearly now I can hear night and day differences between those phones.

IMO, a good source is a more vital component than headphones. Try it and see.

-JC
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