StyleAudio Emerald Review
Out of the box, the first thing I noticed is that the sucker is deceivingly small for a DAC/AMP combo; on the flip side, it huge relative to a portable DAC/AMP unit, say a RSA Predator or an IBasso unit. It really stands on odds grounds as to what it attempts to be: a portable desktop solution which ideally should be exclusively mated with a laptop. The only input it accepts is USB, so it’s not targeted be the Swiss Army Knife of DACs. There is RCA output, which allows the option of mating the DAC portion with any stereo amp you desire. In my case, it proves nifty in which I can connect it to desktop stereo setup which consists of a T-Amp and Bookshelf speakers. In my opinion, I would have liked to see more digital inputs, particularly Coaxial and/or Optical so that I can be able to listen to my CD transport. However, this is certainly not an Audio-GD Compass; it’s perhaps an eighth the size and weight, but certainly not lacking in the music department. Make no mistake; the StyleAudio’s dekstop USB powered DAC/AMP is a portable enough and powerful enough situation for anyone to really enjoy music, at home, in the dorm, while traveling, etc. I can see it as the ideal situation where one is seeking simple enjoyment of quality music. While it may not be the ultimate DAC/AMP, for its price and what it is, it certainly gives people a run for its money.
Design choices aside, let’s talk about how it performs. Driven only via USB power, my low impedance Alessandro MS-2i, I was able to get an ideal volume at around 10-11 o clock, which is about the same for my Purity Audio KICAS. With my AKG K501, I start venturing around the2-3 o clock, and certain times push the baby to max. While it may not drive the AKG to its absolute best, it is able to provide a generous amount of current to the K501, more than enough to enjoyable. There are some tracks which require a bit more drive, and once you start turning the knob, the Emerald doesn’t clip per se, but treble tends to get harsh and the sound becomes aggressive. Paired with my HD280 that I haven't touched in forever, I was shocked at how transparent the headphones became, and at how much bass extension these headphones have.
The Emerald’s amp is very comparable to that of the Purity Audio’s Caliente; it may not be as refined, but again, this is somewhat reflected in the price. I would argue that it matches the quality of sound to about 90%. My ears are perhaps not as critical as others, and it’s difficult for me to tell the difference. The things that do stand out is that the Emerald is able to bring out a lot of lows: you will be able to hear bass with this amp. Soundstage and imaging is decent. Background noise/blackness is far from absolute; actually this is perhaps my biggest gripe of the Emerald – I needed to drive my headphones to the point where noise, from the recording, was noticeable and at times distracting. This can arguably be attributed to the quality of the DAC perhaps. It is arguably an engaging/musical DAC as opposed to an overly critical one that emphasizes details. While it is recommended that the DC power supply be used for optimal sonic performance, I was unable to detect much if any improvement in sound quality.
While the Emerald isn't the end-all DAC/AMP combo, it certainly brings a lot to the table given its form factor. However, given its design, it seems to be oddly pitted against the best portable DAC/AMP, such as those offered by Ibasso and RSA, as well as against desktop DAC/AMPs such as the Compass. While I can’t comment on how the Emerald sounds in relation to the aforementioned DAC/AMPS, what I can say is that the Emerald packs a lot of punch in a very small, elegant package, and IMO is ideal if mated with a laptop, for the traveling Head-Fier
Edit: Shotty Cell Phone Pics
Size comparison with Valab Nos Dac
Emerald Sitting On Top of Topping T-Amp
