Larry,
So just to set the record straight... you prefer the ef2s amp to the picos amp section?

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When driving headphones I enjoy the EF2 amp section a little more than the Pico amp section, and EF2 is more powerful than the Pico. The EF2 amp section is not technically as precise, detailed or spacious as the Pico amp, but the EF2 is warmer and more musical/euphonic much of the time. I become more engaged in the performance with the EF2. However, the EF2 DAC is not as good as the Pico DAC, and I prefer to use my Pico DAC-only with it when available. I can still enjoy the EF2 with the internal DAC, but it's more on the level of the USB DAC in the 3MOVE or XM5, or Predator and Nuforce Icon (mobile and desktop).

The Pico DAC/amp was good enough to feed the headphone out into a bigger amp like my Woo GES as a DAC/pre-amp - so good that I waited a year before upgrading my stat rig to a PS Audio DLIII DAC. That isn't something you would do with the EF2.

I am not trying to make the EF2 into another FOTM, and there are plenty of cost effective amps out there to compete with it, but there is something about it that makes it worth taking a listen.

Yah I think I know what you mean. It is just like my little dot mk2. Even though they are not as punchy crisp and clean as other amps Ive heard, they are the only ones that have made me enjoy the music without analyzing too much recently. With my gilmores before for example, They were cleaner and you could probably say they are more tightly defined but they dont give me the same sense of musicality, then there was the audio gd c2c which to me was utter crap. If you could remember, I was always pestering you and other people if they have heard the gilmore to compare with other amps hehehe. Now since I like what the little dot mk2 is doing and since the ef2 uses the same tubes with more power for low impedance cans and at such a low price... I think I will be getting one very soon. I already have 2 tube sets coming in the mail that will work along with them too

I agree w/ Larry that the amp section of the EF2 is very good, specially in its musicality and how much it draws the listener and involves him/her w/ the music. As far as the DAC section is concerned I actually think of it much higher than the other posters.

My thought is that here we have a $189 amp/dac that is IMO a bargain because it is capable of delivering a lot of music involvement to its user. It has been a while since we have had a unit that offers so much for so little specially since so far any headphone has sounded great out of it.

Larry,
When you say the dac is about 3move quality and not as good as the picos dac, are you saying that it is better than a standard $100-$200 full size cd/dvd player from pioneer or something like that?

mrarroyo? What do you think?

Sorry I havent heard the 3move to know what the dac in it is like which is why I'm asking for a full size cd/dvd player comparison

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The DAC is better than my Macbook Pro or iPod headphone out. I love my iPhone 3GS headphone out sound quality, and EF2 DAC might be on that level.

My Marantz CD5001 RCA output sounds slightly better, but it isn't a huge upgrade, although it is noticeable. Then again, the Marantz sounds good enough that I could probably go without my Apogee mini-DAC or the Pico DAC-only and only be missing just a little bit of what is there. Each of these upgrades is just a little bit better in terms of depth and transparency and detail, etc, but it all adds up in the end.

Regardless, I have said that I think the EF2 USB DAC is decent, and I wouldn't look down my nose on anyone for using it.

Thats it...time to order

I think it's pretty noticeable that the amp sounds a lot better than the DAC.. which is why I got a Pico. But now I'm itching to upgrade amps, lol..

I just placed my order for an EF2

I'm hopping it's going to rock. Now I can sit around drool over pictures of the D2000 until I figure out how to buy that next (i'm on an unbelievable budget)

My 125is are going to be happy though.

Hi Larry,

Can you compare EF2's amp section with Audiotailor "Jade"?

I am thinking about getting an amp and soon a dac or getting EF2 combo. My budget is really low and oppurtinity of upgrading is so limited here. Cuz of this i want to get an amp and/or dac and use it forever ()

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I don't have a Jade to compare to.

Anyone have experience with how the EF2 pairs up with Westone UM3X? I want something for work that isn't too expensive and my Leckerton UHA-3 doesn't seem to fit in to well with the UM3X's.

How does this amp compare to solid-state dac/amps of a similar price? I would probably use it at home between an emu 0404usb and Denon d5000 headphones.

By the way, Thanks HeadphoneAddict for your reviews and follow-up comments. This website wouldn't be much without people like you putting in so much time and effort.

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I thought I'd posted that it is on par (or slightly ahead or behind depending on the headphones and music) with other amps like my Headfive, Travagans Red, Nuforce Icon desktop, 3MOVE, XM5, Millett SSH, EF1, etc. All of those including the EF2 work well with Denon headphones, so this is a good choice.

If it means anything to you, I'm only using the Nuforce with speaker out, I don't have my Travagans Red or Headfive hooked up to anything, I traded the EF1 even for the less expensive EF2, and the Millett sits up in my son's room where I can't use it - but I use the EF2 several times a week.

Is the ef2 still the best value for money even if the dac is not needed?