AMB Gamma2 DAC sound impressions? - Page 10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roasty 

i got my gamma 2 from Marshall. but havent had a chance to listen to it yet.. 

 

can i just get the power adaptor (5v 300ma) off the shelf?

Yes, for the specifications see the γ1 website, in the "Part list" section, under "AC-DC adapter or power supply".

Quote:

Originally Posted by amb 

Yes, for the specifications see the γ1 website, in the "Part list" section, under "AC-DC adapter or power supply".

many thanks for the link!

at present i'm powering the gamma 2 with USB.. optical out via emu-0404

with the gamma 2,  noticed that there is less bass than if i didnt connect it to my valhalla. is this to be expected?

Are you saying that when you directly connect your headphones to the gamma 2, you hear less bass than when you have the gamma2 connected to an amp and then your headphones? If that is what you mean and the gamma2 is the standard configuration not modified to drive headphones directly, then the likely cause may be the output coupling cap size causing a low frequency roll-off (described in note 10 on the parts list). 
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roasty 

many thanks for the link!

 

 

at present i'm powering the gamma 2 with USB.. optical out via emu-0404

 

with the gamma 2,  noticed that there is less bass than if i didnt connect it to my valhalla. is this to be expected?

@ nebby

as in :

"source - gamma 2 - amp - headphones" has less bass / slam than "source- amp - headphones".   nothing majorly different, but noticeable.  

nonetheless, overall i'm very happy with the gamma 2. i quite like it on filter C. filter A has a more airy feel but the highs seem sharper with filter C.

soundstage is very very much improved.. i'm really enjoying listening to all my albums again!

That's interesting, I wonder why/how that is happening.

They're not volume matched?

The EMU 0404 USB 2.0 unbalanced output level is 2Vrms Vs. 1.4Vrms for the Y2 (at 0dBFS).

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterX 

They're not volume matched?

The EMU 0404 USB 2.0 unbalanced output level is 2Vrms Vs. 1.4Vrms for the Y2 (at 0dBFS).

i see. many thanks for the input Marshall. will try to adjust the volume as best i can and make a re-evaluation.

I'm going to upset quite a few members but I just compared the y2 with the HRT MS2+ and the HRT came out superior in every way, especially in the treble.

Though the y2 was fed and powered by usb I'm not sure how much an improvement will go with a different approach as some users stated here.

The MS2+ is a 349$ usb dac that outperform the equally priced commercial offer or 100$ more if you DIY. Can't recommend it enough!

Gear used was LCD-2 connected to SOHA.

Not sure why you would upset people, you're welcome to prefer gear other than what that we like.  The specifications on the TAS1020b chip in the HRT are nice, but if I remember correctly the driver costs for it are not DIY friendly. Personally speaking, given all the other functions that a full++ y2 is capable of I'd say that I prefer to pay less for more

As a side note, I've been listening to SB Touch -> Gamma2 -> Beta24 -> SRD-6 -> Lambda pro and it sounds wonderful.

You know, I meant in a cynic way. It's just that the y2 is such a consensus here that I am surprised that a similar priced commercial dac sounds significantly better than it.

The way I see it the lack of functions means more concentration on design and parts quality. Though this lack may not appeal to many users who are not computer based, or entirely so.

Given that we're comparing a DIY build to a commercial build, I'm not sure saying that there's more concentration on design and parts quality is a valid argument I wonder just how much of the price of the HRT is to recoup the driver software development costs.

I'd like to hear how the PCM1794 in the HRT compares to the WM8741 in the gamma2, but that's not possible unfortunately. 
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by yossi126 

You know, I meant in a cynic way. It's just that the y2 is such a consensus here that I am surprised that a similar priced commercial dac sounds significantly better than it.

The way I see it the lack of functions means more concentration on design and parts quality. Though this lack may not appeal to many users who are not computer based, or entirely so.

Beefy: Given that the pcb is labeled "Component side" on the visible side, I think it probably doesn't have output coupling caps. It does look like a rather simple output stage, I wonder what devices they used after the 1794.

Quote:

Originally Posted by yossi126 

I'm going to upset quite a few members but I just compared the y2 with the HRT MS2+ and the HRT came out superior in every way, especially in the treble.

Though the y2 was fed and powered by usb I'm not sure how much an improvement will go with a different approach as some users stated here.

The MS2+ is a 349$ usb dac that outperform the equally priced commercial offer or 100$ more if you DIY. Can't recommend it enough!

 

Gear used was LCD-2 connected to SOHA.

You know, I have both DACs at the moment and unless I concentrate I find that on a glance that they sound very similar. The biggest hurdle in this man's opinion when A/B-ing them is the HRT is 1.5x louder than the γ2 and we all know how loudness can drastically alter one's perception. Upon closer examination, differences do exist though: I find the HRT MS2+ overall to be slightly thinner and brighter sounding than the γ2 which makes it easier to pick up details, the γ2 on the other hand is more full-bodied and has better midrange details. The MS2+ has a better lateral width while the γ2 has a more closed but better layered soundstage. Well, that's all I can say. Gear used is a Stax system of an SR404-LE and SRM-1/MK-2. 

I wonder what configuration and parts of the γ2 that you used in your comparison, yossi126. 

Beefy, I will get back with you with that request. 

I totally get you. There's more gain to the HRT but no matter how much I turned the volume up with the y2 it didn't compete with the mids and highs of the HRT.

I can easily relate it to the synergy of components. Take the LCD-2 which is objectively neutral and take a tube amp (soha on loan) and you are at the warm zone.

My conception from now and from a previous listening is that the y2 is warm sounding.

Regarding the y2's specs, all I can say is that it has the WM8741

When I get my b22 I'll definitely try to make this comparison again.

Regarding your setup - I never heard the 404 but many consider them to be on the bright side (?) which is maybe why the y2 complements it.

Well yossi126, I just hope you're not in the camp where you judge a DAC's performance solely based on the type and brand of the DAC chip it uses because it's a very misguided perception. Based on my understanding it seems that the majority of 'crap' is actually introduced in the stages before the DAC chip so a proper 'cleaning' circuitry is actually more important than the DAC chip itself. Take for example the PS Audio PerfectWave DAC which is highly regarded around here and guess what the DAC chip it uses? It's the Wolfson WM8741. 

But then I can agree with you that synergy is definitely important. I can tell you that the β22 sounds amazing with the γ2. 

Hmm... the SR404LE is OK. The amount of sparkle with either DACs is within my limit, I found the HE-5 and the HE5-LE to be brighter.