AMB Gamma2 DAC sound impressions? - Page 2

I received my y2 today. I'm using it with a Rockhopper M^3 + Sigma-11 --> HD650.
I'll update the thread with more impressions as it burns in, but for now I'll say it sounds excellent. The soundstage is accurate with excellent imaging and depth, the bass is hard-hitting but tight and not overblown. It's also very smooth but without losing high-end detail; very non-fatiguing. I also found tiny differences among the 3 filters.

I think the overall sound of this DAC is smooth and warm. The frequency response graph on AMB's website doesn't tell the whole story.

I don't have much to compare to since it is the best source I've ever heard. It's better than any of my current and past sources (mostly soundcards...everything's in my profile).

It has all the options included. ASRC is the SRC4192, DAC is WM8741. Opamps are OPA2365. It's a MisterX build and looks identical to the black one shown on AMB's main y2 page. I'm also using a 5V adapter that he included with the build.

I don't know about the rest. You'd have to ask Marshall himself. I'm assuming he followed the standard BOM for the other parts.

I'd like to give people a general idea of the positives and negatives of this DAC. Overall, the y2 is great and still the best source I've heard, but not the best in every single regard. First of all, the y2 is more mid-centric and balanced than the STX. I prefer the more aggressive treble/upper midrange of the STX (3xLME49720) on some recordings as well as its leaner bass representation, but for most tracks the smooth, non-fatiguing sound of the y2 is preferable. As for the soundstage, the STX with the 49720s produces a large image for every recording that's spaced out but the imaging is sharper with the y2 and the soundstage size is more variable (re accurate) and can expand or shrink relative to the STX's soundstage. The STX is better at placing instruments in front and farther away from the listener while the y2 confines the soundstage more to the left-right directions (x-axis).

In terms of detail, the y2 clearly wins over the STX and it really is noticeable. The midrange detail is especially astounding. The bass also has more depth and force than the STX. The dynamics of both DACs are comparable but I think the more aggressive and brighter sound of the STX accentuates dynamics a bit more on some recordings that rely on treble-centric percussion; the opposite is true for midrange-centric songs.

I find the treble detail isn't compromised by the smooth nature of the DAC. It's all there, just not grating at your ears. In fact, it has this wonderfully unique quality of being forgiving and detailed at the same time. It really makes a lot of the badly recorded tracks enjoyable.
All these are with my setup and YMMV. The headphones will obviously influence impressions a great deal. I'm using the HD650s with the Double Helix Blackout Cable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henmyr What you describe is exactly how I would describe sound of HD650. Maybe gamma2 and HD650 is not the best pair? It will be interesting to try the gamma2 with my Grados, which I think it will match well.

I do share your opinion with regards to the stock HD650 and of the Grado and y2 match though. I think the latter two would go well together. Other cans I think would benefit from the y2's sound signature are the DT880/990 and the HD600s.

Also, I edited my comments quite a bit before you posted to reflect my latest impressions. I don't find those problems as apparent anymore. I think something may have changed from burn-in or I adjusted to the sound, but when I went back to the STX, I felt a lot of songs were produced with harsh treble but without more detail. This was good for a few songs that were recorded dark, but for the vast majority of tracks, I preferred the (relatively) smooth and detailed presentation of the y2. I also tested using sine waves and found the y2 produced a much more even and extended frequency response on both ends of the spectrum with less peaks and dips.

There's one difference which I've been hearing for a while but haven't been able to articulate up until now; the STX has a more pronounced and sharper attack, which I feel is a strong point of its sound. That's not to say the y2 lacks in this regard, but the STX really accentuates the attack which makes for an aggressive, fast sound (that can be fatiguing in the long haul).

Just wanted to update the thread quickly. I switched over to coaxial from USB, expecting no change in sound (since that's what Ti/AMB told me would likely be the case) but instead I got a noticeable improvement in soundstage, attack and high end detail.

Update: I bought a new transport (before I was using the mobo coax out and direct USB) and the y2 has improved considerably. So much, in fact, that it almost sounds like I got a new DAC. So, lesson here is to not skimp on the transport! It makes a bigger difference than you think.