REVIEW (more to come) - CEntrance DACport 24/96 USB DAC Amp - Page 17

Yup I've gotten it today, gonna go give it a run once I get home. Thanks for all the replies :)

Using a dacport with Spotify on my macbook. Very nice setup for computer/casual listening. I can see myself taking the dacport everywhere with me.

I like to hear about DacPort vs. Apogee Duet 2 in sound.  Anyone has them both?

Does the Dacport short out/looses signal when there is not enough USB power? 

When Dacport is connected to my Macbook Pro (running on battery and not ac power), and I turn up the volume, there is zap sound and my itunes turn off because Dacport looses signal.  Is this a common problem? 

It seems like I need a USB powered Hub to give the Dacport enough juice.

I never experienced any problems with my Dacport and 13" Macbook Pro. But I listened at moderate levels with my JH-13 customs.

I noticed less problem with the USB on the right vs left.  But Dacport plugged on the left makes the light on the Dacport blink on and off with the signal turning on and off. 

It must be my battery.  My mackbook pro is pretty old.  Had the battery replaced but still not keeping the charge.  I have the Dacport hooked to a powered USB hub and it works well on the iMac.  But I do realize that this Dacport needs a lot of power.  
 

Having said that...I didn't think I would find a better portable dac/amp than the Pico and I regretted ever selling it but now I'm finding that HeadphoneAddict you are right.  Sound wise, the Dacport really sounds better to my ears than the Pico dac/amp.  The transparency, detail and the midrange is superior. Thanks for your review.  It's why I purchased the Dacport instead of going back to the Pico.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict 


I haven't seen that problem. Try plugging the DACport into either the left USB or Rear USB port, depending on what year model MacBook Pro you have. I've read that those have more power because they don't share power with the keyboard.

Have you had any problems with this?

Ok, I reported that when there's not enough power coming from my Macbook, and when I turn up the volume, the Dacport will make a "zap" sound and cut off/out.  

But also when I plug the Dacport to my iMac without turning the volume down with headphone plugged in, it will also make a "zap" sound.  

Is this normal?  I guess I should remember to turn down the volume or at least not have the headphone plugged in but anyone else have these problems?

Should I be concerned?  I got it used here. 

I'm not sure if I experienced the same issue but with my DACport that I use everyday at work I do hear sometimes (3-4 weeks average) a zap noise and to headphone out port become silent. I can see the music being played in Foobar. I have to go in the Foobar output and reselect the DACport and save the setting. The music start to play again. I'm not sure if it's my new Windows 7 computer at work or the DACport that is the problem.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by sling5s 

 

Have you had any problems with this?

Ok, I reported that when there's not enough power coming from my Macbook, and when I turn up the volume, the Dacport will make a "zap" sound and cut off/out.  

But also when I plug the Dacport to my iMac without turning the volume down with headphone plugged in, it will also make a "zap" sound.  

Is this normal?  I guess I should remember to turn down the volume or at least not have the headphone plugged in but anyone else have these problems?

 

Should I be concerned?  I got it used here. 

Picked up the DACport LX. Listening to it directly without an amp. Definitely losses some punch without the amp section, but it's quite a bit more transparent than the original DACport.

Hi vert,

Quote:

Originally Posted by vert 

Picked up the DACport LX. Listening to it directly without an amp. Definitely losses some punch without the amp section, but it's quite a bit more transparent than the original DACport.

Are you using IEMs or something that requires more power?  

I have a friend who loaned me his DACport LX.  I also found that it lacks "punch" as you say when used without an amp - and when used with full size headphones, too bright for my tastes.  The LCD-2 or even the Senn HD280, both of which are technically low-impedance phones, are far more power hungry than an IEM like the Shure SE530, which worked very well with the DACport LX (and no amp).  With the IEMs, I found the DACport LX to be really spectacular - just as transparent as with the LCD-2, but nowhere near as bright as with the full size phones, where the lack of power fails to push the bass frequencies as well as the mids and highs.  The biggest nuisance with using the DACport LX without an amp is keeping the volume way down, via the software that's running on your laptop or PC.  

My friend uses his DACport LX with his Thinksound Rain IEMs, exclusively.  He doesn't even own a headphone amp.  I really don't have enough experience at listening to various equipment to carry much weight when I say this, but I've praised his purchase decisions for how great his rig sounds (DACport LX + Thinksound Rain) for so little money invested.  It's extremely detailed, without sounding edgy or harsh, and very balanced.  I have to say, however, that this setup is pretty unforgiving of poor recordings and probably wouldn't be very appealing to those who have a strong preference for the smoother, more lush sound of tubes.  But if you like a really balanced, transparent, colorless, and detailed reproduction, it's a lot of bang for the buck.  

In other words, the DACport LX makes even affordable IEMs sound great.

Here's Average_Joe's review of the Thinksound Rain IEMs, by the way (not used with the DACport LX, but it may be of interest to those who haven't heard of these IEMs):  

http://www.head-fi.org/t/464801/thinksound-thunder-rain-iem-reviews-the-eco-friendly-iem-or-more-wood-note-thunder-will-be-renamed-ts01#post_6289179

Mike

Yes, I'm using them with Phonak 232s. I agree with the volume control setting nuisance. And you're right, it's a great setup for computer headphone listening. I find the loss of punch compared to the original Dacport to be more than offset by the increase in transparency and musicality. 

I was going to ask Centrance about the effect of changing USB cables. I read somewhere on here that it didn't make a difference with the Dacport.