Audio-gd DAC-19 DSP vs DF [Is the DSP worth the extra $$]

I can't tell you whether the DSP1 is worth it or not, but out of all Audio-GD DACs, DAC-19DSP has the lowest premium for DSP1 board, which is just $150 more over DAC-19DF.

DAC-3SE is just/almost like DAC-3DV but without the DSP1, and the premium is $220.
DAC-9MK3 is just/almost like Reference 1 but without the DSP1, and the premium is $450.

I have the DF now and it's fantastic. Haven't heard the DSP1, but either way you won't go wrong. Will be writing a review of the DF soon, it's been hard to get to it cos i'm enjoying the music so much!

Personally, i could not justify the added USD150 expense of the DSP1 over the DF, considering the base price of USD480, USD150 being a good 30% extra. That said, you do get, presumably, higher quality caps in the DSP1 so that might be worth it for you.

But like i said, you can't go wrong with either!

That's not really true.
DAC9MK3: http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/dac/DAC-9MK3/DAC83.jpg
Ref 1: http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/dac/refe...0one/DAC73.jpg
You can see a clear difference in the circuit, so the DSP1 is not the only difference

I'm gonna resurect this thread maybe i'll get an answer as i am very interested in this dac. Thanks

In my personal opinion, the DSP version is really well worth the extra $$: it is more transparent, has better tone, better resolution and is less sensitive to the quality of the transport than the DF version. I described in more depth some of the benefits of going from the DF1704 to the DSP-1 in my review here: http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/483899/review-of-the-audio-gd-dac-19-dsp-c2-amp-the-acss-connection

 

If you can afford it, it is better to go for the DSP version. The DF version is very good but the DSP is even (much) better.

I second slim.a's comments about the DSP1.

 

Peete.

 

I know this is off topic but do you have any idea how the 19-DSP compares to the Ref 1 /Ref 7? In other words why did you get the 19-DSP rather than the more expensive units?

 

BTW. I have just received my DAC-19DSP. How many hours before I engage in critical listening?
 

 

IMHO i think there is no burn in,anyway no substantial one, audible. Only in your head is gonna make a difference as it adapts, so start listening to music and enjoy your new great dac, and please start sharing your opinion and tell us how good is it.
 

Sorry, I never compared the DAC19 DSP vs. Ref1/Ref7. But I can imagine that on the same set-up, the Ref-1/Ref-7 would be an improvement over the dac-19dsp. How much? my guess is as good as yours.

The reason I bought the dac19dsp is simply for cost reasons. The Ref-1/Ref-7 are more expensive and you get the most of them when connected in balanced mode, which means I would have had to buy a balanced amp and balanced headphone cables to get the most of it.

Also, since I am considering buying a single ended tube amp later on, I don't think I will be moving to the higher end balanced DACs any time soon. If Audio-gd made a single ended version of the Ref-7, I might change my mind :) In any, the dac19dsp is a very competent DAC by itself and I don't feel the need upgrading right now.

 

Regarding burn-in, I also used to think it was psychological. While the dac19 dsp sounded OK out from the box, I think it took around 400 hours before settling in. You can just leave it on for 300-400 hours as suggested per Kingwa without even using music (since it is Class A, it is always functionning at the maximum current).

 

If you are curious/impatient, there is nothing that prevents you from engaging in critical listening from the start. Just know that most audio-gd users (even those like me that were skeptics at first) noticed a noticeable improvement during the 300-400 first hours.

 

One final remark, even after weeks of using it, I find that the dac19dsp needs a few hours to fully warm-up. Personally, I leave it on 24/7 and turn it off a few hours every week.

I had a Japanese Head-fier's DAC19MK3 here briefly to test, and my Ref 1, primarily because it is balanced, is very considerably different to it.  Switching between them was like going from the band playing in a small room, to one playing in a concert hall.  However, I reckon I really need a good high-end speaker rig to really get the most from the Ref 1 and that most people, with regular mid-to-high end headphones will be very happy with a DAC19 or the balanced version, the Ref 5.  If you never want to have to buy a DAC again and plan to get better gear as time goes on, then a Ref 7. 

 

I third getting the DSP considering how much difference the digital input makes.

Hi Slim.a & Currawong. Thank you for your thoughts. I just finished a listening session with the DAC-19DSP. Have to admit; out of the box (yesterday) I was not impressed. However, today, I feel it has improved. Nice timbre, natural, layered sound. I am just not convinced at this time I am in the same room as the performance; a little veiled I would say compared to my current DAC. It needs to open up more. Early days, I suppose.. At this point in time, I seem to prefer cPlay outputting 44.1 to the DAC-19DSP rather than 88.2 as is usual. Anyway, I am leaving it on 24/7 playing music.

 

System: cMP2 box (fully optimised with linear PS) > Musiland 01USD > Custom made DAC (based on AD1955 chip + ZAPfilter analogue stage) > Burson Buffer > Supratek Sauvignon > Blue Circle BC26 > Thiel CS3.6. Cables: Black Cat Veloce, Zu Varials, Harmonic Tech Truth-Link, Harmonic Tech Pro-9

Yeah, do the burn in. My computer is super fast now after intesive 5000+ hours, it reaches so much more higher frequencys, it runs smoother and has more dynamic 0 and 1. I was just kidding, if something needs burn in is your brain to that dac and it's called adaption to a newer stimulus.

Is this speculation or do you know for sure? You seem to know me better than me. Have we met?
 

Imo the degree of difference you hear between SE and balanced depends heavily on what you're listening to. Dac19mk3+phoenix single-ended headphone output has very enjoyable sound with very slight warmth, kind of forgiving of soundstage shortcomings in recordings, and even in different aspects of sound quality without feeling lopsided. Dac19mk3+phoenix balanced has big but partly empty soundstage/microdetail but quite good and quick macrodetail. Dac9mk3 (balanced dac)+phoenix is even in different aspects of sound and is very truthful about a recording's soundstage and microdetail. If you listen to a song with a lot of soundstage, a lot of low volume transients, or big dynamic movements, balanced could sound really impressive, but albums like this aren't very common in my music collection.