Official Audio-gd Sparrow thread - Page 44

Okay, since Audio-GD is "working on their backlog" as reported on the NFB-11 thread, please tell me what you think:

• Borrowed a first generation Benchmark DAC and really liked the "crisp", "linear" quality and resolution of the DAC as the HF-2 are not the highest resolving or the brightest phones.  Think it is a good pairing.  (I would like resolution in my DAC and Amp first, then to introduce amps later that "soften"...)

• Borrowed a fellow member's Sparrow "B" USB version with AD1852 purchased through the Pacific Valve and Electric Company.

• I listened with optical input from Apple G5 and was really impressed by the fairly "dry" sound (with some warmth in the the mids compared to the Benchmark) and found it amazing for the price.  (Listening side-by-side with the Benchmark, over 3 weeks.)

• The owner of the Benchmark (and a mastering engineer) also liked the Sparrow "B" enough to want an "A" version Sparrow for it's 24/192 support and USB input (which his Benchmark does not have).

• I told him I'd go to Audio-GD, buy the "A" version, and he could pay me back (if I liked it I would get one too).

• Kingwa said that  "Now we have the WM8805 module can replace the DIR8416 to support up to 192KHz and jitter only 50PS (DIR8416 is 200PS)."

• I said I'd take it. 

• It arrived on Dec 19th and I gave it to my friend to check out first.  He said he couldn't use it at all, that there "must be an issue with the slew rate or something."

•  I took it home and then did an A/B between the "A" and the "B" versions.  What I found was that the "B" sounded great with the optical input and that the "A" was "slurred" or sounded like it had additional "reverb" especially with the USB in (the optical is better but still not as clean as the optical-in on the B).  My friend said the A version is "muddy".

• Bottom line, I would like a "B" with the AD1852 and I will only use the optical in- the USB is not as "dry" and not what I am looking for.

Audio-GD has not yet responded to a couple of emails over the past two weeks to either return or exchange the "A" with WM8741 so I have time to see what you think:

Do you find a BIG difference between the optical and USB inputs with your units?

Does anyone else find the same thing with the "B" optical vs. USB and like the optical in much better?

Has anyone else done A/B with the "A" and the "B" with USB and Optical on each?

I had hopes for the "A" because even though on the site the WM chips are regarded as "more forgiving" and "warm", there was a note that the newer Sparrow "A" had a revised and more "neutral" implementation that was a "step above the AD1852".

@haloxt, thanks for your help with Audio-GD questions.  (Not the first time you have thought about things for me!)

I know that I can really like Audio-GD because my friend's "B" version sounds really nice through the optical input.

Maybe a Bay Area Head-fier can help me run some RMAA tests...I can try to find someone.  Though, I'll have to find someone that can also measure the optical inputs as well as the USB.  Is it true that a lot of PCs don't have optical outputs unless they have special soundcards?

Hopefully I won't still have the "A" version Sparrow when we're at the Bay Area Meet, but I could also borrow the "B" version again and bring them.

Re: WM8805...  Is the WM8805 utilized when using the optical-in?  I do not like either the optical-in nor the USB-in on the "A" version.  

VERY NICE.  I'm looking forward to having my own "B" with AD1852 and DIR9001 !!!

WIth Audio-GD, I have found that I sometimes have to wait a little bit and after a week or two and a couple emails (this varies)- they seem to "catch up" on emails and are then very responsive.

Just had a very nice quick string of emails with Kingwa and I am really happy that I can exchange "A" version for the "B" version I borrowed from another Head-Fier (it may be mostly a preference thing and not an issue with the unit because of this response from Kingwa)...

From Kingwa:

Thank you, but I found it <significantly> different and do not want to take anything from the "A" version.

I'll be quite happy if I can match the optical-in of my friend's "B" version.

(And, opening his Sparrow would void the Pacific Valve Electric Company warranty which is where he purchased his from.) 

@KneelJung:  Yes, that was me.  Caveat:  My impressions here are with my experience and only one year of really paying attention to audio.  My friends have always "owned" the audio realm and I was more in the visual one (photography/print). 

What I found doing a fair amount of A/B over 2-3 weeks was that the Benchmark (Older, Non-USB with HPA-1, through optical-in) sounded very "linear" and "crisp"- bordering on "crunchy" (one of my issues with the Benchmark) but having good treble extension.  With the HF-2 (before I put the Jumbo pads on), I wanted "a bit" more resolution and "a tad" more treble.  The Benchmark did that for me and also "filled-in" more small details throughout the frequency range, extending the low (without padding it) and sounding more "connected".  I think it works well with Grado HF-2 and bowls.  I planned on adding something in the chain later (probably an SS amp- they soften too) to help with some music, remove the "crunchiness", and/or "relax" the presentation a bit.  

After deciding to try the Sparrow one more time but with my optical out from my Mac at home (Benchmarks are still pretty pricey), I found that I DID like the Sparrow "B" sound.  (Now I know I wasn't as impressed upon first listen because I do not like the USB-in nearly as much).

Comparison of "B" version Sparrow with "A" version:  Note:  Kingwa did write that I should feel free to fully burn-in the "A" continuously for 10-15 days before reaching a final conclusion and not to worry about how long I took before deciding what I wanted to do (very, very nice of him).  So, without "A" being burned in for 150-200 hours per Kingwa's suggestion: The optical implementation of the "B" sounds to me "drier" or "clearer" than the "B" USB in the unit I borrowed and the "A" USB-in just sounds really "smeared" to me in comparison.   

So, I am definitely mailing back the "A" tomorrow but look forward to having a "B"!  

Comparison of "B" optical with Benchmark optical:  What I found was that the "B" optical-in is very clear, maybe just a touch of warmth in the mids compared to the Benchmark but not as "crispy" or slightly "crunchy" sounding like the Benchmark.  I didn't miss the resolution of the Benchmark when listening to the "B" and just wanted to listen to the "B" even though I had (and can still borrow) the Benchmark for periods of time.  That was a great sign.  

The "B" has clarity but is not harsh, nor does it sound too "rounded" off or too "smoothed out" to me.  And- for the price I am flabbergasted.  A easy decision for a piece of gear that I can be happy with while I take my time to listen to other gear and see if it makes differences to my HF-2.  

I may be getting more finicky and may sound a lot like I am exaggerating, but I really noticed these differences.  I know I will continue to learn and hear more differences as I go along, too.

I checked my findings with my musician/mastering friends without telling them what I thought I was hearing and they said the same things.  

I have been learning/listening and then checking what I think I hear with what they think to test myself.  

I'm also listening to my reference recordings on my friend's speaker system (D'Appolito array) to try and learn about frequency extension and what is in the recordings.

SORRY FOR THE LONG REPLY!

Thanks, haloxt...very appreciative, you have much more experience than many of us so not offended at all by any of your thoughts or advice!

I did think about what Kingwa was saying (he was extremely nice and flexible about return/exchange/try-it-out options) but I took that burn-in advice in conjunction with some of the other communication that the AD chip as well as the DIR module are both "less warm" than the WM chip and WM modules according to him.  So, that's not what I'm shooting for even if burned-in...

(This way they can also listen to the unit and check it out.) 

@KneelJung- thank you for the confirmation!  Much appreciated.  Just sent off the unit and am looking forward to getting my "B" too.

I really think it is a good value and a nice unit.  I agree, sound signature preference and implementation are more important than just price alone for what we might prefer.

If not for other Head-Fiers, I never would have heard of (nor heard) Audio-GD.

Hopefully we've got LOTS more happy listening to do!!!   

OH!  Please let me know what you think when you have a chance to listen to your Sparrow with the Optical-in!  I'd like to know if yours also has a difference in sound and I will report if mine ends up sounding as good as my friend's after Kingwa's recommendation and around 200 hours on it...