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HD650 + Matrix M-Stage + (_________) DAC?

post #1 of 9
10/2/10 at 2:57pm
Thread Starter 

I've got the HD650's and a Matrix M-Stage on the way. I was initially going to spend more on the amp but decided to lower the budget on the amp and add a better source.

 

Wondering if anyone is using a DAC with HD650s and a Matrix M-Stage V2?

 

Would the Music Fidelity V-Dac be a good source with the above setup?

Would the AMB y2 be better?

VALAB NOS?

 

My budget is around the $300 mark.


Edited by lessblue - 10/2/10 at 2:59pm
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post #2 of 9
10/2/10 at 4:58pm

If USB only does not bother you I have to recommend the HRT Music Streamer II+. For 350$ you get Async usb with 96/24 playback.

I found it better than the y2 in every aspect as I compared them both with my LCD-2. The II+ gave a clearer and brighter picture of the music, in a good way.

Me thinks it will open up your HD650's arguably closed sound (never heard them).

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post #3 of 9
10/2/10 at 7:46pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the suggestion, I'm going look some more into the HRT II+ as well. I am pretty much going to use it with lossless/pc so I'm going to consider it.                                                                Right now I'm using the external EMU USB 0404.

 

 

 

 

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post #4 of 9
10/2/10 at 8:26pm
I wonder how much you will have to spend on a new DAC to make a noticeable improvement in sound vs. just using the E-MU as your DAC? I have seen some threads in the past claiming that it has a pretty decent DAC. It may lean a bit towards the bright side but could that be just what the HD650 needs? I also currently use the E-MU 0404usb but am trying to decide on a new amp/pre-amp and DAC as well... oh and headphones.
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post #5 of 9
10/2/10 at 11:29pm
Thread Starter 

Hmmm, so the DACs above may not be much of a step up from the EMU USB 0404?

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post #6 of 9
10/3/10 at 6:22am

FYI you may already know this but the various jacks on the back of the e-mu should be used to connect to your new amp - not the headphone jack as it does not have as good of sound from what I've heard.

 

The DACs I have been looking into that appear (based on what I have read) to be a clear step up from the e-mu are the Audio-GD DAC-19; Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC; and the Meier Audio StageDAC. However they are all in the five to seven hundred dollar range. There are of course many others but those are the three that personally interest me. The DAC-19 uses a DAC chip that has many fans that proclaim it to sound more natural than any of the other chips made today. Meanwhile the MiniMax uses the new Sabre chip that seems to be getting high praise and then the StageDAC looks like a well built DAC with lots of cool features that may win the day for me such as crossfeed.

 

Well hopefully others will weigh in on the subject but my current feeling is that in the sub three hundred dollar range you might find DACs that sound slightly different than the e-mu's but not really a jump up in sound quality.

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post #7 of 9
10/3/10 at 10:50am

If you are willing to DIY, you should probably go for a Gamma 2.

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post #8 of 9
10/3/10 at 11:53am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by violinvirtuoso View Post

If you are willing to DIY, you should probably go for a Gamma 2.



Do you know if the Gamma 2 (y2) is a significant upgrade from the external EMU USB 0404?

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post #9 of 9
10/3/10 at 1:19pm

Check this out:

 

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/454445/amb-gamma2-dac-sound-impressions

http://www.amb.org/audio/gamma2/

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