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Do I need a DAC or not?

post #1 of 5
10/13/10 at 7:52am
Thread Starter 

I mostly use my MBP/iPod connected or my PC as a source, which is where all my music is.

Listening to mostly CD ISOs and FLAC files, but a few 320 kbps CBR MP3s as well. Genres ATM are rock, metal and country, with a bit of blues.

I find:

1) Very little difference between my RS1i amped and unamped. In fact, while the bass impact seems to improve, as does the front soundstage, very little else does. Amp is a little dot micro tube.

2) Little difference between my D7000 amped and unamped. Though the difference is more than the RS1i, it's not much, at least to my ears.

3) Again, little difference in the SR225 too (amped VS unamped).

 

Both headphones have 100 hours of listening time on them.

 

Is it my amp? Do I need a DAC? Both. Please give me some opinions.

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post #2 of 5
10/13/10 at 12:01pm

Well, when I got an amp, it improved bass response a great deal, and sound also got more controlled and clear. I really don´t know what else it should do. Maybe you were expecting too much from this amp?

 

I´m still waiting for my DAC, so I can´t tell what it does to the sound yet, but I´m expecting more detail mostly.

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post #3 of 5
10/13/10 at 2:22pm

A good DAC with an amp will make more of a difference than just amp or unamp.To me the difference is like going from Dolby Digital --> DTS-HD MA in movies.

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post #4 of 5
10/13/10 at 2:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOtus View Post

Well, when I got an amp, it improved bass response a great deal, and sound also got more controlled and clear. I really don´t know what else it should do. Maybe you were expecting too much from this amp?

 

I´m still waiting for my DAC, so I can´t tell what it does to the sound yet, but I´m expecting more detail mostly.


'Garbage in, garbage out' goes the saying. Amplification was personally my most impactful step (but that I blame on having only very poor amplification to start out with), the one that I noticed the most. I primarily found that clipping was reduced, highs were extended, and bass was tightened up from being boomy. I then upgraded my headphones, and then later, I bought my DAC. I noticed that there was a bit more bass extension, but the soundstage grew tremendously and imaging became much more realistic. I appreciate that difference much more with my K701s than my HD650s, but both benefited a lot. Do NOT neglect your DAC, it is an incredibly important step. 

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post #5 of 5
10/14/10 at 12:14am

I also use my MBP as a source.  I have an Audiofire 2 as my DAC.  The difference between the sound coming from the DAC vs MBP isn't that big of a difference.  It's noticeable but not a huge difference like everyone makes it out to be.  Upgrading my headphones from the Audio Technica m50 to the Beyerdynamic DT880 (250 ohm) made a big difference.

 

I like the idea of keeping the signal chain simple to prevent loss and distortion.  I just have MBP -> Audiofire 2 -> DT880.  I'm done messing and upgrading my equipment... I'm just going to sit back and enjoy my music.

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