CEntrance DACmini DAC/Amplifier Official Thread - Page 47

Quote:

Originally Posted by plin 

It would be interesting if others chime in and share their experiences with upgraded and / or linear power supplies with DACmini.

 

I've used my Kingrex linear PSU (13V 3A) to power the DACmini and was not able to detect any difference in sound quality with my LCD-2 or HD 800.

Regarding the Welborne Labs power supply, I built one a few years ago for a Squeezebox and it is a very nice supply.  However, like with the DACmini, I was unable to detect any perceivable difference from the stock switching supply.  (Like the DACmini, the Squeezebox also chops up the external DC power with its internal switching supplies.)
 

Anyone know how much of an improvement I should expect going from the audio gd NFB-12 to the dacmini ?

Also, is the dacmini a better pairing with the he-500 than a bifrost/lyr combo?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mac336 

Anyone know how much of an improvement I should expect going from the audio gd NFB-12 to the dacmini ?

 

Also, is the dacmini a better pairing with the he-500 than a bifrost/lyr combo?

Can't respond to the NFB-12 question.  As for #2, I don't know if I would say better, but both rigs were quite good with the HE-500 at RMAF, although the DACmini is not as powerful and has slightly less impact.  They were in different parts of the room and a side-by-side listen wasn't possible.  

When I brought my gear to RMAF to display, my dynamic rig was the DACmini with only the HE-500 and LCD-2, because I thought this was good enough for people to get an idea of what Head-Fi is about. And my Stat rig was the balanced KGSS with SR-007 and HE-60, which was not hugely better than the dynamic rig.  I used an Apogee mini-DAC to drive both rigs at the same time from the same source, but the Apogee is only slightly better than the built-in DAC of the DACmini (but offers balanced output for the KGSS).

Chris_Himself was using an HDP for his HE-500 and switched to the Schitt gear and thinks it was an upgrade.  All I can say about DACmini is that it's also an upgrade over the HDP.

For everyone who has experience with the LCD-2/DACmini combo, whats your opinion on how it does female vocals? I was also wondering how the combo handles pop music. Thanks in advance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ringyring 

For everyone who has experience with the LCD-2/DACmini combo, whats your opinion on how it does female vocals? I was also wondering how the combo handles pop music. Thanks in advance.

I've posted several times in here that the LCD-2/DACmini is a great pairing, and that's with female vocals, pop, rock, classical, jazz, new age, acoustic, etc.  Alex at Audeze was impressed enough to buy a DACmini at RMAF 2011.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict 

I've posted several times in here that the LCD-2/DACmini is a great pairing, and that's with female vocals, pop, rock, classical, jazz, new age, acoustic, etc.  Alex at Audeze was impressed enough to buy a DACmini at RMAF 2011.

 

Yeah I had previously read though the entire thread, just wanted to see if anyone had any other thoughts.

That Audeze tidbit is cool, pretty high praise for a combo/product when the co-founder decides to get one himself. 

Excellent customer service!

I had a problem with static when turning the volume knob. I requested warranty support and Michael Goodman responded immediately. CEntrance is replacing the volume pot and I'm adding the 1 Ohm mod while it's in the shop. These guys take very good care of their customers.

I use my Dacmini with my LCD2, Etymotic ER4P, Shure SE 535, and modded Fostex T50RP. The sound quality is superb with each one. I'm hoping the 1 Ohm mod improves the SQ even more. If so, great. If no difference, Still great! 

BMF

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluemonkeyflyer 

Excellent customer service!

 

I had a problem with static when turning the volume knob. I requested warranty support and Michael Goodman responded immediately. CEntrance is replacing the volume pot and I'm adding the 1 Ohm mod while it's in the shop. These guys take very good care of their customers.

 

I use my Dacmini with my LCD2, Etymotic ER4P, Shure SE 535, and modded Fostex T50RP. The sound quality is superb with each one. I'm hoping the 1 Ohm mod improves the SQ even more. If so, great. If no difference, Still great! 

 

BMF

Please, post your impressions about SQ after the mod. 

I agree, CEntrance customer service is A++. The SQ is very good, but lacks power for the HD800s IMO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukeskd 

I agree, CEntrance customer service is A++. The SQ is very good, but lacks power for the HD800s IMO.

Same here with the T1.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukeskd 

I agree, CEntrance customer service is A++. The SQ is very good, but lacks power for the HD800s IMO.

I don't find any lack of power for the HD800, or K702 for that matter.  Are you sure you are not confusing gain with power?

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilCox 

I don't find any lack of power for the HD800, or K702 for that matter.  Are you sure you are not confusing gain with power?

By power I mean that the HD800 doesn't have its potential fullfilled, the amp can control the volume but the SQ is lacking. When I bought the Lyr and tried it out with the HD800, it was like a powerhorse compared to the light amp of Dacmini. The same goes with my LCD-2s. When I first had the Dacmini, and it was my only amp I was satisfied with the sound but I knew it could get better and hence I bought the Lyr. When comparing them, it is apparent how they differ, sometimes when I plug the headphones back to the Dacmini I miss the Lyr's power that I remove it almost immediately and put it back to the Lyr.

Y'all can check out my pictures of the DACMini and the HD800 + LCD-2 + D7000 with the Lyr also and a short review of all these phones and the amps at:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/609125/hd800-vs-lcd-2-rev-2-vs-d7000-shootout

Has anyone used the DacMini with Ultrasone Ed. 8's? If so, was it the stock configuration or with the 1 ohm mod? Any impressions would be appreciated.

O.K. I received my Dacmini from the CEntrance shop 4 days ago. I wanted to listen over an extended period of time before offering my impressions. The CEntrance "Boys" did a great job, once again. I had a scratchy noise when turning the volume knob that irritated me. Michael, Kenny, and David All emailed me with updates along the way. They informed me they now have a new volume pot that meets their Quality Control specs and that's what I got.  They also installed the 1 ohm output impedance mod and tightened up the selector knob. On top of that, they covered all this Out of Warranty because I sent my Dacmini in once before for the same problem and because of the 4 week wait while they tested the new volume pot. If that was not enough, they did not charge me for the 1 ohm mod. Talk about Customer Service Excellence! These guys have been great to deal with; super fast communication, top notch service, and nice guys to boot.

Now, for the sound. Auditory memory is ephemeral and subject to placebo and Halo Effects.  All I can say is that the sound quality I'm hearing from my Audeze LCD2's and modded T50RPs is magic. I have a good friend who heard my Dacmini paired with my LCD2's. He sold his Stax Lambda's and bought the Dacmini + LCD2's within the same week. He recently bought a Benchmark HD and we had a mini shootout. We took turns switching out the Dacmini and Benchmark paired with our LCD2's and my modded T50RP's. Neither of us could tell one amp from the other.