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Audio-GD C-2.1 A bit confused.....

post #1 of 8
2/4/11 at 5:36pm
Thread Starter 

Good day everyone,

 

I am a bit confused here....and unfortunately, Kingwa didn't really helped me....probably because of Chinese New Year....

 

Here's my dilemma...which is a good one by the way !!!! biggrin.gif

 

I bought and received last week a REF5 Dac from Audio GD. This DAC is to be matched with my WA6SE and my HD800. So far, so good...

 

However, it happens quite often that I only listen music for less than an hour, therefore, I'd prefer using a SS amp rather than my Woo tube amp.... As a result, I wanted to buy the new C-2.1 headphone amp, but Kingwa replied that it would not benefit from the REF5 as much as it should as the REF5 is a balanced DAC and the C 2.1 is not balanced  !!!!

 

OK, so my Woo6SE... what do I do with it ??? Do I have to recable my HD800 ??? It doesn't make sense to me !!! I just want a good SE SS amp that I'll use when I watch DVDs or when I only have less than an hour to listen to music....Audio-GD do not sell NOT balanced DAC !!!!

 

Am I missing anything here, or Kingwa did not get my message right or is it me ????

 

For now I have a Schiit Asgard that I could use, but I thought the C-2.1 would be superior....

 

If anyone could help.. I'd appreciate...

 

Thanks for your time....and once again, I know it's a nice dilemma !!!!

 

Denys

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post #2 of 8
2/4/11 at 5:50pm

Audio gd DOES sell balanced dacs. And the recommended amp for the Ref 5 is the Roc, or the Phoenix-both of which are balanced. Kingwa just said what he did because he wouldn't recommend pairing a balanced dac and a single-ended amp obviously. And for my money, I'd say that the C-2.1 would probably outclass the Asgard by a fair margin.

 

-Daniel

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post #3 of 8
2/4/11 at 6:46pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by BournePerfect View Post

Audio gd DOES sell balanced dacs. And the recommended amp for the Ref 5 is the Roc, or the Phoenix-both of which are balanced. Kingwa just said what he did because he wouldn't recommend pairing a balanced dac and a single-ended amp obviously. And for my money, I'd say that the C-2.1 would probably outclass the Asgard by a fair margin.

 

-Daniel


Hi Daniel,

 

No, I said there's no way you can buy an unbalanced DAC (Read again, unless I did not express myself properly as English is not my mother tongue redface.gif).

 

Is not Roc discontinued ???

 

Denys
 

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post #4 of 8
2/4/11 at 7:21pm

Um, you CAN  buy unbalanced dacs! NFB-2, NFB-3 can be purchased. The Roc is discontinued, but I still believe you can buy most of the stuff on their discontinued list until they are out of the components to make them-hence why they are still listed on their site (I believe). I'd just email them around the 15th after they are back up and running around the 15th!

 

-Daniel

 

PS: I have a Reference 9 (single-ended flagship dac) for sale in the FS forum if you're interested. I'm looking to possible go the balanced route myself.

 

-Daniel 

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post #5 of 8
2/5/11 at 3:33pm
Thread Starter 

Kingwa suggested me NOT to buy the C-2.1 as it will not benefit from the REF5 entirely. (Does that sentence make sense ????confused_face(1).gif)

 

He mentioned that might be a new amp like the ROC that could soon be available (BChoice of balance or SE). Therefore, I'll wait... I am not in a rush, as I'll use the Asgard and the Woo in the meantime...

 

Denys 

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post #6 of 8
2/5/11 at 6:06pm


I guess what Kingwa meant is that REF5 is a fully balanced DAC but C-2.1 is not balanced and you should be much better off if you pair fully balanced gears. C-2.1 certainly works well with REF5 but you just can't take full advantage of REF5 by using C-2.1. Hope I'm making sense here.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Denys View Post

Kingwa suggested me NOT to buy the C-2.1 as it will not benefit from the REF5 entirely. (Does that sentence make sense ????confused_face(1).gif)

 

He mentioned that might be a new amp like the ROC that could soon be available (BChoice of balance or SE). Therefore, I'll wait... I am not in a rush, as I'll use the Asgard and the Woo in the meantime...

 

Denys 

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post #7 of 8
2/5/11 at 11:29pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by erjifan View Post


I guess what Kingwa meant is that REF5 is a fully balanced DAC but C-2.1 is not balanced and you should be much better off if you pair fully balanced gears. C-2.1 certainly works well with REF5 but you just can't take full advantage of REF5 by using C-2.1. Hope I'm making sense here.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Denys View Post

Kingwa suggested me NOT to buy the C-2.1 as it will not benefit from the REF5 entirely. (Does that sentence make sense ????confused_face(1).gif)

 

He mentioned that might be a new amp like the ROC that could soon be available (BChoice of balance or SE). Therefore, I'll wait... I am not in a rush, as I'll use the Asgard and the Woo in the meantime...

 

Denys 


 


Exactly....this is precisely what Kingwa meant.....

 

Therefore, I'll wait....no rush in my case....

 

Denys
 

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post #8 of 8
2/10/11 at 2:00am

Denys, I contacted Kingwa about this, as he didn't advise me against the C-2.1 (2011 edit) when I placed my order for one, even though I mentioned at the time of the order that the C-2.1 was to be used with a Ref 5.  However, I didn't say that I'd be using balanced headphones, which might be the explanation. 

 

I asked about the ROC replacement, thinking I might hold off for it too, and was told: "And now we just think about this,but no plan of the new ROC now,sorry."

 

I'm staying with my C-2.1 order and will probably go for some HD650s with a view to upgrading to a ROC replacement, if one is ever made, with HD800 or other balanced headphones in future.

 

Mark

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