Dedicated DAC vs AV Receiver (good one)

 

It depends upon how good the dedicated DAC is. I assume you with have lived with both units as DACs for some time and not just relied on blind testing.

 

But honestly, with matched levels, I find it very hard to distinguish good DACs, regardless of price, with blind testing. Whether blind testing is valid or not is a topic I won't dare go into.
 

 

 

In the late 90s, I ran Grado RS-1s out of a Linn Wakonda and Onkyo AV receiver. It sounded great and I'm sure it still does.

 

It depends upon the headphones too. If I am not mistaken, your DT990s are easy to drive like the Grados. You'll hear more of a difference if you try HD800s, HD650s, or K701s out of a receiver output and compare to a dedicated DAC/amp or separates.

The < $500 range is kind of tricky. The ~$350 Grado RA1 (amp only) is nothing more than a op-amp based CMOY where the electronic parts cost no more then $20 total. The secret with the RA1 is the specific $3.50 op-amp and crappy electrolytic caps that somehow inexplicably make it match well with Grado headphones. On the other hand, there is some seriously good stuff like the HeadAmp Pico or the DIY AMB γ2.

 

For easy to drive headphones, I feel DACs or DAC/amp combos over $1000 start to make a significant difference over good receivers.

 

Edited by purrin - 7/31/11 at 11:30am

Yup. I still get moved by music listening to FM radio in the car or Youtube videos from laptop speakers. I'll be going back to speakers in a few years when my youngest one gets old enough to know not to press in tweeter domes or splat milk over planar drivers.

 

Edited by purrin - 7/31/11 at 12:57pm

+1. My Pio Elite SC05 ( build-in Wolfson DACs ) and my Pio BDP 51fd Bluray player ( build-in Wolfson DACS)  when using together the PQLS function ( jitter reduction function kicks in ) I have been very happy with the HP output jack to drive any of my HPs.

 

My Pio Elite A35r HPs jack in particular driver high impedance cans very well .

 

I understand the concept of dedicated HP amp, but I agree with you unless one spend thousand $$$ on CDP, DACs, ICs. and HP amp, there is no advantage to move lateral with sub $1K CDP, DACs, HP amp, IMO.     

 

Save your money for more  better cans.

 

 

Unless it's a headphone that needs a lot of power like the HE6 or to lesser extent the LCD-2. There are a few decent amps from $200-$500s that do noticeably improve how those headphones sound. Then again, you can always hook up the HE6 to speaker outputs from your receiver.

Also, I'm not too sure the AGD Compass was all that great to begin with. Mike at Headfonia did not have good things to say (actually he was downright harsh) about it.
Edited by purrin - 8/8/11 at 9:16am

$400! Dang. For some odd reason, I thought it was $199. 

 

 

This product from Bryston maybe what I need if the price is right. I owned Bryston 4 BSST amp and their BP26 Pre-amp for a while, they are solid and quality products but the price is up there with Krell and B.A.T.