[koiloco]

Quote:

What is the Teac 501? I've never heard of it? Where and how much $?

Pretty new.  It came out this year i think.  Stock was short for a while, even now.
 
http://audio.teac.com/product/ud-501/
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/632413/teac-reference-line-ud-501-usb-dac-dsd/75#post_9662177
 
I paid $850 from amazon.  This is it for me for DAC for a long time.  I was looking into the WA7 but still like the sound of my Emotiva amp very much at home so I don't think I would upgrade amp.  So I upgraded DAC as a test for my next step in this hobby.  I read quite a few positive reviews/threads so I just gave it a go.  Very happy so far with the TEAC.  Today, I got an offer in for a vintage sansui 9090 locally but the guy is not willing to deal yet.  

 

[demontux]

Q701 sounds amazing out of the Xonar essence STX. i dunno why some post say the amp on the xonar sucks... i mean they do get improved with it, and the DAC on the STX is really good. my old panasonic has really good amp, but the one on the STX is just more "PURE" and clean without any hissing. also it make the bass more punchy.

 

[stv014]

Quote:

i dunno why some post say the amp on the xonar sucks...

 
Many say it because of bias (the "sound cards suck" prejudice, sometimes even by people who have never heard the combination), and some because it does not measure great with low impedance headphones, but this is usually not to the extent of actually making it sound "bad" in practice.

 

[Stalker81598]

I think in this case it has more to do with its synergy with the Q701. The 701 can sound pretty thin and harsh if you don't have the right amp, which is why in most cases people prefer something that will warm it up a bit. I haven't heard the STX but my experience with Xonar cards is that they are pretty transparent. IMO, that doesn't jive well with the 701. YMMV

 

[jasonb]

I have gained new respect for the Q701... Bottom line is that they do like power. This morning I gave my newly acquired Pioneer SX-750 a DeoxIT treatment and WOW! This thing is a whole different animal now. This amp has tone controls and putting the bass at +2 really wakes the bass up all the way deep into the sub-bass, and they definitely can't be called bass light now on this amp. Of course it's not just the bass that has improved, but everywhere as well. This is like putting the Q701 on steroids, just like A-rod. 

 

[koiloco]

Quote:

I have gained new respect for the Q701... Bottom line is that they do like power. This morning I gave my newly acquired Pioneer SX-750 a DeoxIT treatment and WOW! This thing is a whole different animal now. This amp has tone controls and putting the bass at +2 really wakes the bass up all the way deep into the sub-bass, and they definitely can't be called bass light now on this amp. Of course it's not just the bass that has improved, but everywhere as well. This is like putting the Q701 on steroids, just like A-rod. 

Good to hear.  I am shopping around for a pioneer or sansui locally.  No luck yet.

 

[Androb]

Ok im looking for an external dac. Been using my diy amp (copy of lehmann black cube) and essence stx. Wondering if there is any decent dac that gives a tiny bit warmer sound, and is it worth getting one or is the stx dac decent enough?
I read something about schiit modi being ok but want some opinions

 

[hsubox]

Ok im looking for an external dac. Been using my diy amp (copy of lehmann black cube) and essence stx. Wondering if there is any decent dac that gives a tiny bit warmer sound, and is it worth getting one or is the stx dac decent enough?
I read something about schiit modi being ok but want some opinions

The Modi works really well with the 701s so long as a computer is your only source you want to use it with (its USB only). I love the sound with mine.

 

[Androb]

Ok nice Yea its probably only going to be used with my pc since I dont want to bring my q701's outside Do you know if it sounds alot better than like the essence stx inbuilt dac?

 

[koiloco]

Quote:

Ok nice Yea its probably only going to be used with my pc since I dont want to bring my q701's outside Do you know if it sounds alot better than like the essence stx inbuilt dac

what's your budget?

 

[Androb]

Ehm lets say 350euro.

 

[ThurstonX]

I posted this in the Q701 review thread, and then I found this one. Seems more appropriate here.
 
 
I got the funky fresh white Q701s last Thursday. Did a quick check to see how they sounded, making sure they weren't unbalanced or anything. Only listened to a couple songs, once direct from an M-Audio Revo 5.1's HP Out, and again through a JDS Labs C5 amp. Highs were a bit much, low-end about what I expected. Then I started burning them in, rotating through a mixed playlist for 8-12 hours, then a couple three off, then back on. That's been going on until about noon today, so a bit over 100 hours.
 
For the moment I'm using the included 10' green cable. Never gonna trip over that in the dark 

  The C5 set on low gain is plenty to drive them. Playback noted below is using AIMP3 (latest build) set to WASAPI Exclusive and FLACs.
 
My first real session with them is using a laptop (RealTek ALC269's HP Out; all Sound Effects off, of course) to the C5 via a 12' Media Bridge cable, playing the latest album by The Bevis Frond (2013's "White Numbers"; check it out at Bandcamp or wherever; good stuff). Being a guitar-driven band of psychedelic Brit pop, I figured it'd be a good test to see how the sound had shaped up, or out, if you prefer. The highs are still there, and while prominent, I'm not fatigued after 80+ minutes. It's low-end that got my attention, not to mention the sound stage. To my ears, the basslines are beautiful. I tried some minor EQing at various bands (87, 125, 175, 250, in various combinations), but it wasn't needed. Acoustic guitars are simply gorgeous, as are the few piano parts.
 
Then, to change it up, I put on track 1 from Hugh Laurie's Let Them Talk ("St. James Infirmary"). Wow. All the raw emotion pours straight through. Instrument separation is excellent. Subtleties like the guitarist getting ready to join in while Hugh's finishing up the piano intro accentuate the detail the Q701s can deliver. And the stand-up bass that kicks off the song proper after the dramatic intro... perfection. And finally, Hugh's vocals cut straight to the center of your skull, the band spread out around him. Even my wife noted all this. She was amazed, even if a total head-fi neophyte.
 
There's definitely an airy quality about them, but without sacrificing any impact. So glad I got these. Not sure I'll keep burning them in. I guess plenty of play time will accomplish that. I'm also interested to compare them to my AKG K550s, admittedly a different design, for various types of music. Lastly, I ordered a custom cable from Redco using Mogami W2893 mini-quad and Redco connectors (mini-TRS and 3.5mm). Wanted something shorter. Redco is pleasure to deal with.
 
Back to the tuneage  

 
 
I'll search here and elsewhere, but would the Hippocase (L) work for the Q701s?

 

[heynice]

After several hours of research between dt880 and q701 I've finally decided to order these. I hate the Quincy Jones branding and the in-your-face green cable, but I have been using PFE Iems for several years and I love highs and am not a big fan of muddy bass, and I am very curious to see how the soundstage of these will be like o.0, I only have an ibasso d10 for dac/amp so we'll see, should be here by the end of the week

 

[Androb]

After several hours of research between dt880 and q701 I've finally decided to order these. I hate the Quincy Jones branding and the in-your-face green cable, but I have been using PFE Iems for several years and I love highs and am not a big fan of muddy bass, and I am very curious to see how the soundstage of these will be like o.0, I only have an ibasso d10 for dac/amp so we'll see, should be here by the end of the week

All I can say that I sat and listen to several dt models and all I can say is that I thought that they sounded pure s*** compared to my q701 and in that store where I listened to them they had several amps from 200euro to over 1000euro.

Might be my taste tho, but I think you made a great decision to get the akg

 

[bracko]

Quote:

After several hours of research between dt880 and q701 I've finally decided to order these. I hate the Quincy Jones branding and the in-your-face green cable, but I have been using PFE Iems for several years and I love highs and am not a big fan of muddy bass, and I am very curious to see how the soundstage of these will be like o.0, I only have an ibasso d10 for dac/amp so we'll see, should be here by the end of the week

Great decision to get q701!