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Denon D5000, DAC question, different source required? Amp?

post #1 of 9
2/19/12 at 11:44pm
Thread Starter 

I recently purchased the D5000, upgraded from the Audio Technica M50, which I liked but needed something with more detail. I also had the Pro 900 for a bit, which sound signature I didn't fully agree with (liked the headphones but didn't love them).

 

This post is kinda a 2 question thread.

 

I currently have Sansa Fuze rockboxed Line Out -> Fiio E11 -> D5000

which I don't know, doesn't make too much sense, since the headphones are 10  times the price of the source...

This might be a stupid question, but I am not giiving the D5000 a chance to show it's full potential, right? Is the E11 fine, is it just the source I should change? I am using all 320kbps and FLAC.

 

But since I won't use my D5000 as portable headphones, I wanna buy a DAC.

So this the main question: What's a good DAC or DAC&Amp combo for my D5000? I listen to mostly EDM.

If possible, I'd use it together with my E11, but if that's not necessary, that's ok too.

I'd connect the DAC to my laptop or desktop. Anything else that I should buy, besides the DAC?

Budget: $150, and maybe a little more if it's worth it.

 

Any recommendations?

I want to what DAC fits with my D5000 and possibly E11.

I am a noob when it comes to DAC, I know of a few, like the D10 and udac-2, but I'd like your guys' recommendations.

 

Please help :)

 

Thank you

 

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post #2 of 9
2/22/12 at 10:36am

I just got a Denon D5000 also. I am currently using E7 as the DAC docked on E9. It has a great sound and I have nothing negative to write about it. Don't even consider getting uDAC-2, from what I read in the technical retrospect, it's junk. How are you enjoying the sound so far?

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post #3 of 9
2/22/12 at 10:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dukeskd View Post

I just got a Denon D5000 also. I am currently using E7 as the DAC docked on E9. It has a great sound and I have nothing negative to write about it. Don't even consider getting uDAC-2, from what I read in the technical retrospect, it's junk. How are you enjoying the sound so far?


Speaking of technical, the E9's output impedance is too high to be technically correct for the D5000, yet you enjoy it. Guarantee the UDAC2 probably sounds good good, technical mumbo jumbo aside.

Again, people here focus too much on technicalities, on not what they actually hear themselves. If you enjoy it, technical specs don't mean anything.
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post #4 of 9
2/22/12 at 10:50am

A large part of the output you hear comes from the technical side and I haven't exactly complained about the uDAC-2's sound, but its inferior quality to other amps that are cheaper. And in reply to your observation about E9, you're right, it's probably not the best amp to pair with D5K's. However, the E7 is more than sufficient and does a great job as a DAC, with its additional settings it's certainly a winner in <= $150 price range. I think since you already got the E11, I would wait for the E17 and the reviews that follow it! Haha, just hope that the supply wouldn't get sold out so fast so I can grab one.


Edited by dukeskd - 2/22/12 at 10:52am
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post #5 of 9
2/22/12 at 12:50pm

Heya,

 

I have the Sansa Fuze + Fiio E11 + D5000 as well. I also put my D5000 on my Schiit Bifrost & Schiit Asgard (or Lyr even). The difference? None really.

 

I suggest you save your money and just buy more music and enjoy.

 

If you want a home setup, just get a Fiio E10.

 

The Sansa DAC is actually fine. You're not going to get some amazing new experience by getting a new DAC. The Sansa and my Schiit setup sound nearly the same on my D5000. Why? Because it really comes down to quality of the music recording, not really the quality of the DAC as far as I'm concerned. A good clean DAC will simply give you a return clean signal for amping. It doesn't magically do anything else. If the quality of your music files is relatively poor, and not even your faul, just poor recordings to begin with (lots of them are actually really poorly recorded) then nothing will change that--no DAC, no AMP, and no headphone can make up for poorly recorded stuff. I would suggest you get a few songs or even an album or two from HDtracks.com. Try that first. Then see if you hear a difference with one of those compared to something you already have from your collection.

 

D5K_travel.jpg D5K_Schiit.jpg

 

And again, the Fiio E10 is a great way to go for home. $80 new. Great DAC. Good solid little amp. Perfect for any Denon. Even the D7k.

 

Very best,


Edited by MalVeauX - 2/22/12 at 12:58pm
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post #6 of 9
2/23/12 at 1:59am
Thread Starter 

at all: thanks for the info about the u-dac2, not that you have discouraged me but the fact that I should look at the subjective sounding SQ and not only technical specs is something I should consider. I see that you are talking about the Fiio's, but then that the E17 is available (or that another batch is coming soon), should I get it for my home set-up?

I understand that it's a DAC/Amp combo and that the amp SQ is pretty decent, similar to the E11?! And it's within my budget.


MalVeauX, thanks for your insight, and I'm glad that someone that seems to know a lot about headgear is using the same set-up as a newbie like me. I see that you have the bifrost and Asgard. I was looking at those devices but the prices was a little out of my budget (for now) and I am glad to hear that the fuze LOD -> E11 -> D5000 works as well. And thanks for the suggestion of HDtracks.com, I am going to purchase the head-fi song combo thing for 24bit/96khz (or maybe it was 88kHz) for little money to check it out. Definitely making sure to have good source files only.

Honestly, I can't stand using the headphone jack of my laptop/desktop/phone anymore, even with good source files tho, it doesn't sound as good as my fuze setup (even tho I wonder what I could best replace to create higher fidelity, besides good source files).

 

So, I think I'm ok with my portable set up (even tho I will mostly use it at home or at school), but I'd also wanna consider a DAC or DAC/Amp combo for at home/laptop. So besides the E17 (which I think I'd take over the E10 even tho of the higher price, just not sure if it's worth the higher price)??

What do you think?

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post #7 of 9
2/23/12 at 5:58am

One thing to note, be sure you have your music at at least a decent bitrate.

But I'd say the recording/mastering is the most important thing (after the quality of your headphones), then bitrate isn't too far behind.

 

Besides the E17, I'd look at the ODA/ODAC that's coming out (sometime, ha). I'm waiting for them to pick up for my Denons.

 

Oh, and one thing to be wary of, be sure to buy the E17's from a retailer that won't disappear (like direct from amazon). My E7's broke, and the Amazon reseller that I got them from disappeared, so I have to ship them to china to get them fixed. :/


Edited by Taowolf51 - 2/23/12 at 6:00am
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post #8 of 9
2/27/12 at 2:45am
Thread Starter 

Yes, for sure the quality of the song itself is important.

People always say D5000 has a good portion of bass (well extended and good sub bass, that's why I got them).

Yes they have good quality bass but quantity wise.. either I am a total bass head or my set up just doesn't support too much bass?

Connecting it to my desktop and laptop doesnt make a big difference, the overall SQ is just worse. But again, I don't have a proper sound card for either one.

on my phone the SQ is not good either, also no increase in bass.

Maybe it's just the way it is or what? Not that I mind!!! I think the quantity is ok, and I can get used to it! It's just I am wondering if the quantity could increase ( Iam already using EQ2 on the E11).
I just went to an EDM concert and the bass there... wow the lowest extended, biggest (but also boomiest unfortunately) bass I've ever heard. I went to a bunch of EDM concerts and raves, clubs etc but wow comparing the bass output of those speakers to the D5000.. It's like huge old truck vs. super modern high-end bicycle. Stupid analogy but I was just totally blown and wonder when people say the D5000 has lots of bass, if they ever listened to "good quality" clubbing speakers?

 

But: Is my setup enough for the quantity of the bass? Or would the quantity increase with a different source/amp? Just wondering

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post #9 of 9
2/27/12 at 3:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mad Lust Envy View Post


Speaking of technical, the E9's output impedance is too high to be technically correct for the D5000, yet you enjoy it. Guarantee the UDAC2 probably sounds good good, technical mumbo jumbo aside.
Again, people here focus too much on technicalities, on not what they actually hear themselves. If you enjoy it, technical specs don't mean anything.


I actually prefer my D5000's out of the E7/E9 as compared to the HA-160D.  I mean both sound nice, but the D5000 is my 'fun' hp and I felt like the the bass output from the E7/E9 combo was just, for lack of a better description, 'more'.  I guess the flip side to that is you could say the 160D tightened up the bass.

 

I fail at articulating it all, but the gist is that I found the D5000 very fun for its purposes from the E7/E9.   But I also agree the E9's output impedance is technically too high.

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