Review: April Eximus DP-1 - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by PETERCALV 

Hello again,

 

have you tried going directly from your Mac to the DP1 using the latest Amarra?

No I haven't. I suppose I could, but the computer is upstairs while my listening is down. I could use my laptop possibly. That would cut out the SBT and possibly offer a better sound. Have you used a SB Touch and did you notice a large difference. I suppose having less in the chain is always better.

But for practicality, for me, the SB Touch is the easiest and best solution.

M

Thick as in congested? Well the HD 600 will be on my list then. Its tough to hear all the different headphones, the only ones Ive heard on the Eximus are the Beyer T1, but only for a few minutes. Id say they give a classic tube amplifier speakers sound, warm, almost lush. Maybe too much but I don't know.

I did hear some lower end Beyers too, but they seemed to strip out the detail.

I heard the Grado PS1000 and really liked them on a Woo Audio amp, but they were pretty uncomfortable.

The HP-2 is probably out of my budget range. Its overwhelming all the different choices. lol..

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcullinan 

 

No I haven't. I suppose I could, but the computer is upstairs while my listening is down. I could use my laptop possibly. That would cut out the SBT and possibly offer a better sound. Have you used a SB Touch and did you notice a large difference. I suppose having less in the chain is always better.

 

But for practicality, for me, the SB Touch is the easiest and best solution.

M

Hello again,

no, I haven't tried a SB. I originally had a custom designed dedicated music PC using a SOTM USB PC Card and JRiver feeding my Cyrus DAC X and Rudistor amp .

Simon Lee at April Music recommended I tried using Amarra and a Mac, as he had determined this to be the best combo. I was very dubious of this, but thought I would give it a go. I borrowed a friend's Mac and installed a trial version of Amarra. He was spot on. I found immediate improvement with this thru the Eximus. A couple of days ago, I tried it again using Windows/JRiver and it is definitely better (at least to these old ears, anyway). I just think that if you have access to a Mac it is worth a try.

I have since bought a Macbook Pro and stripped it bare so it is a dedicated music player. All music files are kept on a separate 2TB Firewire drive, and I have upgraded the USB cable to an Audioquest Diamond. All of this has improved the sound even more.

The HD-650 with the DP-1 sounded ok when I had the 650.  Nothing spectacular, what made the 650 shine is a tube amp.  In my opinion the DP-1 drives lower impedance cans better than higher ones.  By that I mean 300-600ohms. 

Lately been using some orthos with the DP-1 and its really something to behold.  I guess if you like dark sound signature, the HD-650 is your phone,but if your looking for neutral give some orthos a try. 

Look at the DP-1 as a DAC with a amp as bonus.  Its very good in some sense with high efficient phones.  But in my experience the higher power LD does better with phones that need power.

I hope the new Schiit amp Mjolnir truely can drive any phone so I can replace the LD with it. 

As of any recommendation for amps with high impedance phones you should read the forums on what amps mate well with it.  I had great result with a Bottlehead Crack with speedball upgrade.  Then got the LD mk6 and a 4pin xlr Zu audio Mobius cable for the HD-650 and it was the best I heard it.  Not so dark and laid back anymore.  It truely opened the HD-650 soundstage more, the instrument and voices didnt had the added weight that it use to have.  To sum it all before=warm and dark, with LD and 4pin cable=between warm and neutral with better soundstage.

Hi anthony, nice review!  Thanks.

Do you still have your Eximus DP1?