New Cypher labs product! - Page 14

This is a really a great news. I am confident CyberLabs will soon overcome this issue.

 

That's Cypher Labs, cypheralpha11.  ;-)

Edited by cooperpwc - 11/6/12 at 8:42am

 

Does anyone have objective info (e.g. data on componants) or subjective info based on listening (which provides real world info on how well the parts are implemented) as to how this device compares with the dx100? As you say, the price is fairly comparable. Cheers

You're comparing apples to oranges. Even if you have objective info, that won't be of too much help because one is a standalone DAC that you need to pair with an amp and the other one is a all-in-one DAP. And if you try to compare components one by one then I think it would be another mistake because a final product is more than the sum of its parts. 

 

I owned the DX100 before its "supposedly awesome" firmware update and I now prefer the new CLAS to the DX100. So I have mixed feelings about getting a product that can change that drastically with one update. On the one hand it's a good thing that the company is working hard to make it better but on the other hand those who didn't like the sound and sold the unit are now disappointed that they couldn't hear the improvements. I like iBasso as a company but thanks I'll stick to my CLAS + Amp combo which I can tweak by using different amps AND my computer.  IMO, CLAS is a winner here. 

That is why I steered clear of iBasso and the DX, it just seems to be that owners have paid for the priviledge to be beta testers and like so many things on headfi this company seems rife with hyperbole!

The CLAS for me just quietly gets on with the business of making beautiful music with no fuss ( and yes, I know there was a fault with the first few but that pales in comparison to what people with the DX are having to endure)
The other thing that puts me off buying iBasso stuff is that it is so soon redundant and I just bet they have a new product almost ready to launch that will make the DX into a very expensive brick!

Sorry, don't mean to bash the, but I hate it when companies release things before they are ready and this company and some others seem to do that a lot!

I don't suppose anyone can comment on how this would compare to my unmodded CA DacMagic? I've been waiting years for someone who would release a portable DAC which would provide an upgrade from my desktop DAC. I've got no interest in using a DAP like the dx100 which would force me to use their UI/GUI etc.

Does solo -db always over sample to 24/192?

I don't think it does upsampling but it is capable of playing 24/192 if you have them. 

Finally got my -dB.  It's still too early to give concrete listening impressions, and I haven't yet tested the balanced output to see if I can hear the out of phase problem.  Cypher Labs definitely increased the snazziness and aesthetics of the packaging on the -dB compared to the Solo--even including a 20-page manual full of pictures, though I'm not sure all of that is really necessary.  Even the charger seems nicer than the charger that came with my MK3 (which broke and ALO quickly agreed to replace).  In terms of size, the -dB seems more narrow but a bit taller than the Solo, with dimensions almost perfectly matching those of the MK3.

 

The level of hiss with the MK3 is still noticeable with my Edition 8s in balanced mode, but it's decreased significantly down to a tolerable level.  I didn't realize, despite reading through this thread and looking at pictures of the -dB, that the only USB port on the -dB is a mini USB.  I just assumed that was for connecting to computers, and there would still be a standard "input" style USB port, as with the Solo.  Luckily, the included stock iPod dock-to-mini USB cable seems to be of relatively high quality and durable.

 

Now, time to kick back and give this thing a run-through with my UERM and DT1350...

Is hiss from MK3 or Solo -db?

I was interested in purchasing ALO The National, but ALO doesn`t seem to post their amps headphone output impedance, which is recently a must for me.

I wonder what it is for the MK3....?

 

Well, it's from the MK3 but the output level of the source can affect the hiss exhibited by the amp.  I'm no expert, I just know that some amps have a blacker/quieter background than others, using the same source.  The Pico Slim and SR71b are 2 amps I've owned that didn't exhibit any hiss with hot sources like the Solo and HM-801 (although the SR71b also had a fairly high gain, resulting in less useable volume range at low levels).

I am using highly sensitive custom iems with the National and dont notice any hiss. 

ExpatInJapan's concern isn't about hiss but about output impedance.

I have been told the Rx Mk3 has an output impedance of 1 ohm but I can't seem to find any references to it.

Gentlemen,

 

Considering that, as opposed to other Android Phones, the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Samsung Note 2 have an "almost" standard USB audio, is there a chance the SOLO -dB will work with those 2 phone (using the mini-USB cable) ? Has someone tried ? 

 

Thanks

 

PS: how will we know when the problem will be fix and we can again order the SOLO -dB ? 

Edited by bmichels - 11/12/12 at 12:06am