Featured Sponsor Listings

Maverick Audio Tubemagic D1 or Schiit Magni and Modi as entry level setup?

Jan 13, 2013 at 8:23 PM Post #16 of 35
Quote:
ninjavampire said:
That's great, I hope you like it! Do you notice a big difference from using your headphones without an amp? Thanks for the reply :)
Click to expand...

 
I mainly use the dac for my desktop speakers, but i did try it with my headphones. My headphone don't need an amp to drive, i only turn the volume knob 3 - 5 clicks from its min position, between 8 - 9 o'clock ( min is 7 o'clock , max is 5 o'clock ).   9 o'clock is really loud already.
I am so newbie that i don't know how to describe the difference. But one thing i can tell is it sounds cleaner then i plug my headphone directly to my pc output jack (noise from pc maybe). 
normal_smile .gif

 
Jan 30, 2013 at 7:32 PM Post #17 of 35
Quote:
chuckle490 said:
Have you received yours cssarrow?
Click to expand...

Already have, it's quite nice. I keep it at work to listen to during my half hour breaks. A little grainy, but that's about it. More expensive DAC/Amp's will give you more detail and sound stage.
 
The Tubemagic D1+ is a good alternative. Both should sound nicely. If i had money, i'd grab the Plus version to experiment.
 
Tim
 
Jan 30, 2013 at 8:55 PM Post #19 of 35
Quote:
chuckle490 said:
I'm intrigued my the D1+, but I just have no idea what the tube sound would be like.
Click to expand...

Sounds more round and full. Would work great on HD-650's.
 
Jan 30, 2013 at 9:28 PM Post #21 of 35
Quote:
chuckle490 said:
I'm between the HE-400 and the HD 650 for my next pair of cans. Is there a difference in bass between tube and Solid State?
Click to expand...

I've had both cans.
 
Their sound difference is like night and day. In the end, i chose the HE-400.
HD-650 is good if you like the laid back smooth signature and full sound.
 
Yes, bass is more full on tube, but more impact on SS.
 
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:17 PM Post #22 of 35
Hmm interesting... As of right now my thoughts are that my first home rig will be either the hd 650 and D1 plus or the HE-400 and magni and modi. Leaning towards the HE-400 though, I've heard it has a great sound and I could use it with with E12 until I get a dedicated desktop rig.
 
Feb 1, 2013 at 10:11 PM Post #23 of 35
The tube is not used unless you use the tube out to a second amp. The D1's amp and the DAC are strictly solid state.The tube is merely a filter tube. I love my D1, but the tube is a gimmick.
 
It's almost like the principle behind bypass caps. If you're unfamiliar with what a bypass cap is it's where a high quality but low value film capacitor is soldered in parallel with a low quality electrolytic capacitor. This supposedly gives the cheap electrolytic capacitor a high quality film sound... but it's BS. That's basically what the tube in the D1 is. Electricity passes through it to supposedly give a solid state amp a tube sound.
 
TL;DR If you want tube sound buy a discrete tube amp.
 
With that said I'm listening to my D1 right now and completely enjoying it for what it is. :)
 
Feb 1, 2013 at 10:55 PM Post #25 of 35
D1 sounded good to me with sensitive headphones.
 
I would love to try that plus 
beerchug.gif

 
How are you deciding on things so far chuckle?
 
Tim
 
Feb 1, 2013 at 11:42 PM Post #27 of 35
Quote:
tequilasunriser said:
Sounds good with anything really, and despite popular opinion it has more than enough power to drive headphones that are often considered difficult to drive such as the 600ohm Beyerdynamic DT series.
Click to expand...

Hmmm, that's good to know because cannot find specs for it anywhere. I'm sure if it can drive a 600 ohm pair of headphones then it should drive the HE-400 well, since the HE-400 is 35 ohms.
Quote:
cssarrow said:
D1 sounded good to me with sensitive headphones.
 
I would love to try that plus 
beerchug.gif

 
How are you deciding on things so far chuckle?
 
Tim
Click to expand...

I'm really leaning towards the D1 plus. I'm just uncertain about it though, I cannot find enough information about it to really make up my mind. I would love to be able to have a plus being used through usb input from my computer and from a CD player via optical or coaxial input. Would be a very versatile beginner rig. I'm just uncertain of what the sound would be like. I listen to EDM almost exclusively so it's imperative that the low end be detailed and have relatively high impact. Any opinions?
 
Feb 2, 2013 at 12:09 AM Post #29 of 35
Quote:
tequilasunriser said:
 
An amp is simply there to power your headphones; it'll either power your headphones or it won't. Your imperative requirements depend on your choice of headphone, not amp.
Click to expand...

I'm sure that is the case. Thanks for your input.
 
Also does it matter what model of the D1 plus I purchase, should I get the $254.00 one or the $209.00?
 
Feb 2, 2013 at 12:16 PM Post #30 of 35
No, it's not worth the extra money. All the price increase does is give you a different opamp (you can get one from DigiKey for $2.00) and a $6.00 tube. The tube won't really do anything so you're basically paying $45 extra to have a $2.00 OPamp installed. You could do it yourself in 5 minutes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top