Not going to argue there, but it is good to have options.
 
p.s. how's your SDT treating you ?

Yeah, exactly. I'm not trying to be a devil's advocate. Really just exercising my rights as a consumer for the greater good of the head-fi community. 

The SDT is really quite amazing. Although I do sometimes wonder what it would sound like with the MUSES02 since I am so used to the warm signature of my Woo tube amp, that is by no means a negative for the SDT. It's very laid-back and musical IMO and doesn't sound sterile at all even though the treble extension and clarity is top notch. 

I don't believe, you've done a detailed comparison between the SDT and Verza yet (have you?). I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. 

Quote:

valkolton said:

 
THUNDERSTRUCK... (AC/DC)!!!   
 

 
http://v-moda.com/tuono-lightning-cable/
 
It is very short... and official by Apple MFI... it has taken a long time to make it pass the tests, but this is legit and the most compact in the market today.
 
Enjoy it... (while they last).
 
FYI - Tuono means "thunder" in Italiano
 
-V
 

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That is great to see. so awesome. I wish we were selling these at our store. Guess Ill buy from a competitor.  

Quote:

scolaiw said:

Yeah, exactly. I'm not trying to be a devil's advocate. Really just exercising my rights as a consumer for the greater good of the head-fi community. 

The SDT is really quite amazing. Although I do sometimes wonder what it would sound like with the MUSES02 since I am so used to the warm signature of my Woo tube amp, that is by no means a negative for the SDT. It's very laid-back and musical IMO and doesn't sound sterile at all even though the treble extension and clarity is top notch. 

I don't believe, you've done a detailed comparison between the SDT and Verza yet (have you?). I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. 

Click to expand...

The reason I haven't done it is because it is sort of apple to oranges, and here is a list of reasons why:
 
1, if you have neither and uses Apple DAPs, then the SDT is a better pick.
2, if you have the VERZA and only use it for Apple DAPs, then the SDT is moot due to power.
3, if you have Android, then the VERZA is pretty much your only option.
4, if you have PC/MAC or non-standard DAPs (?), then neither will be truly worth their cost.
6, if you care about DSD or SACD rips, the you most likely already have a desktop DAC/AMP that does that.
 
However, if you really want my answer, a short one will be that the SDT's SQ is definitely cleaner as the up conversion works very well, but since the VERZA trumps it in power, music sounds fuller with it.  Also the universal nature of the SDT with its optical and analog input and output help differentiate it from the VERZA, even it lacks Android support.  The only oddball situation that you might truly want the SDT is to use it with DSD capable DAPs like the AK100/120, but that's a niche application in a already niche market.

Quote:

drsheep said:

The reason I haven't done it is because it is sort of apple to oranges, and here is a list of reasons why:
 
1, if you have neither and uses Apple DAPs, then the SDT is a better pick.
2, if you have the VERZA and only use it for Apple DAPs, then the SDT is moot due to power.
3, if you have Android, then the VERZA is pretty much your only option.
4, if you have PC/MAC or non-standard DAPs (?), then neither will be truly worth their cost.
6, if you care about DSD or SACD rips, the you most likely already have a desktop DAC/AMP that does that.
 
However, if you really want my answer, a short one will be that the SDT's SQ is definitely cleaner as the up conversion works very well, but since the VERZA trumps it in power, music sounds fuller with it.  Also the universal nature of the SDT with its optical and analog input and output help differentiate it from the VERZA, even it lacks Android support.  The only oddball situation that you might truly want the SDT is to use it with DSD capable DAPs like the AK100/120, but that's a niche application in a already niche market.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick synopsis!  One thing I will say though is, while DSD is currently a niche market, it is gearing up for a big push.  There are some major players getting ready to "enter" the space.

Quote:

speakerphile said:

Thanks for the quick synopsis!  One thing I will say though is, while DSD is currently a niche market, it is gearing up for a big push.  There are some major players getting ready to "enter" the space.

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That would be nice, as I am pretty sick of all those DSD samples with just classical music (not that they are bad.)  Also there were documentation errors from VC on the DSD DAC function for the SDT for fb2k.

This might be a stupid question but will the lightning cable to USB(tuono) use the digital output from the IPHONE 5 going into the verza? Also is there other headphone amplifiers that will do this or is the Verza the only one?

Quote:

drsheep said:

The reason I haven't done it is because it is sort of apple to oranges, and here is a list of reasons why:
 
1, if you have neither and uses Apple DAPs, then the SDT is a better pick.
2, if you have the VERZA and only use it for Apple DAPs, then the SDT is moot due to power.
3, if you have Android, then the VERZA is pretty much your only option.
4, if you have PC/MAC or non-standard DAPs (?), then neither will be truly worth their cost.
6, if you care about DSD or SACD rips, the you most likely already have a desktop DAC/AMP that does that.
 
However, if you really want my answer, a short one will be that the SDT's SQ is definitely cleaner as the up conversion works very well, but since the VERZA trumps it in power, music sounds fuller with it.  Also the universal nature of the SDT with its optical and analog input and output help differentiate it from the VERZA, even it lacks Android support.  The only oddball situation that you might truly want the SDT is to use it with DSD capable DAPs like the AK100/120, but that's a niche application in a already niche market.

Click to expand...

What happened to reason no. 5? 

Hahaha, I guess I picked the right one then.... I was only ever considering them for portable use (with lower impedance headphones) and with Apple DAPs. Based on what you said, I can assume then that I picked the better sounding option. I never got the DSD to work, but I really doubt I'd be able to hear the difference anyway and it's not really a must-have option due to the (at the moment) lacking library of DSD choices. 

Quote:

headphonejunky said:

This might be a stupid question but will the lightning cable to USB(tuono) use the digital output from the IPHONE 5 going into the verza? Also is there other headphone amplifiers that will do this or is the Verza the only one?

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Yes. ANY lightning cable will transmit (and can only transmit) digitally.

Current DAC/amp options for all iDevices include: the Fostex HP-P1 (an oldie but a goldie), the Sony PHA-1 (also showing its age a little but offers some unique options), the Verza, the VentureCraft Go-Dap X and SounDroid Typhoon and a couple more. Some being DAC only options.

Quote:

scolaiw said:

What happened to reason no. 5? 

Hahaha, I guess I picked the right one then.... I was only ever considering them for portable use (with lower impedance headphones) and with Apple DAPs. Based on what you said, I can assume then that I picked the better sounding option. I never got the DSD to work, but I really doubt I'd be able to hear the difference anyway and it's not really a must-have option due to the (at the moment) lacking library of DSD choices. 

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5 = I can't count and failed as a human being with a Master in Math...  And you made the right choice.  Let's hope that Val will makes a VERZA 2 based on the SDT but with more power!
 
To get DSD to work in fb2k with the SDT, you need to set your output device to ASIO: foo_dsd_asio and NOT ASIO: SounDroid_Typhoon as documented in the SDT's manual.  I posted about this in the SDT trend.

Quote:

drsheep said:

5 = I can't count and failed as a human being with a Master in Math...  And you made the right choice.  Let's hope that Val will makes a VERZA 2 based on the SDT but with more power!
 
To get DSD to work in fb2k with the SDT, you need to set your output device to ASIO: foo_dsd_asio and NOT ASIO: SounDroid_Typhoon as documented in the SDT's manual.  I posted about this in the SDT trend.

Click to expand...

I think it might be a a little while before Verza 2 is released, they need to make a sizeable profit on the Verza first I reckon.

Also I did see your post on the thread, It still wouldn't work on my end. I figured I must've stuffed something up at the start but like I said, I really didn't need to play DSDs anyway and I don't think it would've sounded better than my desktop setup anyway. 

Quote:

scolaiw said:

Yes. ANY lightning cable will transmit (and can only transmit) digitally.

Current DAC/amp options for all iDevices include: the Fostex HP-P1 (an oldie but a goldie), the Sony PHA-1 (also showing its age a little but offers some unique options), the Verza, the VentureCraft Go-Dap X and SounDroid Typhoon and a couple more. Some being DAC only options.

Click to expand...

how does the fiio e17 hold up against these units?

Quote:

scolaiw said:

I think it might be a a little while before Verza 2 is released, they need to make a sizeable profit on the Verza first I reckon.

Also I did see your post on the thread, It still wouldn't work on my end. I figured I must've stuffed something up at the start but like I said, I really didn't need to play DSDs anyway and I don't think it would've sounded better than my desktop setup anyway. 

Click to expand...

I seriously hope you will get it working, as the sound from a 64DSD is amazing from the SDT, but less warm compare to the AK120.
Quote:

headphonejunky said:

how does the fiio e17 hold up against these units?

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The E17 does not support iOS or Android in digital mode, unless somehow your DAP has an optical out for the E17.  I have no experience with the E17, but I guess even the PHA-1 will beat it easily.

Quote:

headphonejunky said:

how does the fiio e17 hold up against these units?

Click to expand...

Well the e17 won't be able to take digital out of an iDevice, that's for sure. And if it's an iDevice that requires the lightning cable, then you're stuck with double amping. Having said that, the DAC and amp sections of all the units I mentioned basically surpass the DAC and amp sections of the e17. But don't let that bother you since the e17 is at least 3 times cheaper than all that I mentioned. 

Quote:

drsheep said:

I seriously hope you will get it working, as the sound from a 64DSD is amazing from the SDT, but less warm compare to the AK120.

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Hahaha, I'll be sure to get it working sometime soon then. Cheers!