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December 2013 Mid-Level DAC Comparison
Jan 7, 2014 at 10:27 AM Post #1,156 of 1,331
Wow. That is big news.
 
Jan 7, 2014 at 10:29 AM Post #1,157 of 1,331
klevkoff said:
   
I just wanted to comment on a few things.....
 
1) Emo is quite happy with the results of Gary's review/comparison.
 
2) While the other inputs on the DC-1 have galvanic isolation, the USB input does not - which is why you might hear a tiny bit of noise there - with certain few computers and under some grounding conditions. (Even though you probably won't hear it with anything except very sensitive IEMs.) Any decent USB ground isolator should eliminate it entirely.
 
3) Since everybody seems to be happy about the sale price, Emo has decided to make it the "regular price" for the DC-1;
at least until further notice  ($499) 
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I can attest to #2.
 
Jan 7, 2014 at 11:55 AM Post #1,158 of 1,331
chris j said:
Then I would call the CMA800R bridged, not balanced!
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Though to be fair, almost all the "balanced" amps out there are actually bridged.
 
Jan 7, 2014 at 12:52 PM Post #1,159 of 1,331
barry s said:
 
The GSX-mk2 is the first amp that comes to mind, but it's $2800.  It's very neutral, the sound has body, and it has a good soundstage. I'm searching for something with the same signature and close in quality for half the price. I have some hopes for the Schiit Ragnarok and the Oppo HA-1 (DAC included!) but who knows? The Master 9 and Soloist are on my list of candidates. I should get a chance to hear a WA22 at the DC meet--if it delivers the clean non-fuzzball sound promised--it might be a good choice. I listened to Gary's TBI Millenia and it's not my taste, but if you want a warm, thick solid-state sound, it's worth trying. Gary's Odyssey Cyclops is pretty good, but it's huge and will take out a power grid.
 
I think there are some decent low cost amps that sound good, but they all fail to deliver the big soundstage good equipment deserves.
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I just want to note for the record that the Odyssey Cyclops has not, to my knowledge, ever actually taken out a power grid.  It is possible that certain sections of Maryland do experience a brownout if I turn it off and on, but I believe that there have never been complete grid failures.  Yet.
 
Jan 7, 2014 at 1:12 PM Post #1,160 of 1,331
gary in md said:
   
I just want to note for the record that the Odyssey Cyclops has not, to my knowledge, ever actually taken out a power grid.  It is possible that certain sections of Maryland do experience a brownout if I turn it off and on, but I believe that there have never been complete grid failures.  Yet.
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*lights flicker*
 
"Looks like Gary is listening to music again!" 
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Jan 7, 2014 at 1:54 PM Post #1,161 of 1,331
gary in md said:
   
I just want to note for the record that the Odyssey Cyclops has not, to my knowledge, ever actually taken out a power grid.  It is possible that certain sections of Maryland do experience a brownout if I turn it off and on, but I believe that there have never been complete grid failures.  Yet.
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I noticed a disturbance in the force when you turned that thing on and off. It seems like I should be able to get by with something smaller that doesn't dim the lights for the super efficient LCD-X drivers. That beast has got to be drawing a lot of amps when it's powered on.
 
Jan 7, 2014 at 2:08 PM Post #1,162 of 1,331
I wonder how Gary would compare the Emo DC-1 vs. Yulong DA8 if he tried NOT to consider...
 
-The DSD capabilities of the DA8.
-The HP/Pre functions of either.
 
Meaning, in a 2.0 speaker setup.
 
Jan 7, 2014 at 2:30 PM Post #1,164 of 1,331
schneller said:
I wonder how Gary would compare the Emo DC-1 vs. Yulong DA8 if he tried NOT to consider...


 


-The DSD capabilities of the DA8.


-The HP/Pre functions of either.


 


Meaning, in a 2.0 speaker setup.
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I cannot speak for Gary, but from my understanding of his results, the DC-1 and DA8 both fell into the pack of DACs that all sound alike when playing non-DSD files. I think it was the DSD capability of the DA8 that ultimately pushed him in that direction. Unless, of course, I am reading something wrong.
 
Jan 7, 2014 at 2:40 PM Post #1,165 of 1,331
painted klown said:
 
schneller said:
  I wonder how Gary would compare the Emo DC-1 vs. Yulong DA8 if he tried NOT to consider...
   
  -The DSD capabilities of the DA8.
  -The HP/Pre functions of either.
   
  Meaning, in a 2.0 speaker setup.
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I cannot speak for Gary, but from my understanding of his results, the DC-1 and DA8 both fell into the pack of DACs that all sound alike when playing non-DSD files. I think it was the DSD capability of the DA8 that ultimately pushed him in that direction. Unless, of course, I am reading something wrong.
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Plus the DA8 has capability to sound similar to Metrum Octave.
 
Jan 7, 2014 at 3:18 PM Post #1,169 of 1,331
Subbed..................awaiting the final recap.
 
Jan 7, 2014 at 3:21 PM Post #1,170 of 1,331
painted klown said:
 
I cannot speak for Gary, but from my understanding of his results, the DC-1 and DA8 both fell into the pack of DACs that all sound alike when playing non-DSD files. I think it was the DSD capability of the DA8 that ultimately pushed him in that direction. Unless, of course, I am reading something wrong.
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DSD and the Yulong's filter settings were the difference.
 
 
Quote:
brunk said:
  Plus the DA8 has capability to sound similar to Metrum Octave.
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This.  The slow filter sounded more like the metrum.
 
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