great idea,Use tracks you are very familiar with. In addition, piano, organ, harp, male/female vocals, drums/cymbals, and violin in isolation if possible. There are several tracks of these lurking on the 'net.thanks
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That makes this unit a contendah, though without the fancy $1250 power supply, as that would put it above my price ceiling (and give me something to save for next year if Meridian's unit wins).
There have been a lot of suggestions made in the past week, and I intend to go over them in the next couple of days to try to organize them, and my thoughts, into a logical set of choices. There are certain units that are definitely in because they are donated or sponsored, or I just want them in and it would be tough to talk me out of including them. And then there is another group, growing relatively steadily, of stuff that we need to sort through, and I will be focusing on this group, trying to build the cases for and against each, which I will then post for comment, counterpoints, angry retorts, whining, etc. And then I'll take everything into account and propose a final field. I'll give you all one last chance to scream, and then I will start ordering as soon as I start seeing the whites of the Black Friday deals' eyes... Hey, if I can shrink the cash out for me or my sponsors, I'm gonna try... so if anybody hears of any deals on any of the units being considered for this test, let me know ASAP.
Ouch,
my earlier post was confusing.
What I was trying to say (very badly, BTW) is that the Hilo XLR to RCA cable should be OK for using the Hilo DAC into an SE input power amp.
But I wouldn't want to use the Hilo XLR to RCA cable on another DAC's XLR outputs.
Another brand of DAC may not like having an output shorted to ground.
Okay, now that I'm not scared of blacking out the entire East Coast of the US by trying to connect the Hilo to my amp, we will proceed as originally planned. Hilo with adapter is IN unless somebody can convince me that DACs with Hawaiian names from companies named after large cats cannot be in close proximity to amps named after mythical one-eyed creatures from ancient Greek literature, or to DACs having nonsensical names or that come from companies with nonsensical names that almost sound like something real but don't really, like Anedio, Chordette QuteHD, Resonessence Concero, Emotiva, Metrum...
I mean, wow, what a bunch of monikers these folks have come up with. And then there's Schiit, which raises that game to a whole 'nuther level... I hope these guys have put as much effort into engineering the hardware as they have into coming up with creative names...
According to most of the posts on www.erji.net and www.headphoneclub.com, Hilo will reach a whole new level when paired with high quality DC power supply, and with great USB->AES converter instead of using built-in USB (the built-in USB is rated by those guys as 'junk', 'useless', far below DA8's USB). Suggested DC sources: kikusui pmc18-5a kikusui pan35-5 battery pack Suggested USB converter: Goldenwave Pearl http://s.taobao.com/search?q=GoldenWave+Pearl
I just got my Hilo, haven't tried any of these DC power or high quality USB->AES converters yet, will try when I have $$$ to spare...
Okay, now that I'm not scared of blacking out the entire East Coast of the US by trying to connect the Hilo to my amp, we will proceed as originally planned. Hilo with adapter is IN unless somebody can convince me that DACs with Hawaiian names from companies named after large cats cannot be in close proximity to amps named after mythical one-eyed creatures from ancient Greek literature, or to DACs having nonsensical names or that come from companies with nonsensical names that almost sound like something real but don't really, like Anedio, Chordette QuteHD, Resonessence Concero, Emotiva, Metrum...
I mean, wow, what a bunch of monikers these folks have come up with. And then there's Schiit, which raises that game to a whole 'nuther level... I hope these guys have put as much effort into engineering the hardware as they have into coming up with creative names...
We are almost certainly going with the stock Hilo, because I believe the add-ons drive the hardware substantially above $2500, which is my (admittedly arbitrary) limit. We need to keep this fair, and if Lynx had to compromise in the power supply or USB section to keep the price <$2500, or if they simply aren't as skilled at designing power supplies or USB input sections as other companies, then it is only fair that they be judged based on their engineering trades and their design skills.
I am willing to allow some additional hardware to correct for shortcomings in any of the competitors, but that allowance is limited to external hardware that keeps the total cost below my $2500 limit, meaning the total package has to be <$2500 street price. For the Hilo that means we could add, $205 worth of upgrades, since the Hilo is available for $2295 various places on the internet. That rules out the power supply for sure, but I didn't see a US provider for that USB converter... can it be bought for <$205 delivered to Maryland with 30-day returns?
We are almost certainly going with the stock Hilo, because I believe the add-ons drive the hardware substantially above $2500, which is my (admittedly arbitrary) limit. We need to keep this fair, and if Lynx had to compromise in the power supply or USB section to keep the price <$2500, or if they simply aren't as skilled at designing power supplies or USB input sections as other companies, then it is only fair that they be judged based on their engineering trades and their design skills.
I am willing to allow some additional hardware to correct for shortcomings in any of the competitors, but that allowance is limited to external hardware that keeps the total cost below my $2500 limit, meaning the total package has to be <$2500 street price. For the Hilo that means we could add, $205 worth of upgrades, since the Hilo is available for $2295 various places on the internet. That rules out the power supply for sure, but I didn't see a US provider for that USB converter... can it be bought for <$205 delivered to Maryland with 30-day returns?
$242 wouldn't be too much if there was a free return policy, which there probably isn't. If the non-USB HIlo is $1725, and the Goldenwave Pearl is $242, then the total cost is $1967, which would be fine... as long as there was a free return policy, or HC provided the Pearl.
And maybe Mike will find a suitable battery pack for under $99...
We could end up seriously upgrading Happy Camper's DAC...
$242 wouldn't be too much if there was a free return policy, which there probably isn't. If the non-USB HIlo is $1725, and the Goldenwave Pearl is $242, then the total cost is $1967, which would be fine... as long as there was a free return policy, or HC provided the Pearl.
And maybe Mike will find a suitable battery pack for under $99...
We could end up seriously upgrading Happy Camper's DAC...
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