bl42ed0
Head-Fier
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- Jan 22, 2011
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This is exactly what I've been looking for! Has anyone tried powering the HE-500 with this?
Yeah, that's definitely a secondary option. How big is the gap between the Dragonfly and the port? Does the Dragonfly "wiggle" or move in the port?
Hello HeroicPenguin.
There is no movement at all, the fit is tight, but the DF connector is a little longer than the usb std connector.
This is exactly what I've been looking for! Has anyone tried powering the HE-500 with this?
What's remarkable is how good it is given it's size. It's the combination of sound quality and size that makes this thing so good. It's not the best DAC out there, even at its price, but given how small and portable it is the performance is outstanding.
Only time will tell if another company is able to replicate that mix, but I'd imagine something will come along.
I am having a hard time grasping the Dragonfly. On paper, and from reviews, it seems to be the ultimate portable USB DAC, many putting it over the E17. Is this some marvel of engineering? Is the diminutive size (compared to an E17 for example), what's driving the $250 cost? I guess what I am wondering is did they unlock something nobody has before (ie Apple and the Retina display) and we'll start seeing DAC's from other manufacturers in the same form factor? Or could FiiO/Creative/M-Audio, etc have made something similar but thought consumers wouldn't pay the cost?
I am having a hard time grasping the Dragonfly. On paper, and from reviews, it seems to be the ultimate portable USB DAC, many putting it over the E17. Is this some marvel of engineering? Is the diminutive size (compared to an E17 for example), what's driving the $250 cost? I guess what I am wondering is did they unlock something nobody has before (ie Apple and the Retina display) and we'll start seeing DAC's from other manufacturers in the same form factor? Or could FiiO/Creative/M-Audio, etc have made something similar but thought consumers wouldn't pay the cost?
It is a 4 layer circuit board and high end Sabre dac the size of a thumb drive. That is a lot to cram into a small package and do it right
UPS finally delivered my adapter. Listening to HD650's first.
Wow! Sound quality is niiice! Compared to the IE7s, it takes a few more clicks of the F9 key, but plenty of volume. Easily passes the Layla test, which I use to check for detail retrieval.
Will try the HE500s in a while, but right now...I'm sorta speechless.
Plus not to mention it was designed by the guy behind Wavelength Audio using his streamlength async protocol. Generally speaking you're not getting a good async implementation in a usb DAC at this price point. In fact I'm not aware of anything outside of the JKenny DAC which uses a modified Hiface + the same DAC chip as this in a larger outboard unit at a higher cost. Does this impact the sound at all? In my estimation it does, it imparts a smoothness I'm not getting in the ODAC that reminds me of what the Audiophilleo did for the couple DACs I used it with.
Now in the end none of this matters if the sound doesn't work for you. I still find after about 60+ hours it imparts a warm signature and is somewhat lacking in dynamics compared to an O2 amp. I doubt that's going to change given the constraints of being wholly driven by a USB bus. It sounds rather glorious with certain things though, such as my GR07s and FXD80s... generally speaking something that is pretty tight in the lower region and has solid treble extension it can sound damn good, definitely better than the E17. But not quite to the ODAC/O2 level overall, but the DF -> O2 is my fav.
So what's more impressive? The async protocol? Or the size? Or both? Putting size aside, is there another portable USB DAC that costs $250 and sounds just as good? Or does this trump ALL DAC's because if this "streamlength async protocol"?
So what's more impressive? The async protocol? Or the size? Or both? Putting size aside, is there another portable USB DAC that costs $250 and sounds just as good? Or does this trump ALL DAC's because if this "streamlength async protocol"?