HiFiman HE-500 (HE as in High End) Proving to be an enjoyable experience in listening.
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davidsh
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What a good DAC can do IME is to add more and often a better perspective to the music. Actually, I think that is a good way to describe it.
What a good DAC can do IME is to add more and often a better perspective to the music. Actually, I think that is a good way to describe it.
Dubstep Girl
Headphoneus Supremus
yes i got mytek 192 dac last night. picked it up locally in chicago
Quote:
I'll be picking up the little known JoLida Glass-FX Tube DAC MKII. The manufacturer is small and fairly local to my area, and a friend of mine works in a shop that's an authorized retailer. I first heard it at a local meetup, as a mutual friend of ours brought his along to demo. Honestly, to my ear it was not far off from other high end units I was testing at the time like the Bel Canto 3.5, Resonessence Labs Invicta and a rare 'vintage' Timbre TT-1. Of course they all have their own sonic characteristics and advantages/disadvantages, but I'd classify them as musical units and I'd say the same of the JoLida...that's mostly what I'm after, a good balance of refinement and technical ability with musical bliss and pure enjoyment. Among other things the JoLida does well, it has a spacious, naturally dimensional soundstage, which was like icing on the cake with the HE-500. Hopefully it will have good overall synergy in the long run with the HE-500 and my system in general, but based on my demo I have little doubts about it. The few reviews I've found all praise it for it's capability at it's price range, and I mostly trust my ears so I can agree with them...the price is like extra fancy icing
it's one of the best bang for your buck units I've found, which is good because I couldn't afford one of the other pricier units anyway.
There is an upgrade modification that the manufacturer performs that involves swapping the output caps, a full internal rewire and replacement of the connectors and tubes. I think they sell some units pre-modded, so I'm debating on whether to get one of those, or just stick with the standard model. Later, I could consider performing the upgrades myself or take it to the manufacturer to have it modded (which would be covered under their warranty). In it's stock form though, it sounded soo good IMO, but naturally I'm curious how the upgraded model fares in comparison.
Has anyone else here heard this DAC before?
I'll be picking up the little known JoLida Glass-FX Tube DAC MKII. The manufacturer is small and fairly local to my area, and a friend of mine works in a shop that's an authorized retailer. I first heard it at a local meetup, as a mutual friend of ours brought his along to demo. Honestly, to my ear it was not far off from other high end units I was testing at the time like the Bel Canto 3.5, Resonessence Labs Invicta and a rare 'vintage' Timbre TT-1. Of course they all have their own sonic characteristics and advantages/disadvantages, but I'd classify them as musical units and I'd say the same of the JoLida...that's mostly what I'm after, a good balance of refinement and technical ability with musical bliss and pure enjoyment. Among other things the JoLida does well, it has a spacious, naturally dimensional soundstage, which was like icing on the cake with the HE-500. Hopefully it will have good overall synergy in the long run with the HE-500 and my system in general, but based on my demo I have little doubts about it. The few reviews I've found all praise it for it's capability at it's price range, and I mostly trust my ears so I can agree with them...the price is like extra fancy icing
There is an upgrade modification that the manufacturer performs that involves swapping the output caps, a full internal rewire and replacement of the connectors and tubes. I think they sell some units pre-modded, so I'm debating on whether to get one of those, or just stick with the standard model. Later, I could consider performing the upgrades myself or take it to the manufacturer to have it modded (which would be covered under their warranty). In it's stock form though, it sounded soo good IMO, but naturally I'm curious how the upgraded model fares in comparison.
Has anyone else here heard this DAC before?
khaine1711
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Wide soundstage, sacrifice some details for a warm, musical presentation. Try rolling some 5751 in, huge improvement over the stock 12ax7 (I think it's tung-sol reissue?) imo.
My main gripe with it is that the cost of fancy valves, upgraded output cap all together can buy a better dac
.
Wide soundstage, sacrifice some details for a warm, musical presentation. Try rolling some 5751 in, huge improvement over the stock 12ax7 (I think it's tung-sol reissue?) imo.
My main gripe with it is that the cost of fancy valves, upgraded output cap all together can buy a better dac
Quote:
I'll look into options for swapping out the stock tubes, thanks for the recommendations! I don't disagree that after the upgrades the cost is similar if not more than other comparable DACs, but at it's entry level it does still perform very well, so it would be easier to start there then work on upgrades and mods later. What are some other DACs would you'd suggest? I'm all about hearing other opinions
Wide soundstage, sacrifice some details for a warm, musical presentation. Try rolling some 5751 in, huge improvement over the stock 12ax7 (I think it's tung-sol reissue?) imo.
My main gripe with it is that the cost of fancy valves, upgraded output cap all together can buy a better dac.
I'll look into options for swapping out the stock tubes, thanks for the recommendations! I don't disagree that after the upgrades the cost is similar if not more than other comparable DACs, but at it's entry level it does still perform very well, so it would be easier to start there then work on upgrades and mods later. What are some other DACs would you'd suggest? I'm all about hearing other opinions
koiloco
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That's a funny coincidence. I spent last nite reading up on Jolida tube amps. They look pretty impressive for the price but I also read a bunch of bad reviews as far as quality and customer service.
Any idea here, modulor? Do they have an online store that I could order directly from?
I'll look into options for swapping out the stock tubes, thanks for the recommendations! I don't disagree that after the upgrades the cost is similar if not more than other comparable DACs, but at it's entry level it does still perform very well, so it would be easier to start there then work on upgrades and mods later. What are some other DACs would you'd suggest? I'm all about hearing other opinions
That's a funny coincidence. I spent last nite reading up on Jolida tube amps. They look pretty impressive for the price but I also read a bunch of bad reviews as far as quality and customer service.
Any idea here, modulor? Do they have an online store that I could order directly from?
khaine1711
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Around the Jolida ballpark or around the Bel Canto ballpark?
For starter you could try a Metrum Octave, a modded EE Minimax or a Nad m51.
I'll look into options for swapping out the stock tubes, thanks for the recommendations! I don't disagree that after the upgrades the cost is similar if not more than other comparable DACs, but at it's entry level it does still perform very well, so it would be easier to start there then work on upgrades and mods later. What are some other DACs would you'd suggest? I'm all about hearing other opinions
Around the Jolida ballpark or around the Bel Canto ballpark?
For starter you could try a Metrum Octave, a modded EE Minimax or a Nad m51.
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Jolida ballpark...Bel Canto and similar are going to be too rich for my blood at this time.
I'll check out those suggestions, thanks again!
Around the Jolida ballpark or around the Bel Canto ballpark?
For starter you could try a Metrum Octave, a modded EE Minimax or a Nad m51.
Jolida ballpark...Bel Canto and similar are going to be too rich for my blood at this time.
I'll check out those suggestions, thanks again!
Quote:
I can't comment on customer service, but I'd be going through a local authorized dealer. As far a build quality goes, I'd say it's a really nice, solid unit.
I can't comment on customer service, but I'd be going through a local authorized dealer. As far a build quality goes, I'd say it's a really nice, solid unit.
i hope this helps with ur search for a dac:
http://www.whathifi.com/awards/2012/dacs
and this:
http://www.alldacinfo.com/?page_id=242
or this:
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue66/dsd_dacs.htm
review of the dac of mytek
http://www.hifi-advice.com/mytek-192DSD-review.html
hope it can help u in ur search...
http://www.whathifi.com/awards/2012/dacs
and this:
http://www.alldacinfo.com/?page_id=242
or this:
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue66/dsd_dacs.htm
review of the dac of mytek
http://www.hifi-advice.com/mytek-192DSD-review.html
hope it can help u in ur search...
koiloco
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Thank you for the links
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the original octave (metrum is dutch company) doesnt have usb input....but the v2 does (but it is more expensive)...and it goes in one enclosure now instead of two as the original one...and its a NOS dac...it sounds very natural...but also very unforgiving to the source! bad input..bad output!
the original octave (metrum is dutch company) doesnt have usb input....but the v2 does (but it is more expensive)...and it goes in one enclosure now instead of two as the original one...and its a NOS dac...it sounds very natural...but also very unforgiving to the source! bad input..bad output!
Quote:
This one may be a good candidate, I'll be using optical anyway so USB is not absolutely necessary. I've got a few more suggestions now so time to read up on them
This one may be a good candidate, I'll be using optical anyway so USB is not absolutely necessary. I've got a few more suggestions now so time to read up on them
khaine1711
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If you can DIY, the DDDAC1794 is mighty fine (and cheap, too)
The Metrum Dacs, while quite good, are not for everyone. Best to get an audition rather than reading up the glowing review and blind buy
This one may be a good candidate, I'll be using optical anyway so USB is not absolutely necessary. I've got a few more suggestions now so time to read up on them
If you can DIY, the DDDAC1794 is mighty fine (and cheap, too)
The Metrum Dacs, while quite good, are not for everyone. Best to get an audition rather than reading up the glowing review and blind buy
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