[punit]

Actually, that is what I am already doing but without any HM901 dock:
I have a tube amp for 500$ and I connect it to HM901 through RCA cables and to my HE-560.

So, your advice is - "don't buy desktop DAC/Amp"?

What amp are you using now ?

 

[jamato8]

  I would start with a better amp and then only upgrade to/with the dock, if you really want to squeeze that last drop of SQ out of the HM-901.
 
Personally I am very, very happy with the sound directly from of the LO of this DAP, so I don't plan getting the dock - especially considering the price. Paired with a high end amplifier, it's a winner. I use Burson Soloist between HE-6 and the line out of the HM-901 and feel this is a quite capable and satisfying desktop setup.

I would agree, normally, but to my ear, I can easily hear the difference. No, it isn't huge or wow, I can't go back to listening to the 901 without the dock, but the difference in sound is clear, to me. I was surprised to be honest. I use the buffer setting on the dock and that is what improves it for me. 

 

[LarsHP]

 
I would agree, normally, but to my ear, I can easily hear the difference. No, it isn't huge or wow, I can't go back to listening to the 901 without the dock, but the difference in sound is clear, to me. I was surprised to be honest. I use the buffer setting on the dock and that is what improves it for me. 

I respect your view and firsthand impressions fully!
 
Since I haven't heard it myself, I can't say if the price of the dock would be worth the improvement to me, but I probably wouldn't spend the extra $499 even if I heard a difference. However, if I was to use the HM-901 with dock as the primary source in my home setup, I would most likely give it a go.

 

[Russian1]

  What amp are you using now ?

Well, you definitely do not know it, as this is a Russian made desktop tube amp. When I bought it cost $500 and I chose it among other international amps which cost the same. As I heard a lot of good opinions about it. 
It is not too powerful, it is kind of mini-version, but it is just enough for my HE-560. 

 

[jamato8]

  I respect your view and firsthand impressions fully!
 
Since I haven't heard it myself, I can't say if the price of the dock would be worth the improvement to me, but I probably wouldn't spend the extra $499 even if I heard a difference. However, if I was to use the HM-901 with dock as the primary source in my home setup, I would most likely give it a go.

Makes since. I know there are some very fine sounding devices out there, but I have my limits and I am fine with what I have, for now. lol 

 

[KT66]

Would love to read of a 901&Dock vs Audiolab M-DAC comparison, ie my situation.

 

[punit]

The HM-901 dock specs list that it uses "DAC Chip:CMedia CM6631A". Why does it need a DAC Chip ? The HM-901 already has 2 ESS Sabre DAC chips ?  So when you connect the HM-901 doc using USB are you using the C Media DAC chip & not the ESS ?

 

[pegasus21]

  The HM-901 dock specs list that it uses "DAC Chip:CMedia CM6631A". Why does it need a DAC Chip ? The HM-901 already has 2 ESS Sabre DAC chips ?  So when you connect the HM-901 doc using USB are you using the C Media DAC chip & not the ESS ?

 
The CMedia chip is a USB controller. I assume that's for the USB DAC portion.
 
http://www.cmedia.com.tw/ProductsDetail/page-p/C1Serno-25/C2Serno-27/PSerno-43.html

 

[KT66]

Is V2.002 officially out yet? 

 

[kkcc]

  Well, you definitely do not know it, as this is a Russian made desktop tube amp. When I bought it cost $500 and I chose it among other international amps which cost the same. As I heard a lot of good opinions about it. 
It is not too powerful, it is kind of mini-version, but it is just enough for my HE-560. 

 
I love my 901 and imho it is hard to find a meaningfully better DAC with usd1k budget.  You would be better off directing your budget to amp.
 
In my experience the next level of meaningful DAC performance comes at 2-2.5k level.  For me my upgrade to the 901 was my Chord Hugo.  You would probably also love it driving your HE560.

 

[jamato8]

   
I love my 901 and imho it is hard to find a meaningfully better DAC with usd1k budget.  You would be better off directing your budget to amp.
 
In my experience the next level of meaningful DAC performance comes at 2-2.5k level.  For me my upgrade to the 901 was my Chord Hugo.  You would probably also love it driving your HE560.

With the dock, it moves the 901 up a little in sound performance so it has more to give. 

 

[kkcc]

With the dock, it moves the 901 up a little in sound performance so it has more to give. 

Yup I'm still loving my 901 especially when paired with the Tralucent 1plus2 and the balanced card+re600 is the best value for high-end portable sound that rank right up there IMHO with any other combo with my ak240 or Hugo regardless of price, plus I get to switch amp boards for various signatures. Excited for the opportunity to get the 901S mod to for the analog circuit improvement and the finer stepped attenuator.

 

[Russian1]

   
 For me my upgrade to the 901 was my Chord Hugo.  You would probably also love it driving your HE560.

I thought about buying Chord Hugo to 901.
But you see Chord Hugo has a DAC and 901 has DACs. 
I am not sure which dacs will be used if you connect Chord Hugo to 901 - anyway you will have two sets of dacs in the system which does not make any sense imho.

 

[AnakChan]

I thought about buying Chord Hugo to 901.
But you see Chord Hugo has a DAC and 901 has DACs. 
I am not sure which dacs will be used if you connect Chord Hugo to 901 - anyway you will have two sets of dacs in the system which does not make any sense imho.

Huh??

 

[Russian1]

Huh??

What? 
Sorry, maybe kkcc meant that he advised Chord Hugo instead of HiFiMAN HM-901? As to buy Chord Hugo and use it instead of HiFiMAN HM-901? 
Sorry, English is not my first language.