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Originally Posted by 12345142 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Not to derail this thread, but I'm in the dark about aftermarket power supplies - do you build them yourselves? Also, even though there's quite a price difference, I'm curious to see how the MX1 stacks up against the HeadAmp Pico DAC.
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I haven't listened to the Pico DAC, so can't help you with a comparison.
Currawong says PICO is similar to Audio-gd FUN, which I know pretty well.
Other people say that PICO resembles quite a bit the Gamma2 DAC, which I own.
In either case Audinst would be considered inferior, but not far away.
Unfortunately my Gamma2 has died on me (probably because a cold joint) so I cannot finish the scheduled comparison this week.
I won't be able to get it back up and running sonner than the weekend.
I'll update the review some time after that.
I did however spend two evenings comparing the two, and what I've listened so far favors the Gamma2 by some margin, depending on power.
Gamma2 has a smoother and more refined character which indicates a more mature sounding DAC than Audinst (probably because of it's upsampling and ASRC circuit). Gamma2 is improving the already very good HUD-MX1 in just about every department.
Sound signature is slightly warmer and fuller on Gamma-2. Also more engaging (timing and rhythm is very nicely executed).
Overall Gamma-2 feels and sounds like an expensive source, while Audinst like a very good budget source (honest, plenty resolute, but not as refined)
Differences aren't big and the PSU has actually the last word here:
- Gamma2 fed by TREAD PSU is superior in just about anything to Audinst fed by USB or wallwart. Both fed by TREAD the gap is not as large and Audinst can hold its' own.
- Gamma2 fed by USB is hardly different or superior to Audinst fed by the TREAD.
- Both fed by USB, there are a few differences, but nowhere near as big as discrete.
I think feeding the Gamma2 by USB is a crime.
It's such a good sounding DAC, but it doesn't show it's full colors and bloom until fed by clean power.