lordearl
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2007
- Posts
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- 441
** This is a copy from the headamps forum as I realised it's quite relevant for DACs with computers as sources**
Well after a month or so of waiting for my MGL Audio Labs DACPre (preamp + DAC + headphone amplifier) to be built and sent from Austria to Australia (yes, there is a difference all you Dumb & Dumber fans out there!), I finally received it & have put about 50 hours on it and had a chance to write (apparently) the first head-fi review of this nifty amp.
For starters - the links;
Manufacturer: MGL AUDIO LABS
Welcome to MGL Audio Laboratories
Product - Mini DACPre
Mini DACPre
Specifications;
Digital Inputs: 2 x Coaxial, 2 x Toslink, USB (optional)
Analogue Outputs: 1 x Fixed, 1 x Variable
Headphone Load Impedance: 32 Ohms - 600 Ohms
Supported Samplerates: 44.1 kHz - 192 kHz
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 30kHz, +/-0.5dB
Signal to Noise Ratio: > 105dB
Distortion: THD+N : 0.005%
Output Voltage: 2V RMS
Net Weight: 3kg
Dimensions (mm): 124mm (width) x 80mm (hight) x 230mm(depth)
DAC Chip: Wolfson WM8740
Headphone amp chip: TPA6120
Review equipment;
Sources: Cambridge 640C Cd Player (digital output), Computer (Foobar)
DAC; DACPre, Fubar II (for comparison)
Headphone amp & preamp: DACPre, Shanling PH300 (for comparison), Firestone Little Country (for comparison), Vincent KHV-1 (for comparison)
Headphones; AKG K701, Beyerdynamic DT250, Klipsch X10, im717
Power amp; NAD C355 (power amp section)
Review music;
Kate Bush - The Hounds of Love
Beethoven - Symphony #8 (Paavo Järvi)
The initial reason I chose this amplifier over the current multitude of models available was that it uses the same DAC as the Cambridge 640C cd player, which I happen to like a lot. The primary reason I say "like" rather than "love" is that the treble is too bright, and when combined with the already irritating treble of the K701, one's ears can take a battering.
I discovered MGL Audio Labs by browsing for an all-in-one headphone amp product. After contacting the proprietor, Michael, who keeps a low profile membership here, I found a person who was willing to tailor the end product to my exact needs. A quick glance at their website will reveal they have plenty of well priced modules which can be added to the stock standard DACPre, such as remote control & balanced outputs.
My first test was to put the Beethoven disc in the 640C and connect the digital output AND the rca outputs directly into the MGL DACPre. That way I could compare the sound as produced through identical DAC chips. The lower midrange and the upper treble of the MGL amp are such an improvement it is like going from Greg Norman to Tiger Woods, or Boris Becker to Roger Federer. The sound crystallises itself in the K701s with a full bodied, densely fresh thwack. But the thwack is in your brain, not hurting your ear drum as can happen sometimes with the AKG K701/640C treble.
I've used two hybrid amps for about a year with the K701, and none of them have a listening time of over 2 hours or so -- it simply gets too tedious on the brain due to the complexity of sound the K701s present. With Beyerdynamic DT250 or Klipsch X10, I can listen for three to five hours on these other amps. After using the the DACPre for 50 hours, I feel, along with the Vincent KHV-1 **note I've used this amp for about 5 hours only** I could have sat at my desk and been there for the entire 50 hours.
The DACPre handily comes with two sets of RCA outputs, variable and non-variable. Thus, I bypassed the preamp section of my NAD C355 and heard the unadulterated improved implementation of the Wolfson DAC straight into the NAD power amp. The difference with Quad speakers was not as marked as with the the K701, but the lower end was definitely more well defined than was present with the 640C running through the NAD preamp section.
Lastly, I played an hour or so of Kate Bush on the K701s as I honestly think her voice is one of the most difficult to define (sonically). Every sound system renders her voice differently. More generally, female vocals I believe are a great way to check the suitability of a sound system for one's ears -- if you enjoy the wailing of The Great Gig In The Sky in a sound system, then buy it because on a bad system, it sounds shocking! I bought hybrid amps to soften the treble end of the K701, but have now found that a good SS can do it better.
Some minor points of improvement may be to have a thicker power cord, although I know little of the technical advantages of this. Also, the usb -> s/pdif XITEL DG2 converter which is shipped with it may seem non-sensical to some as a usb input could quite easily be included on the rear panel...see the manufacturers site for detail as to why this was not implemented.
Further updates to follow after extended burn-in (& pics once I get my camera from the Mrs!) to follow, but for now I can safely say this is the best amp for K701 I have heard yet.
Cheers for reading,
Tom
Well after a month or so of waiting for my MGL Audio Labs DACPre (preamp + DAC + headphone amplifier) to be built and sent from Austria to Australia (yes, there is a difference all you Dumb & Dumber fans out there!), I finally received it & have put about 50 hours on it and had a chance to write (apparently) the first head-fi review of this nifty amp.
For starters - the links;
Manufacturer: MGL AUDIO LABS
Welcome to MGL Audio Laboratories
Product - Mini DACPre
Mini DACPre
Specifications;
Digital Inputs: 2 x Coaxial, 2 x Toslink, USB (optional)
Analogue Outputs: 1 x Fixed, 1 x Variable
Headphone Load Impedance: 32 Ohms - 600 Ohms
Supported Samplerates: 44.1 kHz - 192 kHz
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 30kHz, +/-0.5dB
Signal to Noise Ratio: > 105dB
Distortion: THD+N : 0.005%
Output Voltage: 2V RMS
Net Weight: 3kg
Dimensions (mm): 124mm (width) x 80mm (hight) x 230mm(depth)
DAC Chip: Wolfson WM8740
Headphone amp chip: TPA6120
Review equipment;
Sources: Cambridge 640C Cd Player (digital output), Computer (Foobar)
DAC; DACPre, Fubar II (for comparison)
Headphone amp & preamp: DACPre, Shanling PH300 (for comparison), Firestone Little Country (for comparison), Vincent KHV-1 (for comparison)
Headphones; AKG K701, Beyerdynamic DT250, Klipsch X10, im717
Power amp; NAD C355 (power amp section)
Review music;
Kate Bush - The Hounds of Love
Beethoven - Symphony #8 (Paavo Järvi)
The initial reason I chose this amplifier over the current multitude of models available was that it uses the same DAC as the Cambridge 640C cd player, which I happen to like a lot. The primary reason I say "like" rather than "love" is that the treble is too bright, and when combined with the already irritating treble of the K701, one's ears can take a battering.
I discovered MGL Audio Labs by browsing for an all-in-one headphone amp product. After contacting the proprietor, Michael, who keeps a low profile membership here, I found a person who was willing to tailor the end product to my exact needs. A quick glance at their website will reveal they have plenty of well priced modules which can be added to the stock standard DACPre, such as remote control & balanced outputs.
My first test was to put the Beethoven disc in the 640C and connect the digital output AND the rca outputs directly into the MGL DACPre. That way I could compare the sound as produced through identical DAC chips. The lower midrange and the upper treble of the MGL amp are such an improvement it is like going from Greg Norman to Tiger Woods, or Boris Becker to Roger Federer. The sound crystallises itself in the K701s with a full bodied, densely fresh thwack. But the thwack is in your brain, not hurting your ear drum as can happen sometimes with the AKG K701/640C treble.
I've used two hybrid amps for about a year with the K701, and none of them have a listening time of over 2 hours or so -- it simply gets too tedious on the brain due to the complexity of sound the K701s present. With Beyerdynamic DT250 or Klipsch X10, I can listen for three to five hours on these other amps. After using the the DACPre for 50 hours, I feel, along with the Vincent KHV-1 **note I've used this amp for about 5 hours only** I could have sat at my desk and been there for the entire 50 hours.
The DACPre handily comes with two sets of RCA outputs, variable and non-variable. Thus, I bypassed the preamp section of my NAD C355 and heard the unadulterated improved implementation of the Wolfson DAC straight into the NAD power amp. The difference with Quad speakers was not as marked as with the the K701, but the lower end was definitely more well defined than was present with the 640C running through the NAD preamp section.
Lastly, I played an hour or so of Kate Bush on the K701s as I honestly think her voice is one of the most difficult to define (sonically). Every sound system renders her voice differently. More generally, female vocals I believe are a great way to check the suitability of a sound system for one's ears -- if you enjoy the wailing of The Great Gig In The Sky in a sound system, then buy it because on a bad system, it sounds shocking! I bought hybrid amps to soften the treble end of the K701, but have now found that a good SS can do it better.
Some minor points of improvement may be to have a thicker power cord, although I know little of the technical advantages of this. Also, the usb -> s/pdif XITEL DG2 converter which is shipped with it may seem non-sensical to some as a usb input could quite easily be included on the rear panel...see the manufacturers site for detail as to why this was not implemented.
Further updates to follow after extended burn-in (& pics once I get my camera from the Mrs!) to follow, but for now I can safely say this is the best amp for K701 I have heard yet.
Cheers for reading,
Tom
