[cthomas]

el capitan as in cables?

Nope. Your operating system. I thought I read you were on Mac? El Capitan had issues with usb audio.... Static, no sound etc. I had similar issues with my UDA-1 and PHA-3 when I had one.

 

[yakkosmurf]

Recommendations on upgraded USB cables?

 

[Hawaiibadboy]

Recommendations on upgraded USB cables?

AT-EUS1000

 

[GRUMPYOLDGUY]

Recommendations on upgraded USB cables?

 
Does the stock one have durability issues?

 

[Hawaiibadboy]

   
Does the stock one have durability issues?

No.
But thicker is better (not really

)
I use the AT-EUS myself and am pleased

 

[cuiter23]

  el capitan as in cables?

 
LOL el capitan cables 

 

[yakkosmurf]

Coming from me, your Zx1 will sound better in digital transport than your Z phone. It does matter, and even your cables does too

Just wanted to say thanks for this tip. Now that the PHA3 arrived, I tried the Z5 phone and the ZX1.  Wow, the difference was just as you said. Not saying I doubted you. I'm just surprised by the magnitude of the difference. With my ZX1 battery on my last leg, I'm looking at a ZX2 rather than deciding I can just use my phone until the WM1A arrives...

 

[Whitigir]

Just wanted to say thanks for this tip. Now that the PHA3 arrived, I tried the Z5 phone and the ZX1.  Wow, the difference was just as you said. Not saying I doubted you. I'm just surprised by the magnitude of the difference. With my ZX1 battery on my last leg, I'm looking at a ZX2 rather than deciding I can just use my phone until the WM1A arrives...

I am glad I could help. 1A is not too far away , patience is a virtue

 

[purk]

I am glad I could help. 1A is not too far away

, patience is a virtue

It's Sony after all, this could take awhile.  Plenty of demand but no product to purchase insight.  Rolling deadlines....seriously Sony!  Take  my hard earn cash already!

 

[tradyblix]

That's funny, because I use a PHA-3 with El Capitan and no such issues as you're describing. 

 

[cthomas]

That's funny, because I use a PHA-3 with El Capitan and no such issues as you're describing. 

It was an issue for some dacs when El Capitan was initially released. Then the update 10.11.1 fixed the problem for some, not for all including myself. As each update came out some people had working dacs others did not. From personal experience 10.11.6 fixed my issues and so far no problems with Sierra. There's a whole thread on Apple forums about it.

 

[cthomas]

So after weighing all the options I've decided to re-purchase the PHA-3... I miss that balanced sound, and the benefits of portable and desktop. Selling my UDA-1 tonight. Just means no 1A Walkman for me, oh well.

 

[cthomas]

Not sure if anyone even is subscribed to this thread anymore since the news of the new Walkman but I'll ask anyway lol.

Can anyone vouch for this amp powering cans like the HD650 using balanced connection?

The UDA-1 drives them quite well but I'm wondering if I'll see similar improvements that I saw with my SE846 using balanced? Which made the SE846 seem bigger and better instrument seperation.

 

[Hawaiibadboy]

Not sure if anyone even is subscribed to this thread anymore since the news of the new Walkman but I'll ask anyway lol.

Can anyone vouch for this amp powering cans like the HD650 using balanced connection?

The UDA-1 drives them quite well but I'm wondering if I'll see similar improvements that I saw with my SE846 using balanced? Which made the SE846 seem bigger and better instrument seperation.

 Not sure but balanced is more than double the output of single and it powers my gear well without high gain but I am not using 300ohm cans so...
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/750747/pha-3-vs-ak240
 
Guy in this thread has the PHA-3 and 650's  PM him.

 

[cthomas]

Thanks, I'll PM him now. Just thought the PHA-3 would power them better since it has double the power of the UDA-1 but I don't really understand what all these figures really mean