So turns out NAD has the official replacement pads for the HP50s and after all I ended up getting a pair to the tune of $40 shipped to California. It’s the real deal, now my cans sound as I remember they did.

Trying to get by with an existing USB-A hub I have to use with the iPhone. Adapter is probably the way to go. There are thousands of cables, finding one thin as stock has been a challenge. Thicker cables tend to be microphonic.

Almost, need a USB-A :)

Anyone knows of a thin flexible USB cable similar to the one that comes with the headphones but longer say 6 feet? I have a USB extension but looking for a 1 piece solution.

One would certainly hope so given the price differential 😉

The original Pavane is not it used 16-bit DAC1 modules, I think they also called it Level 1 at some point. Level 2 used DAC2 iirc.

If memory serves it's the external FPGA module in the Pavane OG that was responsible for partitioning the data before it was sent to DAC modules for decoding. Second generation DAC modules (and third?) had this onboard so there was no longer need for an external solution. Your Adagio probably...

W7 needs a driver. Iirc all their DACs used the same m2tech USB module, so perhaps their current USB driver you can download will work for the Musette. Also check the wayback machine, it may have a snapshot.

I thought their USB interface was class compliant, no drivers should be required unless on W7 or you need ASIO interface.

The Rme and the eversolo will be similar to the cutest. The harshness is perhaps due to your speakers or headphones being too bright, and you need to EQ it. Rme has built in EQ, very useful for headphones.

That was what I also reasoned but no amount of external upsampling could bring the clarity out of Pavane comparing to a $100 DAC. It was the OG, perhaps the situation is better with the v3 modules.

They are much cleaner sounding devices than the Pavane. I ended up preferring the “correct” digital sound they produce. The Pavane was fun but eventually I became frustrated with its lack of precision, oversampling externally or not.

The DAC market is very crowded today and couple hundred bucks buys you a nearly perfect device. Sites like the ASR increased general awareness of the DAC technology for the masses and peeps no longer go by the “it sounds good” recommendations alone. So yeah, it’s not too surprising a boutique...

Define “newer DACs”.

Anyone checked with NAD recently if they have replacement ear pads for sale?