[GSurge]

So my 0404 USB arrived today. I've got to say... all those people that say "source first" are absolutely right!

All of my music is now coming to life like I've never heard it properly until now. I just honestly cannot believe what I was missing before! I'm hearing details and intricacies that I never knew were there. The first thing I listened to was Prince, and it blew my mind. Everything about the music popped out at me. The bass is nicer now also.

With the DT990 plugged straight into the 0404 USB headphone jack, it sounds nice but the tiniest bit grainy. A tinny sound, perhaps? It's hard for me to explain, but with a mini to RCA connector into a Headfive, the sound is smoother and very enjoyable.

I wasn't digging the 990 at all before, but it's like the 0404 brought out the potential. I want a Darth Beyer more than ever now!

I'm going to try my RS-2 one last time before I ship it to its buyer. I'll try the Marshmallows also. Let me know if you have any questions, but in general, the 0404 USB is a GREAT BUY. There's a $50 mail in rebate going on with guitar center right now, so it comes out to $150 + tax.

P.S. - The volume, even with the 250 ohm DT990s, gets loud. LOUD. I'm sure 600 ohms would be fine also.

 

[rwest1389]

man that sounds like an awesome rig. Im finally getting around to upgrading my source with a meier MOVE then to sr225s. The anticipation is killing me. I can only imagine how big a difference going from stock soundcard to pretty good DAC is.

 

[GSurge]

I finally understand what people mean by rediscovering their music. This. Is. Blowing. My. Mind. I'm having an eargasm!

This is hard to explain, but here goes... it seems as if all the layers of music are being presented on the same level. Voices, beats, and hidden intricate sounds and low frequency sounds are all put forth at the same volume so you hear everything going on. It's so much more intricate and musical. FLAC is finally noticeably better than V0 MP3s.

Anyone wondering whether to get a 0404 USB or something else, don't bother trying alternatives in the same price range (unless you want to compare.) I've found my perfect source.

 

[sejarzo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSurge /img/forum/go_quote.gif I finally understand what people mean by rediscovering their music. This. Is. Blowing. My. Mind. I'm having an eargasm! This is hard to explain, but here goes... it seems as if all the layers of music are being presented on the same level. Voices, beats, and hidden intricate sounds and low frequency sounds are all put forth at the same volume so you hear everything going on. It's so much more intricate and musical. FLAC is finally noticeably better than V0 MP3s. Anyone wondering whether to get a 0404 USB or something else, don't bother trying alternatives in the same price range (unless you want to compare.) I've found my perfect source.

Sometimes I wonder if I have been too much of a fanboy with regard to the 0404 USB, and then I read comments like yours and realize, nahhh........

As you mention, it's as if a lot of congestion/clutter/noise between instruments is gone. Like you, I guess, my first thoughts were "Wow, I can hear the low-level details along with the dynamics without adjusting the volume all the time....stuff I hadn't noticed before, in 10 years of listening to some CD's, it's so obvious....all the voices are clearly distinct, not interfering with each other...and it's not edgy, just clear."

My only caveat after listening to it for a while is that if the recording is really bad, it will indeed sound really bad. Nothing bad gets prettied up or glossed over.

So I guess I will repeat it.......the 0404 USB is the most insane audio value I've experienced in 30 years in the hobby! By no means do I think it cannot be beat by anything, anywhere, at any cost......but with the rebate at Guitar Center, I don't think there is a better $150 to be spent if one wants to explore computer-based audio versus CD players under something like $1k.

As you mention, the internal headamp is certainly not the last word, but if someone has only $150 to spend now.......would you think it was something that would be unacceptable until another $150 rolled around for a used external headamp? I'm guessing your answer would be no, just get it, enjoy it now, and even more later when you can get a headamp.

 

[Progenitor]

Don't you dare start liking the RS-2 again! I want those baby!

Seriously, the source made such a big difference for me. Before I've bought the modded Zhaolu, I was using my creative audigy 2 for source. The treble just sounded sharp and unpleasant, and the mid-range was totally muddied up. Once I've plug in the Zhaolu, I hear so much details that's missing from my music. I wouldn't say it's as much of an jump from a crappy headphone to a good one, but it made just enough difference from crap at moderate/high volume, to decent and more balanced at the same volume.

You guys are so lucky to be able to buy the 0404 for $150. USD to GBP, that's around £20 more than the Creative ExtremeMusic, and is a more solid buy (you get a good DAC and a good amp in the same package).

 

[Hi-Finthen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSurge /img/forum/go_quote.gif I finally understand what people mean by rediscovering their music. This. Is. Blowing. My. Mind. I'm having an eargasm! This is hard to explain, but here goes... it seems as if all the layers of music are being presented on the same level. Voices, beats, and hidden intricate sounds and low frequency sounds are all put forth at the same volume so you hear everything going on. It's so much more intricate and musical. FLAC is finally noticeably better than V0 MP3s. Anyone wondering whether to get a 0404 USB or something else, don't bother trying alternatives in the same price range (unless you want to compare.) I've found my perfect source.

Just wanted to say, congrats

I know you've been researching in the effort to get to this eargasmic point, and it isn't at all suprising to me that with the better sources the 990s shine!!!

Enjoy~

 

[BrookR1]

The 0404 definitely polishes the music and presents everything in a smooth but detailed package. I bought mine just to remove the pops and crackles and it did much more than that. It really was an upgrade to my entire headphone collection.

 

[subfocus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Progenitor /img/forum/go_quote.gif Don't you dare start liking the RS-2 again! I want those baby! Seriously, the source made such a big difference for me. Before I've bought the modded Zhaolu, I was using my creative audigy 2 for source. The treble just sounded sharp and unpleasant, and the mid-range was totally muddied up. Once I've plug in the Zhaolu, I hear so much details that's missing from my music. I wouldn't say it's as much of an jump from a crappy headphone to a good one, but it made just enough difference from crap at moderate/high volume, to decent and more balanced at the same volume. You guys are so lucky to be able to buy the 0404 for $150. USD to GBP, that's around £20 more than the Creative ExtremeMusic, and is a more solid buy (you get a good DAC and a good amp in the same package).

X2 You guys are getting this at an incredibly good price . Some very impressive feedback on the 0404USB around the various audio forums , the general consensus being that this gives very impressive bang-for the-buck.

 

[GSurge]

Okay, I've got the RS-2s on right now, bowl pads.

I can hear gentle notes that I can't with the 990s, really really subtle undertones that are in the background of the music. (How many ******* layers are there in music that the average person never hears?!) The beats feel like they're dancing around playfully in my head. The bass just isn't enough for me, however. Some of the hidden low frequency noises I mentioned before aren't noticeable. It's almost like the RS-2s are telling me on every note "okay, the bass is here. I'm not going to play it, but just so you know, it's there."

The RS-2 is very crisp and clear, almost to the point of being overly meticulous about sound. It's a little too serious and not enough fun for me, still. I can see the appeal though.

As for RS-2 vs 990, the RS-2 emphasizes the highs (and sweet vocals) while the 990 really lets the lows (and killer beats) come through. Pick whichever you prefer!

More impressions (with flats) in a few.

Update: Flats have more bass, more impact, but in a way that I find muddy compared to the 990. The flats lose a little of the detail compared to bowls, or maybe I should say the detail isn't as obvious. This isn't necessarily bad, but right now I'm preferring the bowl sound. "Burn This Disco Out" by Michael Jackson really caught my ear on the bowls, but is extremely boring on flats. Hmmm...

Update II: The MJ song sounds even better with the bowls reversed. I would have to guess that flats go well with a source that isn't as revealing. With the 0404, the bowls bring out subtle nuances that make the music so fun to listen to, and once you know what you're missing the flats aren't as exciting. This may just be me though, my friend prefers the flats.

Update III: I am trying out my SR-60 with reversed bowls. The difference now between the SR-60 and RS-2 is akin to the difference between a 128 MP3 and FLAC -- it's just not "all there."

Final thoughts: Switching back to the 990 from bowls on the RS-2, my ears are longing for that top end that just isn't being presented by the 990. Going from 990 to RS-2, my ears feel disappointed without power in the low/mids that isn't emphasized by the RS-2. The 990 and RS-2 make different portions of the music show through more clearly. I prefer what the 990 is letting me hear, but you may not. I believe the forum opinion on Grados shows that many people prefer that signature. I definitely have more respect for them now than I did when I first got them. Source makes a huge difference!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sejarzo /img/forum/go_quote.gif As you mention, the internal headamp is certainly not the last word, but if someone has only $150 to spend now.......would you think it was something that would be unacceptable until another $150 rolled around for a used external headamp? I'm guessing your answer would be no, just get it, enjoy it now, and even more later when you can get a headamp.

Oh yeah, no question! I'm actually considering selling my Headfive (and maybe trying a tube amp) because the built in amp is still 95% there. Someone who didn't compare it directly probably wouldn't notice the difference.

 

[sejarzo]

What intrigues me is the idea of a product that would use the AK4396 DAC, the same USB configuration (hardware and software, because for me it's been virtually glitch free) and dump the mic pres and recording side, and even the S/PDIF and TOSLINK, for that matter......and instead devote the cost savings to a better internal headamp and power supply.

Still under $200 and even better performance?

 

[GSurge]

The marshmallows sound nasally and poor now. I like the isolation, and the bass is nice, but in general the 990 is better. (I'd certainly hope so, given the price difference.) Not sure if I want to try more expensive IEMs or not. They are almost unlistenable...

 

[Caution]

Ah How do you rate the Fubar II against the 0404 as a dac?

 

[GSurge]

To me, it's night and day. I think the Fubar II is decent, certainly improves the sound quality over my laptop headphone jack, but the difference is just so dramatic. Audio seems to be all about dimishing returns, but the 0404 is so much better than the Fubar II that it has to be the best price/performance ratio in audio.

 

[Caution]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSurge /img/forum/go_quote.gif To me, it's night and day. I think the Fubar II is decent, certainly improves the sound quality over my laptop headphone jack, but the difference is just so dramatic. Audio seems to be all about dimishing returns, but the 0404 is so much better than the Fubar II that it has to be the best price/performance ratio in audio.

Oh my! Why did I have to join Head-fi ): Must resist temptation!

 

[cheba63]

Is there anything comparible to this that works on a mac?