[applegd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickG All of the Sony PCDP's (for the past several years) use what they refer to as a 1 bit quartz time-axis control DAC. That's why although features vary on different model numbers, the sound doesn't. I'm using a D-NE920 with the Micro DAC and there's just no comparison. The Micro DAC spanks...

Quote:

Originally Posted by elrod-tom It's a night and day improvement when using the D-EJ1000 (which I'm pretty sure is essentially the same). It's going to be a major improvement over ANY PDCP dac, I'd think.

Thanks very much! I will give Micro DAC a try. My wallet is crying...

The only "inconvenience" is Micro DAC's input/output jacks are on the front panel, when it uses with my MOH, it will look a little bit strange....

 

[Tachikoma]

sorry if this had been mentioned before in the previous pages... (too lazy to read through all of them XD), but how does the overture DAC compare with the Micro DAC, since they are similarly priced.

 

[Oski]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tachikoma sorry if this had been mentioned before in the previous pages... (too lazy to read through all of them XD), but how does the overture DAC compare with the Micro DAC, since they are similarly priced.

Well, the Overture is no longer available since it was a limited edition product released at the beginning of 2005 with only 25 produced (and only 20 of which sold outside of HeadRoom). It served as the predecessor design for the Micro DAC and helped as a transition product to announce the upcoming revamped HeadRoom lines.

The Micro DAC is pretty much the same internally as the Overture, except it uses a more power conserving AD822 opamp (approximately 20 hours of battery life) vs. the Overture with a slightly better sounding Burr Brown 2134 (which only has about 8 hours of battery life). So that is a bit of a tradeoff in terms battery life vs. edge in performance gain. The Micro DAC benefits from having an integrated toslink/coaxial mini jack, where the Overture has just a standard sized toslink output jack.

It may be hard to find an Overture in the secondary market, but there are plenty of very satisfied Micro DAC owners out there. It's an extremely well concieved product with high performance to price ratio. I think it's one of the genuine audio bargains.

 

[Teerawit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oski The Micro DAC is pretty much the same internally as the Overture, except it uses a more power conserving AD822 opamp (approximately 20 hours of battery life) vs. the Overture with a slightly better sounding Burr Brown 2134 (which only has about 8 hours of battery life). So that is a bit of a tradeoff in terms battery life vs. edge in performance gain.

The Micro DAC (with AD822) gets 8 hours of battery life on two alkaline 9V.

The Micro Amp with micro module (which has AD822) gets around 20 hours on two alkaline 9V.

The Micro DAC is still power hungry, as most DACs are.

 

[slwiser]

My experience with the battery life is this:

MicroDAC runs approximately 6 hours on 2 Accupower 270 mAH batteries.

MicroAmp with Desktop module runs 5 hours on 2 Accupower 270 mAH batteries, with the iPower 220 mAH batteries less.

I my opinion I would classify the Headroom MicroAmp with the Desktop module as a great transportable headphone amplifier for the price. You need an extra AC adapter if you don't want to carry one around with you or work with extra batteries.

 

[applegd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teerawit The Micro DAC (with AD822) gets 8 hours of battery life on two alkaline 9V. The Micro Amp with micro module (which has AD822) gets around 20 hours on two alkaline 9V. The Micro DAC is still power hungry, as most DACs are.

One question here is whether both MicroDAC and MicroAMP are using AD822. The impression I got before is there is no AMP IC in MicroDAC.

 

[slwiser]

This has been asked and answered somewhere in the thread noted a top each page as "A Coda and an Overture from HeadRoom" link. On page 14 where these components are introduced is a discussion of this. Oh, right,

that is this thread, check out page 14.

But does it matter if it sounds good?

 

[Teerawit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by applegd One question here is whether both MicroDAC and MicroAMP are using AD822. The impression I got before is there is no AMP IC in MicroDAC.

The Micro module has the AD822 chip.


There is an AD822 opamp in the Micro DAC as well. Opamps aren't only used in headphone amps.

 

[applegd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teerawit The Micro module has the AD822 chip. There is an AD822 opamp in the Micro DAC as well. Opamps aren't only used in headphone amps.

Teerawit,
Thanks very much!

Why I pay attention to AD822 opamp in MicroDAC is I know the performance spec of both OPA627 and OPA2134 are much better than AD822's.

 

[Teerawit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by applegd Teerawit, Thanks very much! Why I pay attention to AD822 opamp in MicroDAC is I know the performance spec of both OPA627 and OPA2134 are much better than AD822's.

That's true, as the higher Headroom DACs implement the OPA2134 and OPA627 ICs....but still, the AD822 is a solid performer in the Micro DAC!

 

[Tachikoma]

alright... I guess the coda amp is sold out too... whatabout the microamp, compared to the SR-71? (sorry for going off-topic a bit)

 

[devwild]

Please use the forum search for the microamp, there are several comparisons that have already been done on this forum. Also, look through the meet impressions subforum for the headroom tour meets, that will also give a few recent impressions.

 

[Jap]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teerawit That's true, as the higher Headroom DACs implement the OPA2134 and OPA627 ICs....but still, the AD822 is a solid performer in the Micro DAC!

[size=small]
Inquiring minds would like to know:

Is the AD822 opamp in the MicroDAC user replaceable?[/size]

 

[Teerawit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jap [size=small] Inquiring minds would like to know: Is the AD822 opamp in the MicroDAC user replaceable?[/size]

It's soldered onto the board.

 

[Jap]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teerawit It's soldered onto the board.

[size=small]I suspected as much. Oh well!, I suppose it's worth it for portable applications.

[/size]