[squee116]

I'm not here to start a flaming war about what's better: balanced and unbalanced.

I've already decided to give balanced a shot, after building a collection of unbalanced DACs and amps, to make the determination for myself.

I have an Aune x7s coming to me soon, though I know it's not a "true" balanced amp, as it doesn't have balanced inputs.

I've been looking at the Massdrop LCX x SDAC combo, and the Schiit Jot/DAC.

If I remember correctly, the Jot has discrete DAC chips for each channel, and the LCX and X7s do not.

Considering the source is PC->DAC->Amp, and it'll likely be a USB connection, I was curious if the LCX x SDAC would have a significant difference from USB vs a balanced input, and where the SDAC lays on the DAC scale (with minimum acceptable DAC being a Modi 2, and the best DAC I've heard thus far being the Bimby)

Is the combo unit worth it, if I'm just going to try and get a discrete DAC with balanced output?
Is there a significant difference in the sound signatures of the Jot, x7s, and LCx? I've heard the Jot can be real detail oriented, but with a fairly thin stage. I've not heard much about the others.

If I do get the LCX, and if balanced inputs do make a difference, what would be an appropriate DAC to match with it? Would it be cheaper to just get the Jot with DAC section?

Thanks for any help on this.

 

[kukkurovaca]

Not to make it more confusing, but another option you might look it as the Topping DX7 ($400-ish), which has dual dac, balanced headphone output, and balanced line out. The DX7 would let you add amps later that accept balanced inputs, and will be a bit cheaper than a Jot and much cheaper than most dedicated balanced DACs. But unlike the Jot it will not accept balanced input from another DAC.

I haven't listened to any of the units in question. I was curious about this as well, but I don't really have a desktop setup, so I went for portable balanced/partially balanced gear.

 

[squee116]

Not to make it more confusing, but another option you might look it as the Topping DX7 ($400-ish), which has dual dac, balanced headphone output, and balanced line out. The DX7 would let you add amps later that accept balanced inputs, and will be a bit cheaper than a Jot and much cheaper than most dedicated balanced DACs. But unlike the Jot it will not accept balanced input from another DAC.

I haven't listened to any of the units in question. I was curious about this as well, but I don't really have a desktop setup, so I went for portable balanced/partially balanced gear.

It's really hard not having heard any of these.
Last time I was at the Schiitr was just before the Jot was released. I'm somewhat interested in a tube amp that would be balanced too, but that might become more of a diy project for me.

 

[squee116]

I'm also slightly worried, as I've recently read the LCx series has a warm sound signature, which I already get out of my Violectric v200

 

[kukkurovaca]

I'm somewhat interested in a tube amp that would be balanced too,

The XDUOO TA-20 is a balanced hybrid tube amp in the same price range (under $400).