Arvan
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2006
- Posts
- 707
- Likes
- 252
Hey guys!
I picked up the new arcam rPAC today at my local hi-fi store to test out..This is the first impressions and a quick comparison to the HRT headstreamer.
When i first opened the box it struck me how much bigger the rPAC was compared to what i had in min mind. Although the product itself has what i feel is the "right" size..Its not to big so it wont fit on a messy desk or look out of place, neither is it to small so it looks dinky.
The other thing i noticed is the extreme build quality of this thing..Again the weight is just right. It lays solid on the desk with the rubberized bottom looking elegant doing so! I love the design of this thing!
The installation is a very easy plug-n-play experience and i experienced no fuzz what so ever bout this.
Now to the sound..The most important factor for many of us!
I will start of by saying that i am no super audiophile with thousands of dollars worth of gear, i listen to music ALOT and i got a big interest in "bang for the buck" equipment and i always look out for gear that fits my wallet and is the best i can get for the money and at the time.
Equipment used in combination with the rPAC is the following.
Windows 7 ultimate OS
Spotify premium ( highest quality possible )
just a simple USB-cable
The Arcam rPAC connected to the cans.
-Sound quality
Well the first thing that struck me was very similar to when i first upgraded to the headstreamer from a Udac 1:st gen..The amount of detail is just a step up from the HRT. It is more clean and has better separation all over the freq range. The other thing i noticed is that i has more power to deliver through the 3,5mm jack. My headphones just stepped up a notch! More overall punch and they feel more vivid and has more energy. The volume level in windows can also be much lower and still deliver the same output as with the HRT.
Listening to heavy fast metal tracks is a blast. Music feels fast and punchy..I like the added overall details and with this kind of music it´s important for me to have good detail and a good "drive". Tomas Haake´s insane drumming in Meshuggahs " the demons name is surveillance " is nice and tight with good punch and with plenty of details revealed in the drum strokes. The guitars and voice is nice and crunchy, again with allot of detail. With the HRT the music is never as revealed and detailed..Also the weaker amp in the headstreamer looses out on some punch and dynamics. It is still not a bad choice but the rPAC is better at this.
Going to a completely different ball game with some blues. Keb, mo - Suitcase sounds great! The detail is still nice and under very good control. The crispness in his voice is nice and present. The instrument separation is is very good and the bass notes is just right placed. With this kind if music i would still want some more warmth to the sound. Compared to the HRT they are rather similar sounding in this regard, detailed but a bit cold. Again the rPAC delivers a better punch and control the the HRT.
The detailed sound and attack is with me at every track i put this dac/amp through. Metal, jazz, hip-hop, hardtrance, and blues..The only thing i would want is a little warmer sound. Maybe this is not achievable at this price and this kind of device. Still the Arcam is a great device! Just the right feel and quality..And for those who cares, it looks amazing! If i had to make this choice when i was looking for a new dac/amp i would go for the Arcam without looking back. It sounds similar to the HRT, they both have great detail but the rPAC just have more of it. And if you have some rather high-ohm cans the extra drive and output power of the rPAC is more then welcome.
Another plus is that the rPAC packs a line out as well so you can use it for more applications then just headphones. Maybe a tube amp to ad a little warmth?
I find this product fantastic! I have not tried to many dac combos in my life but if its put up to the headstreamer, Udac and the pro-ject dac box USB..I would pic this one. Yes its the most expensive, and it does not have the same amounts of input options as the usb box..But it feels and sounds better. And for the small price difference i think sound quality is where i would put my money...I will try to get my hands on the AudioQuest dragonfly in the future..Until then, this is the best dac/amp i have tried so far.
Headphones used in this little test is the following.
Shure SRH-840
Audio technica ATH-M50
JVC Ha-Rx 700 with dampening and cotton mod
JVC 160 flats
Here is the pics i promised yall!
Yes the table is dirty..I was lazy
Hope i gave you guys some useful information!
I picked up the new arcam rPAC today at my local hi-fi store to test out..This is the first impressions and a quick comparison to the HRT headstreamer.
When i first opened the box it struck me how much bigger the rPAC was compared to what i had in min mind. Although the product itself has what i feel is the "right" size..Its not to big so it wont fit on a messy desk or look out of place, neither is it to small so it looks dinky.
The other thing i noticed is the extreme build quality of this thing..Again the weight is just right. It lays solid on the desk with the rubberized bottom looking elegant doing so! I love the design of this thing!
The installation is a very easy plug-n-play experience and i experienced no fuzz what so ever bout this.
Now to the sound..The most important factor for many of us!
I will start of by saying that i am no super audiophile with thousands of dollars worth of gear, i listen to music ALOT and i got a big interest in "bang for the buck" equipment and i always look out for gear that fits my wallet and is the best i can get for the money and at the time.
Equipment used in combination with the rPAC is the following.
Windows 7 ultimate OS
Spotify premium ( highest quality possible )
just a simple USB-cable
The Arcam rPAC connected to the cans.
-Sound quality
Well the first thing that struck me was very similar to when i first upgraded to the headstreamer from a Udac 1:st gen..The amount of detail is just a step up from the HRT. It is more clean and has better separation all over the freq range. The other thing i noticed is that i has more power to deliver through the 3,5mm jack. My headphones just stepped up a notch! More overall punch and they feel more vivid and has more energy. The volume level in windows can also be much lower and still deliver the same output as with the HRT.
Listening to heavy fast metal tracks is a blast. Music feels fast and punchy..I like the added overall details and with this kind of music it´s important for me to have good detail and a good "drive". Tomas Haake´s insane drumming in Meshuggahs " the demons name is surveillance " is nice and tight with good punch and with plenty of details revealed in the drum strokes. The guitars and voice is nice and crunchy, again with allot of detail. With the HRT the music is never as revealed and detailed..Also the weaker amp in the headstreamer looses out on some punch and dynamics. It is still not a bad choice but the rPAC is better at this.
Going to a completely different ball game with some blues. Keb, mo - Suitcase sounds great! The detail is still nice and under very good control. The crispness in his voice is nice and present. The instrument separation is is very good and the bass notes is just right placed. With this kind if music i would still want some more warmth to the sound. Compared to the HRT they are rather similar sounding in this regard, detailed but a bit cold. Again the rPAC delivers a better punch and control the the HRT.
The detailed sound and attack is with me at every track i put this dac/amp through. Metal, jazz, hip-hop, hardtrance, and blues..The only thing i would want is a little warmer sound. Maybe this is not achievable at this price and this kind of device. Still the Arcam is a great device! Just the right feel and quality..And for those who cares, it looks amazing! If i had to make this choice when i was looking for a new dac/amp i would go for the Arcam without looking back. It sounds similar to the HRT, they both have great detail but the rPAC just have more of it. And if you have some rather high-ohm cans the extra drive and output power of the rPAC is more then welcome.
Another plus is that the rPAC packs a line out as well so you can use it for more applications then just headphones. Maybe a tube amp to ad a little warmth?
I find this product fantastic! I have not tried to many dac combos in my life but if its put up to the headstreamer, Udac and the pro-ject dac box USB..I would pic this one. Yes its the most expensive, and it does not have the same amounts of input options as the usb box..But it feels and sounds better. And for the small price difference i think sound quality is where i would put my money...I will try to get my hands on the AudioQuest dragonfly in the future..Until then, this is the best dac/amp i have tried so far.
Headphones used in this little test is the following.
Shure SRH-840
Audio technica ATH-M50
JVC Ha-Rx 700 with dampening and cotton mod
JVC 160 flats
Here is the pics i promised yall!
Yes the table is dirty..I was lazy
Hope i gave you guys some useful information!
