[leeperry]

bring up to line-out level I was told, but it also increases the bass response.

 

[Calebcz]

Testing 3xOPA2134 right now - much brighter than default "deluxe" setup. 2604 was too dark for my taste. Sound without final buffer is not bad, but maybe too week on lows.
Can't wait to test 1364 as final buffer (sample from LT hopefully on way to me). I'm still missing some "magic on vocals" in comparison with Transit.

 

[leeperry]

hehe, 1364 is exactly the chip that does magic to the vocals, you won't regret it

I personally prefer 2*1363 on a browndog, but you'd have guessed that already...that's actually what I'm listening to as I'm typing this

 

[leeperry]

if you wanna clean the bass response, you might as well attach caps to the back of the card:



still evaluating whether I like the change

PS: ah well, far more bass percussion but far less low end bass extension..OTOH sound is cleaner and clearer

 

[ROBSCIX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calebcz /img/forum/go_quote.gif Testing 3xOPA2134 right now - much brighter than default "deluxe" setup. 2604 was too dark for my taste. Sound without final buffer is not bad, but maybe too week on lows. Can't wait to test 1364 as final buffer (sample from LT hopefully on way to me). I'm still missing some "magic on vocals" in comparison with Transit.

Try some LME4562/LME49720's. They offer a better high end response then 2134's which have a glossy type of high range.
There are many others out there, based on what your looking for though these might be the right fit.

 

[leeperry]

well, been rolling a bit for the final buffer.

LT1028CS8 has a very clean/clear sound...but PRaT is low, and sound is rather boring tbh...for instance on the "Isaac Hayes - Shaft" SACD title song in 24/96 FLAC, at the end the crazy wahwah guitar goes L/R pan several times...it's VERY boring on the 1028.

OTOH, PRaT is crazy on LT1363CS8...really really nice! but sound is highly colored and rather distorted, it gets odd after a few days...but what it does, it does it amazingly well

the new burson gives a reverbed panoramic color to the AD797B(I used cardas solder & the highest grade of DIP8 gold plated socket):



PRaT is very high too, yet less distorted/compressed than 1363...it's a matter of either you want 1)a boring clear sound on the 1028 2)a distorted funky sound on the 1363 3)a highly panoramic 360° SS on the burson....jury is still out

I'll also try 2*LT1677/LT1028ACN8/LT1115 and 6*AD797B...but, wow! w/o the 1uf cap, the low end bass is amazing on the burson

 

[leeperry]

2 bursons + 2 AD797B, that's good stuff

much better than the other way around...the AD797B was feeding the burson w/ reverb, so it became pointless in the end("hall reverb" anyone?)...now it's much better, the bursons feed the 797B w/ a HiFi/analog colored wide(but not reverbed) sound, and I still get the 797B crazy SS

1363 was too colored, no matter what I tried...just like 1364, it's nice for a while...then it becomes boring, hopefully someday I'll find a combo that keeps on impressing me day after day and doesn't bore me after a while!

One thing I know is that the burson's have a very high PRaT(and they don't sound utterly distorted like the 1363 or the Audio-GD parts), and AD797B has an amazing SS...just need to find the right combination.
PS: gee, been listening for a few hours...this combo is a tear-jerker

 

[leeperry]

alright, I should have my extra AD797BN's tomorrow...so I'll be able to try 6 of them

while I'm at it, I'll bluetack the clocks...I've read several ppl giving positive feedback about this mod on PLL's

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f6/ipo...ak-mod-434926/

 

[ROBSCIX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by leeperry /img/forum/go_quote.gif The 0404USB/Audiophile USB are as good as it gets, the HD2 is lousy as hell....all that harmonic distortion is obviously due to poor design. funny that they boast about "120dB SNR" on their website, these are the DAC specs...not the card's! good thing they EOL this card

So your saying the card is good now?

 

[leeperry]

haha, the man is crazy:
Jimmy’s Junkyard » Blog Archive » Asus Xonar U1 Midnight Mods Session
Jimmy’s Junkyard » Blog Archive » More… Asus Xonar U1 Mods

I wonder if it'll make as much difference as he says

 

[leeperry]

ok, so 6*AD797BN gives a VERY impressive SS, but this is very boring...sounds lifeless compared to 2*Burson+2*AD797BN, the mad analog grain of the Burson's is just *GONE*...I've got the impression to be listening to an X-Fi

basically the Burson's was giving a thrilling tape reel sound and taking the phones off my head, and the AD797B was giving an holographic out-of-this-world SS on top...damn! trumpet never sounded this good

I'll roll back the Burson's, put a hell lot of bluetack on the clocks...and order one more Burson to hear wth it is that I've been missing all along...I don't think it'd top the AD797BN as final buffer, but ya never know...it's very fun to try anyway

EDIT: ahhhhhhhh, much better

 

[leeperry]

BTW, I've flashed my card and run the ESI EWDM drivers now:

they seem rather buggy(I got a "BAD POOL CALL" bsod for no apparent reason, I was simply setting up Reclock?!!?) but the ****** annoying bug w/ KS in the VIA drivers is now history

the new 1.0 drivers released a few weeks ago don't allow master volume control at all, everyone complains about it on their support board...I've whined to their tech support

 

[Calebcz]

I'm using Win7 x64 and only working drivers are original Via "Envy24_Family_DriverV540F.exe". Foobar + WASAPI output works flawless.
With ESI drivers i get BSOD immediately.

Now i'm listening to this thread "BEST" - 2x OPA2604 + AD8022. Not bad at all. Maybe a little bit more bass for my taste.

1364 as final buffer was too punchier for me, but i must admit this chip does magic with mids.

 

[leeperry]

you did flash the firmware? on what card?

I also rolled back to the VIA drivers, they are better coded than the AudioTrak.

the 1363/1364 are nice, but 1028A is better as final buffer(yes I compared them

)...more bass slam and less colored mids.

 

[Calebcz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by leeperry /img/forum/go_quote.gif you did flash the firmware? on what card?

No, i have HD2 Advance - already compatible with generic Envy drivers.

Quote:

the 1363/1364 are nice, but 1028A is better as final buffer(yes I compared them )...more bass slam and less colored mids.

I don't want bass slam

- i'm looking for deep but less punchy bass.

I'm quite happy with AD8022 or LM4562 as final buffer so now i must find better omaps than 2604/2134 for first buffers.