Entech Number Cruncher 203.2

[Jbucla2005]

Just got it today, and it's clearly an improvement over the stock 1212M. The sound seems more clear and upfront, with more depth to the bass and a blacker background. I haven't tried it on headphones yet so I can't really judge how detailed it is, but it seems fine on speakers. It is a little more metallic and shrill in the highs, (less refined?) and with a slight edge, but it seems to work in my system nicely, bringing me closer to the instruments than before. There seems to be more 'meat' to the sound.

 

[Dept_of_Alchemy]

interesting... http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...=1#post2425136

 

[NiceCans]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dept_of_Alchemy interesting... http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...=1#post2425136

freaky

I found the Number Cruncher to better my M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 card as well.

 

[nichifanlema]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dept_of_Alchemy interesting... http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...=1#post2425136

huh, two totally different opinions?

 

[Jbucla2005]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nichifanlema huh, two totally different opinions?

Sorry... what I mean is the Entech is a clear improvement over the 1212M in many ways, although there is a little doubt that it is the clear 'winner' since it is a little less refined and detailed. However it surpasses the 1212M in terms of bass, noise floor, and dimensionality to the sound.

 

[Xakepa]

That's surprizing. I'd never heared the Cruncher, but 1212 is a very good source, even for 200$ tab.

 

[Chiliman]

Thats good to hear, i am thinking about getting a number cruncher and pairing it with a chaintech card and a macbook.

 

[Cobalt]

Hey Chiliman, I just received my Entech Number Cruncher 203.2 today as well as a Chaintech. I purchased my Number Cruncher off of Amazon.com. I believe it's the same guy selling on EBay. On EBay it's going for $44.95 Buy It Now with $14.99 shipping coming to $59.94. At the time I bought mine from Amazon it was going for $49.99 Buy It Now. Through Amazon it cost $49.99 and $6.49 shipping for a total of $56.48. The Entech from the Amazon seller is brand new in the box. I haven't hooked it up yet. I still need to install my Chaintech. I bought my Chaintech from zipzoomfly for $25.99 and fee shipping. I'm going to be running my Chaintech via optical to my Entech, and then RCA to my Cute Beyond headphone amp.

 

[Jbucla2005]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xakepa That's surprizing. I'd never heared the Cruncher, but 1212 is a very good source, even for 200$ tab.

Yes it is but I think that the isolation (for noise floor) and size of the components used in the DAC make a big difference, especially for bass. I would not go back, I would first upgrade my DAC, which I do want to do at some point (upgradatitis?) The Entech is not a complete upgrade over the 1212M, but to my ears sounds more natural due to the reasons I mentioned.

 

[Dept_of_Alchemy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jbucla2005 Yes it is but I think that the isolation (for noise floor) and size of the components used in the DAC make a big difference, especially for bass. I would not go back, I would first upgrade my DAC, which I do want to do at some point (upgradatitis?) The Entech is not a complete upgrade over the 1212M, but to my ears sounds more natural due to the reasons I mentioned.

I have a feeling that the Entech will become a classic beginner's DAC in the same way that Chaintech became the classic soundcard...

There'll be a market for it on the FS/FT forum for sure.

 

[LeChuck]

Quote:

I have a feeling that the Entech will become a classic beginner's DAC in the same way that Chaintech became the classic soundcard...

No kidding, this DAC is enjoying a HUGE resurgence lately.

 

[Disiskurt]

I'll say this, after adding the Entech to my setup I am finally beginning to understand what this whole Head-Fi thing is about. Now, it's certain that my Koss A250's and PPAv2 have strong roles in this as well, but yeah, after over 18 months since coming to the forums I've finally come to realize the kind of potential that lies in a headphone setup. The best way to describe the clarity is that the details are effortless. In the very first step I've made, I notice the details, but they strain like hell to barely be perceived at a normal listening volume. With this setup, the details are just there with the rest of the melody, no need to jack up the volume to 120db to hear them fine. Backup vocals are as clear as a bell. I've listened to Steely Dan's Aja as a reference recording for a while now, and I'm giddy to hear things the way they are right now. The air and soundstage (which is also very dependent on the A250) is just something I've never heard before. I wonder what the hell went wrong with my old DT770 and E-MU 1212M setup: with how many recommendations that those two get around here, how can my current main source and headphone, which cost less than a 1/3 of the old one, sound so overwhelmingly better? It's something that kind of frusterates (because of how long it took to reach this point without spending more money) and relieves me (because it sounds so good!)

The only problems I can see right now, and this may be associated more with the rest of the chain, is that bass drum kick is a little too pronounced and some lower bass detail is hidden at normal listening levels. Well, and the comfort of the A250's don't come close to matching the DT531, but I certainly can't blame that one on the Entech.

 

[Dept_of_Alchemy]

Does anybody have a problem with Entech's output being too hot (2.5Vrms)? Seems like most amps are made to recieve 2V inputs.

 

[Dept_of_Alchemy]

Does anybody have a problem with Entech's output being too hot (2.5Vrms)? Seems like most amps are made to recieve 2V inputs.

 

[hciman77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dept_of_Alchemy Does anybody have a problem with Entech's output being too hot (2.5Vrms)? Seems like most amps are made to recieve 2V inputs.

No, but it does mean it is slightly but noticeably louder than my other sources - my M3 has no problem with it at all and I still need the volume at between 8.30 AND 9.00 with the Senn HD580s (300ohm) to be a nice comfortable level.

A switch between the Analog out on my source and the digital out to NC always sounds better temporarily but even there I need only nudge the volume down about 5 degrees to reach approximately the same level. It makes comparisons a bear though.