[istinnstudio]

Yes, volume is only for headphone amp. Line out has not volume control, this is ok i guess, like many other sound sources. But it can be controled either by foobar, the tube buffer or the main amp.

 

[istinnstudio]

I think there are 2 opamps, one for the headphone and the other for the line out. The one that can be changed is the op2134 that belongs to the line out signal if i am right. This one can sound really good but that depends highly on your setup and taste

 

[Mipaw]

Yes, volume is only for headphone amp. Line out has not volume control, this is ok i guess, like many other sound sources. But it can be controled either by foobar, the tube buffer or the main amp.

Oh actually that's even better for my taste. So I don't need to worry about how to properly tune the dac volume when paired with additional amp.
For some reason I always thought the RCA output on the back of DAC-X6 is pre-amp. Obviously, I haven't try it out just yet because I'm waiting for my LD MK3 to arrive.

 

[Razornova]

Would this be worth buying if I only intend to use it as a DAC for my laptop? Will be feeding it to an try level tube amp: Bravo Audio Ocean I recently received as a gift.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/products/bravo-audio-ocean

 

[Riversalt]

  Would this be worth buying if I only intend to use it as a DAC for my laptop? Will be feeding it to an try level tube amp: Bravo Audio Ocean I recently received as a gift.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/products/bravo-audio-ocean

Only dac, you make the best use of the value with muse dac, look feedback from buyers.
 
 
https://www.amazon.com/USB-DAC-PCM2704-Optical-Converter/dp/B0093KZTEA

 

[Razornova]

Only dac, you make the best use of the value with muse dac, look feedback from buyers.

 

https://www.amazon.com/USB-DAC-PCM2704-Optical-Converter/dp/B0093KZTEA

Thanks for the suggestion. I was initially looking at the hifimediy Sabre 9018 DAC. The muse is about 1/3 the price, are they comparable?

 

[Riversalt]

Thanks for the suggestion. I was initially looking at the hifimediy Sabre 9018 DAC. The muse is about 1/3 the price, are they comparable?

Not to know, but according to feedback from Muse buyers very satisfied for such low value $$, I bought a Muse amazon unit waiting to arrive.

 

[istinnstudio]

Quote:

  Not to know, but according to feedback from Muse buyers very satisfied for such low value $$, I bought a Muse amazon unit waiting to arrive.

This is a very different device with probably different sound.

 

[istinnstudio]

In my point of view and as others say, x6 has a sound character on the bright/transparent side. This can irritate some ears. But combined with a tube buffer it can reveal musicality in a very "hi fidelity" warm way. There are also options of tube emulation, through VST fx plugins in foobar.
It could fit then on systems with already deep bass capabilities very efficiently with good control.
 
So, I like the sound of this device (as a DAC), it is a good source for further improvements. For me it could be useful to have a close to "natural" source and then try to "warm" it.
It also works very efficiently with ASIO drivers I have posted previously, never dropped a sound, very good cpu management, tested for days.

 

[Riversalt]

  In my point of view and as others say, x6 has a sound character on the bright/transparent side. This can irritate some ears. But combined with a tube buffer it can reveal musicality in a very "hi fidelity" warm way. There are also options of tube emulation, through VST fx plugins in foobar.
It could fit then on systems with already deep bass capabilities very efficiently with good control.
 
So, I like the sound of this device (as a DAC), it is a good source for further improvements. For me it could be useful to have a close to "natural" source and then try to "warm" it.
It also works very efficiently with ASIO drivers I have posted previously, never dropped a sound, very good cpu management, tested for days.

Has link Asio drives for x6?

 

[istinnstudio]

For the ASIO DRIVER. Take a look at a previous post http://www.head-fi.org/t/809203/fx-audio-dac-x6-2016-release-potential-sub-100-king/45#post_13063331
Currently you have to edit some files, this is a mod of a driver that belongs to a different machine with similar usb hardware. I could upload a modded version, but it seems there might be different results for different operating systems. So it is better to edit the files by yourself by following my instructions and select the version that behaves better after testing

Has link Asio drives for x6?

.

In my case asio is better on cpu managenent than wasapi @ WIN7 x32. For x64 could be better to use the latest, not tested on x64 but was not so good on a 32bit atom cpu.

 

[Razornova]

  In my point of view and as others say, x6 has a sound character on the bright/transparent side. This can irritate some ears. But combined with a tube buffer it can reveal musicality in a very "hi fidelity" warm way. There are also options of tube emulation, through VST fx plugins in foobar.
It could fit then on systems with already deep bass capabilities very efficiently with good control.
 
So, I like the sound of this device (as a DAC), it is a good source for further improvements. For me it could be useful to have a close to "natural" source and then try to "warm" it.
It also works very efficiently with ASIO drivers I have posted previously, never dropped a sound, very good cpu management, tested for days.

 
As someone new, I've always assumed too much brightness -> fatigue? Still searching for a safe/versatile DAC for my Bravo Audio Ocean, would you recommend the X6?

 

[istinnstudio]

I am not sure I can give you such an advice because I have only line out use of it and headphones are outside of thisssignal path path except if i will choose to use the main amp head output. I would recommend headphones in the "basshead" area to be able to represent some additional vibrative bass to balance the rest of the frequencies that are being over projected. But that is just an assumption not a proposition.

But for a system with already overwhelming bass in hardware or your room or both... like mine, it could give useful and clean sounding low freq control. A good upgrade from the notebook line out, in this case.

 

[WindowsX]

If you adjuat voltage output to 8.0V, it'll give you fuller body of dynamics with better linearity. I also replaced input/coupling capacitors with better ones used in highend brands. It sounds fabulous.

 

[Razornova]

If you adjuat voltage output to 8.0V, it'll give you fuller body of dynamics with better linearity. I also replaced input/coupling capacitors with better ones used in highend brands. It sounds fabulous.

So electronics noob here. Do any of those mods require soldering?