adevriesc
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2012
- Posts
- 43
- Likes
- 20
Preface
I'd like to say that A) the DAC is currently being shipped to me B) I plan to review it upon arrival [next week sometime if all goes well] C) HiFimeDIY's name is complete and utter BS - there is nothing DIY other than the people who designed prototypes of the product before it went to market D) I am a budget audiophile (oxymoron alert).
Product Line Reputation
I've seen a few folk bashing the first of HiFimeDIY's Sabre implementations (only uses the spec sheet, Chinese junk, low fi) and many that endorse it as a decent, smooth sounding solution to replace PC related integrated audio at a reasonable cost. The biggest technical gripe I could find was that it was synchronous, thus subject to jitter. Apparently they decided to fix that.
The New Unit
For $55 + S&H I picked up the "Sabre U2", a product that supposedly remedies the issues present in the last iteration by being asynchronous and "better" using some secret sauce. There are ASIO drivers available.
Basically, I want to see which group of people is right in regards to HiFimeDIY. Are their products smooth or horrid?
http://hifimediy.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=123
I'm waiting on the Sabre U2, a cMoyBB "18 Volt", and a pair of Samson SR850s.
(Pending) Review Methodology
I'll be reviewing with the following, the intent being a measure of whether the Sabre U2 (with and without amp) is really in a different league than integrated audio.
Headphones & IEMs:
Grado SR80i - widely considered a benchmark for budget sound. Mine are quarter modded and have the honor of being my first piece of decent quality sound equipment.
Samson SR850 - based on the Superlux HD681, a common recommendation for those pursuing a budget soundstage and separation.
M-Audio Q40 - not exactly cheap. Like a lesser DT770; tries to stay neutral through the mids and highs with (overwhelming at times but not muddy) bass power.
Panasonic RP-HTF600-S - known for decent and sub bassy sound on an extreme budget. When a track fits their sig, they sound solid. When it doesn't, they fall apart *completely*.
Thinksound Rain - just a flat out pleasant pair of IEMs for everyday listening... Warm, smooth sound, probably from the aesthetically pleasing wood driver chambers.
Amps:
JDS Labs cMoyBB v2.03 - recommended alongside the PA2V2 as a stellar entry level amp.
Denon AVR-484 - a relic from the bygone age of planetary scale 6.1 surround sound systems.
Realtek Integrated Audio - Gag. Hack. Cough.
Sources:
Sabre U2 - no useful information is available. My aim is to fix that.
Realtek Integrated Audio - Hack. Cough. Gag.
All of the headphones, the DAC, and the amp will have at least 50 hours of burn in. I'll let the Samson-cMoy-Sabre chain burn in together. My cabling is generic. I will not have a USB isolator, though if problems crop up I will purchase one. Test tracks will be FLAC. I will be using the recommended ASIO drivers.
Last Words
Right now I'm looking for thoughts on a somewhat obscure company's new product. What do you all think?
I'd like to say that A) the DAC is currently being shipped to me B) I plan to review it upon arrival [next week sometime if all goes well] C) HiFimeDIY's name is complete and utter BS - there is nothing DIY other than the people who designed prototypes of the product before it went to market D) I am a budget audiophile (oxymoron alert).
Product Line Reputation
I've seen a few folk bashing the first of HiFimeDIY's Sabre implementations (only uses the spec sheet, Chinese junk, low fi) and many that endorse it as a decent, smooth sounding solution to replace PC related integrated audio at a reasonable cost. The biggest technical gripe I could find was that it was synchronous, thus subject to jitter. Apparently they decided to fix that.
The New Unit
For $55 + S&H I picked up the "Sabre U2", a product that supposedly remedies the issues present in the last iteration by being asynchronous and "better" using some secret sauce. There are ASIO drivers available.
Basically, I want to see which group of people is right in regards to HiFimeDIY. Are their products smooth or horrid?
http://hifimediy.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=123
I'm waiting on the Sabre U2, a cMoyBB "18 Volt", and a pair of Samson SR850s.
(Pending) Review Methodology
I'll be reviewing with the following, the intent being a measure of whether the Sabre U2 (with and without amp) is really in a different league than integrated audio.
Headphones & IEMs:
Grado SR80i - widely considered a benchmark for budget sound. Mine are quarter modded and have the honor of being my first piece of decent quality sound equipment.
Samson SR850 - based on the Superlux HD681, a common recommendation for those pursuing a budget soundstage and separation.
M-Audio Q40 - not exactly cheap. Like a lesser DT770; tries to stay neutral through the mids and highs with (overwhelming at times but not muddy) bass power.
Panasonic RP-HTF600-S - known for decent and sub bassy sound on an extreme budget. When a track fits their sig, they sound solid. When it doesn't, they fall apart *completely*.
Thinksound Rain - just a flat out pleasant pair of IEMs for everyday listening... Warm, smooth sound, probably from the aesthetically pleasing wood driver chambers.
Amps:
JDS Labs cMoyBB v2.03 - recommended alongside the PA2V2 as a stellar entry level amp.
Denon AVR-484 - a relic from the bygone age of planetary scale 6.1 surround sound systems.
Realtek Integrated Audio - Gag. Hack. Cough.
Sources:
Sabre U2 - no useful information is available. My aim is to fix that.
Realtek Integrated Audio - Hack. Cough. Gag.
All of the headphones, the DAC, and the amp will have at least 50 hours of burn in. I'll let the Samson-cMoy-Sabre chain burn in together. My cabling is generic. I will not have a USB isolator, though if problems crop up I will purchase one. Test tracks will be FLAC. I will be using the recommended ASIO drivers.
Last Words
Right now I'm looking for thoughts on a somewhat obscure company's new product. What do you all think?