[Ymer]

This is going to be my only DAC/AMP for quite some time, so this is a pretty hard choice...

Basically: are their DAC and amp sections about equivalent?

I don't mind the Duet being restricted to the MAC, that's what I'll use anyway.

Anyone owned/heard both?

Headphones: DT-990, SR-325, HD-650 and D2000.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ymer]

No one?

 

[TSi]

apogee duet looks a lot sexier, tats for sure imo

 

[Jaska]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ymer /img/forum/go_quote.gif Anyone owned/heard both?

grawk has heard both. I have the Duet, and am extremely happy with it, especially with my HD580. While I haven't heard the Pico, I still would say that from a functional standpoint, it's more straightforward to use the Duet as a desktop DAC. The onboard headphone amp is also very good.

 

[Jeff E]

Arrrgh! Duet or Pico?

Pico vs. Apogee Duet

MacBook Pro with Apogee Duet or Headamp Pico or neither?

 

[Ymer]

Yeah, the duet is mad sexy.

Thing is - I don't even care that it won't take an analog in - I'm really concerned about the DAC and amp quality in comparison to the Pico.

Jaska, which other amp have you heard with your HD-580s?

Thanks

 

[Jaska]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ymer /img/forum/go_quote.gif Jaska, which other amp have you heard with your HD-580s?

Not as many I'd like, just a Hornet M and an Arietta. The Hornet did quite well with them, but I never had the chance to feed it with the Duet, and I would really have liked to try that. In my opinion, the Duet's built-in amp sounded better than the Duet + Arietta combo with the HD580.

 

[grawk]

I've heard both, as have a number of other people. They're both very good. With hd580s, I'd probably lean towards the apogee, but really, you can't go wrong with either. If you forsee wanting to use it portably, get the pico. If you forsee using the line ins, go wtih the duet. I went iwth the duet mostly because the pico was too small, and I use it for doing "laserdrops" to rip my SACDs to 24/96 to listen with itunes.

I have to say tho, the pico is a LOT sexier looking, imho. Justin does fit and finish like no one else.

 

[Dorito123]

If you plan to get the Apogee then make sure you will never need to use a windows computer.

 

[grawk]

I dunno, with computer hardware, I don't ever buy it thinking about what I'm goingto buy next. Get what works now. Next gen there will be something else anyway.

 

[Jaska]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dorito123 /img/forum/go_quote.gif If you plan to get the Apogee then make sure you will never need to use a windows computer.

Almost a moot point now since the "sensible" thing to do is just install Windows on a Mac if you really have to have Windows, and stick with OS X for music listening.

Ducking for cover

 

[grawk]

or when the time comes for you to get a new computer, just use the mac for audio duties.

 

[Andrew_WOT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grawk /img/forum/go_quote.gif or when the time comes for you to get a new computer, just use the mac for audio duties.

Not everyone is fond of Mac, plus many are restricted in what OS they can use at work. MacOS and Firewire only can be a big limiting factor for some. USB is supported by pretty much everything, Windows, Mac, Linux; Firewire ports are still not that common, except laptops.

 

[grawk]

If you're not fond of mac, then the duet isn't an option, so there's no problem.

 

[tfarney]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaska /img/forum/go_quote.gif Almost a moot point now since the "sensible" thing to do is just install Windows on a Mac if you really have to have Windows, and stick with OS X for music listening. Ducking for cover

I struggle with this. Running Windows on a Mac is like running Buick on a Ferrari.

Back to your normally scheduled programming...

Tim