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JDS Labs C5/C5D (pg96) portable amp/amp+DAC

Nov 9, 2013 at 7:30 PM Post #1,473 of 3,417
tvolpe1600 said:
  I am thinking of picking up a C5D for portable and travel use. It seems like such a solid product at a killer price point. [Sidebar: I'm not sure why competitors price similar units at $600-700. I assume those are geared towards balanced output for power hungry TOTL cans.]
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Because until JDS came along they didn't have competition, so they knew they "could" charge that.  ;) :) haha.  Maybe JDS will skew the market prices now...
 
 
Originally Posted by tvolpe1600 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I plan to use them with my UE Triple.fi 10 IEMs on the road, my AKG702s at work, and occasionally at home with my HD650s. Any thoughts on how the C5D scales between IEMs and dynamics? I might also get a closed back dynamic HP for travel down the road
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I can tell you that the hd600 sounds awesome with the C5, and the C5D has basically the same amp section.  Plenty of power and they sound the best I've heard them with it.
 
 
Nov 9, 2013 at 7:42 PM Post #1,474 of 3,417
@luisdent: Interesting - I was not aware that JDS was an early pioneer in the portable field (I'm relatively new to head fi). To be fair, there are a number of similar products at similar price points, but the market these days seems packed with ~$700 balanced portable amp/dacs.
 
Great to hear that about the 600s! I'm excited to hear what the C5D sounds like with the 650s, especially in comparison to my home rig. I'll post comments in a few weeks. Now I just need to find a great pair of closed back dynamics for plane flights and public listening ...
 
Nov 9, 2013 at 8:15 PM Post #1,475 of 3,417
tvolpe1600 said:
  @luisdent: Interesting - I was not aware that JDS was an early pioneer in the portable field (I'm relatively new to head fi). To be fair, there are a number of similar products at similar price points, but the market these days seems packed with ~$700 balanced portable amp/dacs.
 
Great to hear that about the 600s! I'm excited to hear what the C5D sounds like with the 650s, especially in comparison to my home rig. I'll post comments in a few weeks. Now I just need to find a great pair of closed back dynamics for plane flights and public listening ...
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Not sure what you mean about early pioneer?
 
As for the price range, I haven't heard anything as "reference" and flat in response ass the C5.  I think you need to go up in price to get an "equivalent" reference sound in a portable amp.  There may be some good amps in the price range, but most I've seen have a higher noise floor and/or coloration of the sound in some way, either due to frequency response or high output impedance with iems...  Or simply have something bad about them.  Nuttin' wrong with the C5. :-P
 
Nov 9, 2013 at 9:43 PM Post #1,478 of 3,417
@luisdent: I misread your post. I see your point now. Scratch my comment/confusion about 'early pioneer'.
 
@miceblue: Totally. I want a portable rig to be ... portable. That means I can take the associated headphones out of my house. I'm not taking a pair of HE-6 or LCD-3s (or even my 650s) on the plane for so many reasons. But I understand some people want a rig to take around the house, etc.
 
But still, I can't wait for the forthcoming portable balanced amp powered by plutonium.
 
Nov 10, 2013 at 12:57 AM Post #1,481 of 3,417
I just ordered mine (C5D).  Woo-hoo!
 
Sorry for taking up space to celebrate, but you guys know how it is - nobody else understands  
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Nov 10, 2013 at 2:15 AM Post #1,483 of 3,417
miceblue said:
Does the Apple Camera Connection Kit bypass the iDevice's internal DAC? If so, why don't people use this option instead of the "Apple certified" DAC/amp combos that cost $500+?
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Yes, the CCK bypasses the internal DAC and streams UAC1 (digital audio) to an external DAC.
 
This wasn't possible until iOS7. Proprietary, Apple Certified DACs are no longer necessary.
 
Nov 10, 2013 at 11:36 AM Post #1,484 of 3,417
jseaber said:
   
Yes, the CCK bypasses the internal DAC and streams UAC1 (digital audio) to an external DAC.
 
This wasn't possible until iOS7. Proprietary, Apple Certified DACs are no longer necessary.
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So...this won't work on Classic but on any device with iOS7? I only have a classic but this is still tremendous news for any one linked to the apple platform. 
 
Does anyone know whether I can get a touch and make this happen (I don't have an iphone)? I've wanted to bypass the Ipod's dac and now, for the first time since 5 years in headfi, there is a portable affordable option. I'm so stoked. 
 
Nov 10, 2013 at 12:16 PM Post #1,485 of 3,417
Yes indeed! I almost moved to Android because Apple's proprietary lock on everything in their chain was starting to become a bit much. This is a huge move and makes the JDS C5D an essential buy in my opinion for the iDevice user - a series coup d'état for JDS in this market. Previously you had to pay around $500-700 for a portable DAC compatible with iDevices. $250 for a serious piece of hardware!? Done.
 
The iDevice needs iOS7, so an old classic iPod won't work, but any current generation iPhone / iPad / iPod will work for sure. In addition to having iOS7, these all have Lightening USB ports that can handle the Camera Connection Kit. Open question as to whether the previous generation traditional 30-pin usb port iDevices with iOS7 are compatible (e.g. an iPhone 4s running iOS7). They are. JDS Blog links to the CCK for 30 pin USB previous generation iDevices: http://blog.jdslabs.com/?p=722
 
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