Welp, I previously made a post about $550 being too much for me to jump in, but after researching the device quite a bit over the last week or so I finally placed an order for the Element IV. Its currently on back-order, but seems like it should only be about a week.
This thing checks every box for me personally, including:
- Top Knob
- UAC 1/2 switching
- Optical In
- Channel balance
- Visual representation of volume setting while still being analog
- All-in-one dac/amp
- Enough power for 300 ohm Sennheisers and planars
- Small form factor
- Aesthetics (this thing looks gorgeous)
- Clean, un-adulterated sound
I'm a bit OCD about finding the perfect volume setting for each headphone and using it at that volume all of the time, so a digital display of what volume I'm at is actually a big thing for me lol.
Also after being in this hobby for many years and having used several sources, I tire of wondering how each source is influencing the sound of my headphones. Is this a warm amp? A clinical amp? Does this one give more bass? I'll be happy knowing I'm using a device that's clean, clear and "how its intended to sound".
Also finding an "audiophile grade" source that can be used on consoles has been really difficult. Schiit was basically the only one making devices for that purpose, so I always would need two devices- one for gaming/consoles, and one for pc music listening- the Element IV should let me condense to one device, and being an all-in-one condense number of devices even further.
Also top knob is king lol.
Very excited to get mine. I have only ever messed with EQ through equalizer APO and just copying Oratory settings. Was never a fan, but with this web interface and ease of use I may mess with it more now. I am definitely going to need some help from the community on that part!
Plan to be back with my impressions once received
