JDS Labs Element 4 Released

[klardotsh]

JDS labs ever considered making an audio dedicated auto-detecting USB-C power supply? we don't have a lot of audio dedicated power supplys for a good price
ifi charge so much

Then, pair this with a hardware revision to the Element IV to take USB-C PD instead of the AC barrel jack Would be much friendlier to DC power sources, like those in camper vans, RVs, sailboats, and other off-grid homes. Yeah, sure, you can run your big, power-hungry inverter to take 24VDC or 48VDC up to 120VAC and then use the wall wart to come back down to 16-17VAC and plug into the EIV which is just converting it all right back to (I assume) 5/9/12/20VDC anyway (count the number of places of loss in this system)... or we can cut the middleman and just use USB-C to power devices like these, for which good clean power supplies exist in both AC (wall wart) and DC (think the USB-C ports you plug into the DC jack in your car) worlds.

This is probably my sole complaint about the EIV actually: that it uses 16-17VAC power and converts to DC internally, rather than just taking DC (barrel jack, or USB-C PD) in natively like my RME ADI-2 did (which took a 9V barrel jack). I'll probably eventually mod mine if a DC-native revision doesn't come along before my truck camper build-out is done.

 

[TRHH]

Headfonia Review:

https://www.headfonia.com/jds-labs-element-iv-review/

 

[SchwizzelKick66]

For $550, this is just a bit more than I'm willing to spend on a source. I understand everything it offers, and the form factor and aesthetic are awesome, but I'm afraid I just wouldn't use most of the functionality the Element IV offers.

I love top knobs. Love the OLED screen, auto gain switching, UAC1/2 switching for consoles, etc. I just don't think I'd use any of the many options the menu has- I just want clean as possible sound.

Not sure if suggestions are welcome, but an all in one that's basically an alternative to the atom stack without all of the extra stuff driving up cost would be an attractive product IMO.

 

[bboris77]

For $550, this is just a bit more than I'm willing to spend on a source. I understand everything it offers, and the form factor and aesthetic are awesome, but I'm afraid I just wouldn't use most of the functionality the Element IV offers.

I love top knobs. Love the OLED screen, auto gain switching, UAC1/2 switching for consoles, etc. I just don't think I'd use any of the many options the menu has- I just want clean as possible sound.

Not sure if suggestions are welcome, but an all in one that's basically an alternative to the atom stack without all of the extra stuff driving up cost would be an attractive product IMO.

The main advantage that justifies the price for me personally is the amazing EQ ability that works on both USB and Optical inputs. I use it for room correction equalization that does more to improve the sound quality than anything else. The closest device in terms of functionality is RME ADI-2 FS DAC at literally double the price.

 

[rgbyhkr]

The main advantage that justifies the price for me personally is the amazing EQ ability that works on both USB and Optical inputs. I use it for room correction equalization that does more to improve the sound quality than anything else. The closest device in terms of functionality is RME ADI-2 FS DAC at literally double the price.

Totally agree on the value proposition. If someone has no use for the EQ though, their evaluation will be a lot different. Between playing around more with MUSE in Roon, the EQ in the Element IV and very recently acquiring the Qudelix 5K, my appreciation for and usage of EQ has soared and I don't see that trend changing.

 

[bboris77]

Totally agree on the value proposition. If someone has no use for the EQ though, their evaluation will be a lot different. Between playing around more with MUSE in Roon, the EQ in the Element IV and very recently acquiring the Qudelix 5K, my appreciation for and usage of EQ has soared and I don't see that trend changing.

Of course, there are amazing software room correction solutions like Dirac and free ones as long as you are able to measure your room with REW. However, if you need room correction for game consoles (like I do) and have to use the Optical input, there are very few choices.

For years, I was a tone purist and resisted EQ vehemently. That is until I measured my room and realized that there was a huge 15dB peak at 135Hz which absolutely decimated the sound quality regardless of the choice of DAC, amplifier, speakers and so on. Once I applied my first room correction filter, it was like a huge revelation - for the first time ever, I was able to get my speakers to sound close to how my best headphones do, plus the visceral impact of a subwoofer.

 

[AlexUA]

For $550, this is just a bit more than I'm willing to spend on a source. I understand everything it offers, and the form factor and aesthetic are awesome, but I'm afraid I just wouldn't use most of the functionality the Element IV offers.

I love top knobs. Love the OLED screen, auto gain switching, UAC1/2 switching for consoles, etc. I just don't think I'd use any of the many options the menu has- I just want clean as possible sound.

Not sure if suggestions are welcome, but an all in one that's basically an alternative to the atom stack without all of the extra stuff driving up cost would be an attractive product IMO.

I would suggest 2 options. For example, I don't need an equalizer, why not make a more expensive version with access to the equalizer and a cheaper one just for the device.

 

[SchwizzelKick66]

The main advantage that justifies the price for me personally is the amazing EQ ability that works on both USB and Optical inputs. I use it for room correction equalization that does more to improve the sound quality than anything else. The closest device in terms of functionality is RME ADI-2 FS DAC at literally double the price.

Yeah, thats definitely a huge bonus for those that use EQ.

I personally don't like using EQ. I enjoy the differences in frequency response between my different headphones. I have given EQ the the good "college try" and just didn't really get much value from it. For that reason, I would basically never use that functionality on the Element IV.

Give me a unit with the same form factor, components and performance and knock off some from the price by removing the screen and all of the menu options. I would be into that provided the price is decent- just spitballing, but I'd probably take a look at $200-250 for something like that.

I may be way off base and that may not be possible, but I can dream lol.

 

[bboris77]

Yeah, thats definitely a huge bonus for those that use EQ.

I personally don't like using EQ. I enjoy the differences in frequency response between my different headphones. I have given EQ the the good "college try" and just didn't really get much value from it. For that reason, I would basically never use that functionality on the Element IV.

Give me a unit with the same form factor, components and performance and knock off some from the price by removing the screen and all of the menu options. I would be into that provided the price is decent- just spitballing, but I'd probably take a look at $200-250 for something like that.

I may be way off base and that may not be possible, but I can dream lol.

I agree with you a 100% when it comes to EQ on headphones. I always go back to not using it. For me, it is all about room correction when using speakers. I primarily use the Element IV as a DAC and DSP, secondarily as a headphone amplifier. It excels in all these tasks.

The funny thing is that you are literally describing the Element 1 and 2, before they introduced the OLED screen It was significantly cheaper then as well.

 

[Poimandres]

Sounds like you may want to look at some of JDS Labs other offerings, perhaps the Atom line? The E3’s were on close out, not sure if they still are.

 

[jseaber]

Give me a unit with the same form factor, components and performance and knock off some from the price by removing the screen and all of the menu options. I would be into that provided the price is decent- just spitballing, but I'd probably take a look at $200-250 for something like that.

I may be way off base and that may not be possible, but I can dream lol.

The monthly server bill is around $10 USD to run Core. R&D are sunk costs, and removing the screen would reduce cost negligibly--it's a convenience feature. The bulk of expenses involve materials and manufacturing (lots of silicon).

Around half of Element IV owners have registered Core accounts, collectively uploading over 2000 presets by now. Even if you do not appreciate EQ, soundstage is at another level compared to Atom.

A 3D printed enclosures saves cost, as we do during prototyping. It feels cheap, too. This was taken last year:

Sounds like you may want to look at some of JDS Labs other offerings, perhaps the Atom line? The E3’s were on close out, not sure if they still are.

E3 and older are long gone. EL2 matches his description, but today, Atom 2 is a stronger option than a used E2. Perfect channel balance from E3 and beyond is difficult to appreciate until experienced firsthand.

 

[Livetaswim06]

The monthly server bill is around $10 USD to run Core. R&D are sunk costs, and removing the screen would reduce cost negligibly--it's a convenience feature. The bulk of expenses involve materials and manufacturing (lots of silicon).

Around half of Element IV owners have registered Core accounts, collectively uploading over 2000 presets by now. Even if you do not appreciate EQ, soundstage is at another level compared to Atom.

A 3D printed enclosures saves cost, as we do during prototyping. It feels cheap, too. This was taken last year:





E3 and older are long gone. EL2 matches his description, but today, Atom 2 is a stronger option than a used E2. Perfect channel balance from E3 and beyond is difficult to appreciate until experienced firsthand.

You make me somewhat regret my purchase of the atom stack a few months back! Should have just been patient and gone with the Element IV. You live and you learn!

 

[SchwizzelKick66]

Even if you do not appreciate EQ, soundstage is at another level compared to Atom.

Can you expand on what you mean by this?

 

[jseaber]

Can you expand on what you mean by this?

Yes, check out the "Encoder and Channel Balance" section from the 2022 EL3 release article (pasting below). The same applies to EL4.

By perfecting channel balance, soundstage becomes more accurate.

Encoder and Channel Balance​

No one complains about distortion or noise performance these days. We’re finally comfortable moving to digital attenuation because Element III’s noise, distortion, and dynamic range performance are all exceptional. To put this into perspective, SINAD of Element III at its worst case gain matches that of an original Atom Amp at its best case gain–and Atom Amp obviously had no DAC to limit it. Element III’s noise floor is lower than Element II as well.

More simply, measurable performance is so high that analog potentiometers are the greatest enemy of high fidelity listening. Channel imbalance from an analog pot at a non-ideal position can ruin your listening, but you will not hear an improvement from SINAD much beyond 90 dB.

Channel balance of common analog potentiometers falters at around -25 dBFS. Our best hand matched pots achieve good balance to -40 dBFS (good, not perfect). Element III’s channel balance is audibly perfect all the way down to -127.5 dBFS.

We custom designed Element III’s encoder to approximate the rotational feel of previous Elements. It turns freely 360°, meaning no detents or stopping points.

Using Element III throughout development, I’ve found myself listening to music more quietly than ever before because of the fine resolution and balance achievable at low volumes–even discernible with 300 ohm headphones. You’re not forced to boost volume to hear a decent soundstage.

 

[SchwizzelKick66]

This is a big selling point actually. Thanks for the reply.