I can definitely try the QED HDMI cable too! What Shanling device are you referencing? I was under the impression your Topping D90 worked with the LAIV UDDC?
Laiv Harmony µDAC, Discrete Balanced R-2R DAC
- Thread starter bodhidharma
- Start date
-
- Tags
- dac ddc headamp headphones streamer
silversurfer616
1000+ Head-Fier
Well, it worked for me. It’s the Shanling on Aliexpress…the cheap one…but it’s actually really good.
StokeNewingtonJohn
100+ Head-Fier
Very incisive review with lots of comparisons:
![]eep](https://cdn.head-fi.org/avatars/m/139/139747.jpg?1273084439){kind=avatar}
]eep
Headphoneus Supremus
As usual a really good review by Srboljub. It really helps making a choice.
Loftprojection
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- May 26, 2005
- Posts
- 1,061
- Likes
- 502
What a great review and those comparisons are invaluable. I didn't know this guy but he does a fantastic job.
Srbo is consistently quality in his reviews, balanced and descriptive. I appreciated how he hedged his comparative audio quality comments re the Cyan 2 which he no longer has so were from memory vs the other DACs he had on hand could directly compare. He has a great dry sense of humor too.
]eep
Headphoneus Supremus
I read the reactions under the video. I can say the level of knowledge here is quite a bit higher. And then the demand came up: "I 'need' a $1k class A amplifier" ( needy baby, greedy baby). I've no idea what he means by amplifier; HP or speaker.
But anyway, if you think the GanM is a but much, have a look at the new SMSL VMV A1 pro. That is also a GaNFET that you can use with 2 RCA's for stereo (160W) or 1 XLR for mono mode (250W@8Ω bypassing the volume control) at about $500 a piece. And if you chose black the colors match up pretty well too. Only no 12V trigger function but it comes with a remote.
So there's your 1k budget alternative.
But anyway, if you think the GanM is a but much, have a look at the new SMSL VMV A1 pro. That is also a GaNFET that you can use with 2 RCA's for stereo (160W) or 1 XLR for mono mode (250W@8Ω bypassing the volume control) at about $500 a piece. And if you chose black the colors match up pretty well too. Only no 12V trigger function but it comes with a remote.
So there's your 1k budget alternative.
Last edited:
Makes me think of whether I want to keep the uDDC too. I really need more dedicated listening time. Sill unable to connect the uDDC to my Topping D90 (seems they're not compatible and this issue is not uncommon) so may not be worth keeping overall. If anyone has any DDC recommendations please let me know.
Frankster010
New Head-Fier
Hi everybody, my uDAC arrived today and within the first few hours I am pleasantly surprised, coming from a streamer/dac Simaudio Moon 280D Mind 2. I couldn’t use the Moon just as a streamer so I connected a Wiim Ultra as a transport. Any tips for another streamer that is RoonReady and pairs well with the uDAC?
Holo Red
I have been eyeing the Volumio Rivo Plus, which is Roon-ready (but I have not pulled the trigger yet).
By the way, has anyone tested the I2S vs the coax, toslink and usb and reached any conclusions?
Last edited:
silversurfer616
1000+ Head-Fier
USB with Final Touch Callisto cable is sublime whereas i2s via a good DDC is more incisive with better separation and wider soundstage. Two different flavours.
Maybe a few parting/summary words after more listening time as I believe I’ll be keeping the LAIV uDAC/uDDC. Headphone listening only versus using with speakers:
As mentioned previously, nice lively and natural sound with good treble extension. Although, I’m needing to carefully pair with a tube and warmer solid state amp/headphones due to being sensitive to that extended treble. It seems the uDDC may also be helping to smooth out that treble.
The extension/tonality is reminiscent of something like the Queststyle M15 to me, if you’ve ever heard that. Definitely better and somewhat different, but it just reminds me of it.
This stack compared to Qutest without listening back to back: sounds thinner but more natural and more lively, but without the tuning filters and the voltage levels of the Qutest. If I didn’t have proper gear to synergize with, I would definitely have only chosen the Qutest!
It sounds like the bigger brother may sound thicker overall but not certain this would be a tremendous benefit considering pairings— for example, I think a tube amp can help with that perception of fullness.
I did not hear some of the mainstream YouTube reviews mention some of these points so thought I’d share them here if it’s helpful for anyone.
It’s also possible the tonality may change somewhat as I still have less than roughly 20 hours of playtime, but I’m not sure that will occur either. We’ll see.
Edit: went back and listened to the Qutest with LPS power supply. Definitely thicker sounding with more inner tonal body/texture. The Qutest is a great dac, so these are simply different flavors in my opinion.
As mentioned previously, nice lively and natural sound with good treble extension. Although, I’m needing to carefully pair with a tube and warmer solid state amp/headphones due to being sensitive to that extended treble. It seems the uDDC may also be helping to smooth out that treble.
The extension/tonality is reminiscent of something like the Queststyle M15 to me, if you’ve ever heard that. Definitely better and somewhat different, but it just reminds me of it.
This stack compared to Qutest without listening back to back: sounds thinner but more natural and more lively, but without the tuning filters and the voltage levels of the Qutest. If I didn’t have proper gear to synergize with, I would definitely have only chosen the Qutest!
It sounds like the bigger brother may sound thicker overall but not certain this would be a tremendous benefit considering pairings— for example, I think a tube amp can help with that perception of fullness.
I did not hear some of the mainstream YouTube reviews mention some of these points so thought I’d share them here if it’s helpful for anyone.
It’s also possible the tonality may change somewhat as I still have less than roughly 20 hours of playtime, but I’m not sure that will occur either. We’ll see.
Edit: went back and listened to the Qutest with LPS power supply. Definitely thicker sounding with more inner tonal body/texture. The Qutest is a great dac, so these are simply different flavors in my opinion.
Last edited:
StokeNewingtonJohn
100+ Head-Fier
Very helpful. Thanks. I’ve been wondering about how it compares to the Qutest.
Good. Don’t get me wrong as the Qutest is punchy, but to my ears the LAIV is a little more lively.
I have to say, I’m a little blown away that the popular YouTube reviewers I watched didn’t specifically mention the treble extension considering this is an R to R dac. Like, I haven’t even touched OS versus NOS.
Would welcome other folks thoughts on this?
I have to say, I’m a little blown away that the popular YouTube reviewers I watched didn’t specifically mention the treble extension considering this is an R to R dac. Like, I haven’t even touched OS versus NOS.
Would welcome other folks thoughts on this?
Last edited:
Users who are viewing this thread
