[Bernard23]

The first thing i did when I got the Element was to compare both DACs with both amp sections, ie run the Marantz DAC into the JDS and vice versa. I preferred the SQ of the Element alone, the Marantz DAC was no better than the one in the Element, and amp section of the JDS is to my ears where the improvement was. The high output impedance of 11 ohms certainly doesn't help when driving low impedance phones such as I've got. It might improve say with a pair of 250 or even 600 ohm devices, but I couldn't test that

 

[chaturanga]

The first thing i did when I got the Element was to compare both DACs with both amp sections, ie run the Marantz DAC into the JDS and vice versa. I preferred the SQ of the Element alone, the Marantz DAC was no better than the one in the Element, and amp section of the JDS is to my ears where the improvement was. The high output impedance of 11 ohms certainly doesn't help when driving low impedance phones such as I've got. It might improve say with a pair of 250 or even 600 ohm devices, but I couldn't test that

I understand, I have HD6XX and DT770 250, also my IEM loves power.. It seems I will pick that used HD DAC1, if I do I will share my impressions here.

 

[Bernard23]

I understand, I have HD6XX and DT770 250, also my IEM loves power.. It seems I will pick that used HD DAC1, if I do I will share my impressions here.

Sounds like a good plan. How much are you paying for it? I sold mine for £425 GBP, which seems about right.

 

[chaturanga]

Sounds like a good plan. How much are you paying for it? I sold mine for £425 GBP, which seems about right.

It's about 500 USD. Has warranty also, seller says he bought from a Turkish hifi store and has warranty till 2023 in Turkey.

Edit: I calculated wrong it's 500 USD not 480.

 

[jamca]

Go for it.. It is a solid device. If for some reason you don't like it you can sell it, and as it is still under guaranty its even better, as you can also sell it more easily. As a said, it has an organic, fluid sound, fatigue free. When i listen to it instead of rme adi2 i smile more times, as it is smoother (but with detail...), regardless the fact that rme is perhaps technically better at measurements. Something seems more mature with Marantz dac1.

 

[chaturanga]

Go for it.. It is a solid device. If for some reason you don't like it you can sell it, and as it is still under guaranty its even better, as you can also sell it more easily. As a said, it has an organic, fluid sound, fatigue free. When i listen to it instead of rme adi2 i smile more times, as it is smoother (but with detail...), regardless the fact that rme is perhaps technically better at measurements. Something seems more mature with Marantz dac1.

Thank you I am very close to pull trigger

 

[chaturanga]

I just finished reading the thread by the way. Very impressive thing is that I did not see any negative review on the sound of the device through all those 76 pages.

Yes some guys preferred some other more expensive ones, and few preferred some cheaper offerings with new tech but, after all those years that is normal.

So I am convinced 100% that HD DAC1 is still a competitive device with it's specific lovely sound. And that is why I want to taste it.

Only thing I am confused is that some guys say that the most impressive part of Marantz HD DAC1 is it's AMP and the DAC is OK, but the others say just opposite

Interestingly, first half of the 76 pages, AMP section was praised more but for the second part mostly DAC was named as better than it's AMP section,

I want to use it as a DAC to my Soncoz SGA-1 AMP. So I will be happy to hear some more opinion, do you think the DAC section is the one that creates the magic, and even with an external AMP I can get best out of it? Or only if it's used as it's (from it's own AMP) I can get that musical attractive sound?

 

[pbarach]

I added a Topping D50s as the DAC to my HD-DAC1 amp; the result was increased clarity and detail in complex orchestral textures (I listen to classical music). I haven't used it as just an amplifier.

 

[Skev]

I just finished reading the thread by the way. Very impressive thing is that I did not see any negative review on the sound of the device through all those 76 pages.

Yes some guys preferred some other more expensive ones, and few preferred some cheaper offerings with new tech but, after all those years that is normal.

So I am convinced 100% that HD DAC1 is still a competitive device with it's specific lovely sound. And that is why I want to taste it.

Only thing I am confused is that some guys say that the most impressive part of Marantz HD DAC1 is it's AMP and the DAC is OK, but the others say just opposite

Interestingly, first half of the 76 pages, AMP section was praised more but for the second part mostly DAC was named as better than it's AMP section,

I want to use it as a DAC to my Soncoz SGA-1 AMP. So I will be happy to hear some more opinion, do you think the DAC section is the one that creates the magic, and even with an external AMP I can get best out of it? Or only if it's used as it's (from it's own AMP) I can get that musical attractive sound?

Yeah they are good, I was actually tempted bid on another one today that just sold for £295. I instead put together a moveable storage unit to move between rooms

 

[chaturanga]

Yeah they are good, I was actually tempted bid on another one today that just sold for £295. I instead put together a moveable storage unit to move between rooms

I hope that storage sounds good

 

[Skev]

I hope that storage sounds good

Yeah sounds good to me at the moment

 

[chaturanga]

Yeah sounds good to me at the moment

A nice corner enjoy it

 

[iFi audio]

still prefer vinyl over CD/streaming

Vinyl is old but streaming/CD playback won't replace it. Luckily all those things nicely coexist and the more playback options we users have, the better.

 

[chaturanga]

Guys, what kind of RCA cables you are using between Marantz HD DAC1 to Amplifier?

I am seeing that the stock cables are not very high quality, do you think another cable will make a clearly better job? If so can you offer a specific cable?

The seller that I am buying Marantz from, also sells a Chord clearway rca cable (With 1m length), do you think will I benefit more from Clearway instead of stock cable?

Edit: Also I want to ask same question for USB cable, do you suggest to buy another USB cable?

I plan to use in following setup,

PC > Deezer / Foobar > Marantz HD DAC 1 > AMP > Headphone

 

[iFi audio]

I am seeing that the stock cables are not very high quality, do you think another cable will make a clearly better job? If so can you offer a specific cable?

The short answer is yes, interconnects in-between a DAC and amp can result in noticeable improvements. But accessories that make the biggest difference are those that apply the earliest in a setup. Many people would agree that power bars, power supplies, power cables and USB cleaners do more than interconnects.