OK,
I have now spent some significant time with the HD-DAC1, here are my findings so far.
I have listened to the following two configurations:
- HD-DAC1 with Marantz CD-80 digital out as the source (i.e. only used as a transport, S/PDIF, both optical and coax, 44.1kHz 16bit PCM).
- HD-DAC1 with a Seagate Backup Slim external USB hard drive (because it is really quiet), 44.1kHz 16bit PCM encoded .wav files.
And for comparison:
- Marantz SA-11S3, headphone out.
- Marantz SA-11S3, analogue out into a Lehmann Linear headphone amp.
All with the following headphones:
- Sennheiser HD800
- Sennheiser HD540 (version I ; 600 Ohm)
- Sennheiser HD650
You will notice I have no DSD sources to use for testing. I have loads of SACDs, but licensing prohibits SACD players to output the hi-res digital signal via unencrypted ports (i.e. not on S/PDIF) :mad:. All material used was consistent between the setups, all USB .wav files were ripped from the same CD's used in the SA-11S3 and CD-80.
The quick stuff:
One observation to get out of the way first is that none of these combinations make much of a difference to the relative sound characters of the HD800, HD650 and HD540. All three are driven with ease by the HD-DAC1, and all sound great with the HD-DAC1 provided you like the character of each of these headphones to begin with.
The second observation worth noting is that as far as using USB vs SPDIF (optical and coax in): I can't say I heard any difference to be honest with you.
The detailed stuff:
Although the HD-DAC1 has the typical Marantz sound characterization (smooth, yet detailed and engaging), compared to the SA-11S3 / Lehmann Linear combo it does sound just that little more analytical. Some who find Marantz' house sound just a little too smooth may be pleased to hear this. Again I should note that to some this may not be an issue at all, and they might in fact find the SA-11S3 / Lehmann combo a little too smooth ("veiled" perhaps even...) even with the HD800.
However, it is easy to hear that whatever philosophy Marantz have put in their SA-11S3 DAC also has found its way into the HD-DAC1. The DAC does a superb job on plain old fashioned 44.1kHz PCM source material. (For those of you familiar with the SA-11S3, I have been using it with filter setting 1).
The SA-11S3 / Lehmann combo does just have the edge over the HD-DAC1 when it comes to depth and definition, but only marginally. Given the approx. $5,000 price difference we are seeing here, the HD-DAC is punching miles above its price level. I would say that for its price level the HD-DAC1 has superb spacial imaging. The sound is very engaging, and you regularly forget to listen critically and find yourself simply swept away and absorbed in the music. In my book that's a good thing. SA-11S3 or HD-DAC1, 44.1kHz 16bit PCM has never sounded
this good before in my experience...
The HD-DAC1 headphone amp runs circles around the headphone out on the SA-11S3 (as does the Lehmann to be honest). This is not to say the the SA-11S3 headphone out is bad, far from it. Both the HD-DAC1 and Lehmann however clearly have
much tighter control over the headphones bass and mid response, which makes me think the SA-11S3 employs the usual 120 Ohm or so resistor in the output. It is worth noting that both the HD-DAC1 and Lehmann use a
zero global feedback final current output stage, and both sound like they have a very low output impedance. I believe the Lehman is about 5 Ohm or so, and the HD-DAC1 may be even less given the use of the Darlingtons in the final zero feedback current stage (I don't think the Lehmann uses Darlingtons here). Both use an opamp with feedback topology for the voltage amplification stage, an integrated opamp in the case of the Lehmann and Marantz' HDAM discrete opamp in case of the HD-DAC1.
And as far the less important stuff:
The mechanical construction is undeniably good for the price level, but not up to SA-11S3 level (what is?). The chassis is made of heavy-guage steel plate. The front is made of extruded aluminum (can't tell whether the black version is anodized or painted. On balance I'd say it is painted). The top is heavy-guage stamped steel plate again, painted from the looks of it. The side panels look like wood (from a distance!), but are actually a wood print on some material I have yet to determine (haven't opened up mine yet). Knob bezels and display bezels appear to be plastic. Still, it is nice to see a manufacturer who can see the advantage even at this price level of using metal instead of plastic for all major structural elements.
I haven't used the analogue input, this has a sensitivity of only 200mV. I did try the variable analogue out of the CD-80 on this, but wasn't impressed. It sounded somewhat too warm colored to me, but then again I didn't spend much time with it. In any case, the analogue in has been reported to go (analogue in) > (Burr Brown PCM9211 ADC 24bit 96kHz) > (CS4398 DAC) > (volume control) > (headphone amp) instead of the (analogue in) > (volume control) > (headphone amp) I would like to have seen, so it is of little use to me.
Concluding
This is a very nice and analogue sounding DAC / headphone amp. It has the typical smooth, detailed and engaging Marantz sound, albeit just that little more analytical than I am used to from Marantz. The only thing missing is a proper RCA analogue input directly into the headphone amp. Nevertheless, the HD-DAC1 is extemely good value for money. I think Marantz could double the price and it would still look like an attractive package. A superbly implemented DAC, a superb headphone amp, and a superb construction. Recommended!
