[mdkaler]

Ordered on the first day, one of the first 500. But sigh life got tough and budget got shifted. Dropped out from the drop

 

[10fold]

Any dac options im a gamer and i decided to buy a new amp because i need to find out if my la figaro 339 is up to par i do find a great deal of difference in comparison of with/without the amp, but im a complete newb with tubes and amps and i actually received my la figaro damaged years ago (its majn problem is the volume knobs need a little messing around with to get the amp functioning....) So i had some money for a new amp and i joined this drop. I own a dragonfly red dac and it sounds good but i was interested in a new dac around $250 or less and I saw the sennheiser gsx 1000/1200 and i was wondering if it could make for a great of both worlds purchase(gaming and music) any suggestions would be nice and i hope A/B the la figaro 339 and CTH with a new dac and my HD650s.

SMSL Sanskrit 6th DAC

 

[Zachik]

SMSL Sanskrit 6th DAC

Any additional sub-$500 suggestions for a DAC to pair with the CTH?
Would the Bimby (used goes for sub-$500) be a good match? How about Chord Mojo?

 

[cardeli22]

Any additional sub-$500 suggestions for a DAC to pair with the CTH?
Would the Bimby (used goes for sub-$500) be a good match? How about Chord Mojo?

Depending what forum you ask in (the Bimby forum or the Mojo forum, etc...) you may get different answers. I have demoed the Mojo and, while I enjoyed the sound, I found the RF noise to be to loud and distracting. Depending where you are and what equipment is paired with it, the RF noise can get too much. The Dac section in the Centrance DACportslim/HD is very good and only costs 100-200$ depending on which of the two you pick.

 

[Zachik]

Depending what forum you ask in (the Bimby forum or the Mojo forum, etc...) you may get different answers. I have demoed the Mojo and, while I enjoyed the sound, I found the RF noise to be to loud and distracting. Depending where you are and what equipment is paired with it, the RF noise can get too much. The Dac section in the Centrance DACportslim/HD is very good and only costs 100-200$ depending on which of the two you pick.

I am asking here, because I know that in a specific DAC thread - that DAC would be the only recommendation I get
Never heard of Centrance... will have to do some reading. Is it any better than Schiit Modi ($99) that I actually have (been sitting unused for a while)?

 

[Shetzu]

I am asking here, because I know that in a specific DAC thread - that DAC would be the only recommendation I get
Never heard of Centrance... will have to do some reading. Is it any better than Schiit Modi ($99) that I actually have (been sitting unused for a while)?

Correct but you still have to look into DAC threads. This thread is exclusively for Massdrop Tube Hybrid Alex Cavalli Amp as the title says. Rest is upto to you

 

[Zachik]

Correct but you still have to look into DAC threads. This thread is exclusively for Massdrop Tube Hybrid Alex Cavalli Amp as the title says. Rest is upto to you

That's fair. I wanted to know what DACs people plan to pair with the CTH, but I guess it is mostly going to be guesswork, when it comes to how well they would match...

I think a better and more focused / on-topic question would be:
For the people that already auditioned the CTH - which DACs have you used? (and what do you think about the match?)

 

[Roscoeiii]

That's fair. I wanted to know what DACs people plan to pair with the CTH, but I guess it is mostly going to be guesswork, when it comes to how well they would match...

I think a better and more focused / on-topic question would be:
For the people that already auditioned the CTH - which DACs have you used? (and what do you think about the match?)

There are recommendations out there from people who received advance unit. Both Head-fiers and other enthusiasts. I summarized what I'd seen from what I've been able to find earlier. Anyone who has gotten an advance version got it with the expectation that they'd be posting impressions and providing input for good DACs and headphone pairings. Just gotta track those folks down. One place I'd look, which I haven't, is the Massdrop thread itself.

 

[Hansotek]

I am asking here, because I know that in a specific DAC thread - that DAC would be the only recommendation I get
Never heard of Centrance... will have to do some reading. Is it any better than Schiit Modi ($99) that I actually have (been sitting unused for a while)?

I've owned Bimby, Mojo and the iFi iDSD Black Label, which are three popular choices in that category. Everybody obviously has slightly different requirements for their DAC, and there are tons of variables that weigh into the final sound, from wall power quality to USB cable to the USB output on your computer. Quantitative scoring aside, I can tell you what the different qualitative differences are between the DACs and perhaps that will help:

Bimby Pros:
Smooth analog sound.
Outstanding timbre.
Can sound very, very transparent at times. The most transparent of the three.
Really excels at rendering acoustic instruments, voices, etc.

Bimby Cons:
Powered by the wall, if your AC power sucks and you don't have a good power conditioner, your DAC will suck too.
Lacks the dynamic range of the other two, slightly smoothed over up top and not as black on the bottom.
Lacks the impact and physicality of the other two.

Mojo Pros:
Extremely crisp attack and decay.
Fairly spacious with sharp imaging.
Great dynamics and very solid impact.
Very clear, detailed, high-resolution sound, especially with higher res files. It's a fun sound to listen to.
Ultra versatile and portable. Fits in your pocket, can step up and hold its own with a high-end amp or 2-channel system.

Mojo Cons:
The USB input isn't galvanically isolated from the computer's USB output (but workarounds are available)
Battery life is kinda short (6-7 hours), unless you keep it plugged in.
Timbre can be a touch metallic at times, not as natural as the other two.

iDSD Black Label Pros:
The most impact and physicality of the three.
Warm, natural timbre.
The most deep inner detail of the three.
Transparency is just a hair behind Bimby, but dynamics on iDSD BL are clearly better.
Legit power to drive pretty much any headphone.

iDSD Black Label Cons:
Weird USB input type (but the best USB implementation).
Can be finicky about charging, must make sure the charging light engages or it will run on battery power.
Not as pocket friendly as Mojo.

If you want big, powerful dynamics with great timbre and impact: iDSD BL.
If you want a smooth, sweet sound with excellent transparency: Bimby.
If you want a fun sound with very crisp clarity and stunning imaging: Mojo.

 

[wazzupi]

I've owned Bimby, Mojo and the iFi iDSD Black Label, which are three popular choices in that category. Everybody obviously has slightly different requirements for their DAC, and there are tons of variables that weigh into the final sound, from wall power quality to USB cable to the USB output on your computer. Quantitative scoring aside, I can tell you what the different qualitative differences are between the DACs and perhaps that will help:

Bimby Pros:
Smooth analog sound.
Outstanding timbre.
Can sound very, very transparent at times. The most transparent of the three.
Really excels at rendering acoustic instruments, voices, etc.

Bimby Cons:
Powered by the wall, if your AC power sucks and you don't have a good power conditioner, your DAC will suck too.
Lacks the dynamic range of the other two, slightly smoothed over up top and not as black on the bottom.
Lacks the impact and physicality of the other two.

Mojo Pros:
Extremely crisp attack and decay.
Fairly spacious with sharp imaging.
Great dynamics and very solid impact.
Very clear, detailed, high-resolution sound, especially with higher res files. It's a fun sound to listen to.
Ultra versatile and portable. Fits in your pocket, can step up and hold its own with a high-end amp or 2-channel system.

Mojo Cons:
The USB input isn't galvanically isolated from the computer's USB output (but workarounds are available)
Battery life is kinda short (6-7 hours), unless you keep it plugged in.
Timbre can be a touch metallic at times, not as natural as the other two.

iDSD Black Label Pros:
The most impact and physicality of the three.
Warm, natural timbre.
The most deep inner detail of the three.
Transparency is just a hair behind Bimby, but dynamics on iDSD BL are clearly better.
Legit power to drive pretty much any headphone.

iDSD Black Label Cons:
Weird USB input type (but the best USB implementation).
Can be finicky about charging, must make sure the charging light engages or it will run on battery power.
Not as pocket friendly as Mojo.

If you want big, powerful dynamics with great timbre and impact: iDSD BL.
If you want a smooth, sweet sound with excellent transparency: Bimby.
If you want a fun sound with very crisp clarity and stunning imaging: Mojo.

I hate you lol if i dont like the bimby ill return it and save for mojo

 

[Zachik]

I've owned Bimby, Mojo and the iFi iDSD Black Label, which are three popular choices in that category. Everybody obviously has slightly different requirements for their DAC, and there are tons of variables that weigh into the final sound, from wall power quality to USB cable to the USB output on your computer. Quantitative scoring aside, I can tell you what the different qualitative differences are between the DACs and perhaps that will help:

Bimby Pros:
Smooth analog sound.
Outstanding timbre.
Can sound very, very transparent at times. The most transparent of the three.
Really excels at rendering acoustic instruments, voices, etc.

Bimby Cons:
Powered by the wall, if your AC power sucks and you don't have a good power conditioner, your DAC will suck too.
Lacks the dynamic range of the other two, slightly smoothed over up top and not as black on the bottom.
Lacks the impact and physicality of the other two.

Mojo Pros:
Extremely crisp attack and decay.
Fairly spacious with sharp imaging.
Great dynamics and very solid impact.
Very clear, detailed, high-resolution sound, especially with higher res files. It's a fun sound to listen to.
Ultra versatile and portable. Fits in your pocket, can step up and hold its own with a high-end amp or 2-channel system.

Mojo Cons:
The USB input isn't galvanically isolated from the computer's USB output (but workarounds are available)
Battery life is kinda short (6-7 hours), unless you keep it plugged in.
Timbre can be a touch metallic at times, not as natural as the other two.

iDSD Black Label Pros:
The most impact and physicality of the three.
Warm, natural timbre.
The most deep inner detail of the three.
Transparency is just a hair behind Bimby, but dynamics on iDSD BL are clearly better.
Legit power to drive pretty much any headphone.

iDSD Black Label Cons:
Weird USB input type (but the best USB implementation).
Can be finicky about charging, must make sure the charging light engages or it will run on battery power.
Not as pocket friendly as Mojo.

If you want big, powerful dynamics with great timbre and impact: iDSD BL.
If you want a smooth, sweet sound with excellent transparency: Bimby.
If you want a fun sound with very crisp clarity and stunning imaging: Mojo.

Dude - amazing summary!!! Thanks

 

[Zachik]

I've owned Bimby, Mojo and the iFi iDSD Black Label, which are three popular choices in that category. Everybody obviously has slightly different requirements for their DAC, and there are tons of variables that weigh into the final sound, from wall power quality to USB cable to the USB output on your computer. Quantitative scoring aside, I can tell you what the different qualitative differences are between the DACs and perhaps that will help:

Bimby Pros:
Smooth analog sound.
Outstanding timbre.
Can sound very, very transparent at times. The most transparent of the three.
Really excels at rendering acoustic instruments, voices, etc.

Bimby Cons:
Powered by the wall, if your AC power sucks and you don't have a good power conditioner, your DAC will suck too.
Lacks the dynamic range of the other two, slightly smoothed over up top and not as black on the bottom.
Lacks the impact and physicality of the other two.

Mojo Pros:
Extremely crisp attack and decay.
Fairly spacious with sharp imaging.
Great dynamics and very solid impact.
Very clear, detailed, high-resolution sound, especially with higher res files. It's a fun sound to listen to.
Ultra versatile and portable. Fits in your pocket, can step up and hold its own with a high-end amp or 2-channel system.

Mojo Cons:
The USB input isn't galvanically isolated from the computer's USB output (but workarounds are available)
Battery life is kinda short (6-7 hours), unless you keep it plugged in.
Timbre can be a touch metallic at times, not as natural as the other two.

iDSD Black Label Pros:
The most impact and physicality of the three.
Warm, natural timbre.
The most deep inner detail of the three.
Transparency is just a hair behind Bimby, but dynamics on iDSD BL are clearly better.
Legit power to drive pretty much any headphone.

iDSD Black Label Cons:
Weird USB input type (but the best USB implementation).
Can be finicky about charging, must make sure the charging light engages or it will run on battery power.
Not as pocket friendly as Mojo.

If you want big, powerful dynamics with great timbre and impact: iDSD BL.
If you want a smooth, sweet sound with excellent transparency: Bimby.
If you want a fun sound with very crisp clarity and stunning imaging: Mojo.

Posted a bit too fast... wanted to add:
The big question is (and I hope someone can jump in and answer) - how do those 3 DACs match with the CTH?
(unless @Hansotek your comparison was already using the CTH, as opposed to a generic DAC-only comparison)

 

[Vansen]

Okay, I’m back from making the rounds on the West Coast and backpacking around the John Muir Trail and Yosemite!

In my impressions from the road, I previously noted that with HE-500 and a hot source (Modi MB) the CTH would activate the protection circuit if I turned the volume well past my comfortable listening levels. The HE-500 is my hardest headphone to drive. Not as hard to drive as an HE-6 but much harder to drive than a Sennheiser.

I tried this without the headphones on to see what would happen/how far I could turn the pot. Alex has stated that there is protection circuit will activate if the amp sees a current level that it deems as potentially damaging to headphones.

Testing this specifically again since I just got home, here is how hard I can drive my HE-500 (NOT on my head):
-With RSA F-117 phono preamp at it's normal minimum gain setting while being fed from an Ortofon 2M Blue cart, I was able to get full range on the volume pot without activating the protection circuit on the CTH. At max volume, the HE-500 was able to produce about 102 decibels as measured by an iPhone app with the microphone placed near the point where an ear would be.
-With a Modi MB, which has a higher output level than the RSA F-117 at its minimum gain setting, I can get the volume pot to the 4 o'clock position before the protection circuit kicks in. At this point, the HE-500 produces about 106 decibels before the protection circuit activates.

I cannot really think of any sane person that would listen to music at these levels. Actually, OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.95 (Occupational Noise Exposure) lists that hearing protection be required for 106 decibels if exposure to this sound level exceeds 52 minutes over an eight hour period (as a weighted average).

Also, as update to another comment I made about the CTH…

When I say I listen to music at lower volumes than 90% of most listeners, I mean it. When I listen to music on my JH13 or Noble X from an iPhone, my sustained listening is done on the second or third bar. Also, I had to return a DragonFly Red and Black because the volume was too loud for me at the lowest setting on both of these with IEMs. (I've complained about this with the DFR in this forum several times.) I find this experience of mine to be true with full sized headphones, too. Perhaps I'm in the >99% category rather than the 90% category here. Regardless, the CTH was able to deliver balanced volume levels at low listening volumes while offering me the control I desire.

 

[Hansotek]

Posted a bit too fast... wanted to add:
The big question is (and I hope someone can jump in and answer) - how do those 3 DACs match with the CTH?
(unless @Hansotek your comparison was already using the CTH, as opposed to a generic DAC-only comparison)

I haven't listened to them on the CTH, but I would expect those aspects of the sound would hold up. For what it's worth I've probably heard those devices through, a dozen different amps, at least. I haven't A/B'ed them on all of them... not by a long shot, but those subtle aspects of the sound seem to hold up in terms of the characteristics I mentioned above. Also, FWIW, I've heard Bimby and Mojo on the Liquid Carbon, Gold, Glass and Crimson (plus the Mojo on the Tungsten... wow)... so I have a pretty decent idea of how they mesh with Alex's amps.

IMO, any of the three ought to serve you well, it just comes down to what you value most in the sound.

 

[Zachik]

I haven't listened to them on the CTH, but I would expect those aspects of the sound would hold up. For what it's worth I've probably heard those devices through, a dozen different amps, at least. I haven't A/B'ed them on all of them... not by a long shot, but those subtle aspects of the sound seem to hold up in terms of the characteristics I mentioned above. Also, FWIW, I've heard Bimby and Mojo on the Liquid Carbon, Gold, Glass and Crimson (plus the Mojo on the Tungsten... wow)... so I have a pretty decent idea of how they mesh with Alex's amps.

IMO, any of the three ought to serve you well, it just comes down to what you value most in the sound.

Thanks! Very very useful info.