Ok! So I sat down for a couple hours and did some A/B comparisons with the Audio-gd ROC in the chain as a preamp, and without it as a preamp just straight from the DacMagic to the KRK's
Between each song test i gave my ears 1.5 to 2 minutes of pure silence.
Keep in mind I typed these words in a text file as I was listening to the songs, and then went through afterward to fix some grammer a bit. So this is how I felt as I was listening to the music at the exact moment not after the recording ended
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Up first with the Audio-gd Roc:
My audio chain:
Saffire Pro 24 DSP --> DH Labs Coax -->
Cambridge Audio DacMagic --> DH Labs Balanced XLRs --> Audio-gd Roc as Preamp --> BetterCables Balanced XLRs --> KRK Rokit rp8 g2's
Norah Jones - "Strange Transmissions" (listened to this track tons of times, reference track test)
Bass impact is very clean and crisp, cymbals immensely detailed down to every little reverb heard, vocals amazingly real and clear, all distinct and separate. Drum and mid bass from drum is very realistic and in your face. When you hear the drummer hit it harder u know it and feel it.
Diana Kral - "The Girl in the Other Room" (Vocal / Instrument seperation test, another reference track)
Vocals = Perfection, never heard them like this. Hear the trail and reverb on her voice with utmost detail. Symbols once again super crisp and perfect.
At around 1:30 mark it feels like the piano is being played in front of you, you can picture the piano's dimension. Also the cymbals at that point are scary real.
Tori Amos - "Enjoy the Silence" (vocal test)
This is a vocal only track with some light piano.
You hear every detail, her voice sounds so natural and real its like she is in the room with me. You hear every breath she takes and the size of every breath, you can almost tell her vocals were recorded in a controlled room with very little reverb.
Joss Stone - "The Chokin' Kind"
Vocals in this track come across totally realistic once again, I can hear every single time her lips touch together and the details of he breathing. Her voice can get a little ear piercing, but thats how it is on the track imo.
Sublime - "Santeria" (24 bit) - Drum impact test
All I can say it you feel the drums, the drummer is in the room with you. Vocals are very nice and seperate as well. Everything in this track sounds great, I can find no faults whatsoever. It makes you want to just start moving, very involving. Did I mention DAM! the DRUMS!
Amel Larrieux - "For Real" (seriously well mastered recording & sexy vocals test lol)
I have probably tested this track 400+ times on different systems, this is the best I have heard it. period!
All I can say is I get lost in this track, just find myself listening even tho I was trying to analyze it. For those that haven't checked out Amel Larrieux I highly recommend her albums, I think the "Bravebird" album is
like one of the best mastered cds I have heard.
Now the test without the Audio-gd as preamp (basically dacmagic only)
Saffire Pro 24 DSP --> DH Labs Coax -->
Cambridge Audio DacMagic --> BetterCables Balanced XLRs --> KRK Rokit rp8 g2's
Norah Jones
Less involving, drum impact still felt but it seems more artificial if that makes sense.
Diana Krall
Everything seems warmer, seems like you cant hear the fine details as well. Feels like the sound surrounds you, but with less seperation.
Tori Amos
Voice is still very nice, but a little less involving again. Piano a bit less involving.
Joss Stone
Definitely can tell the trebel piercing ability of her voice is toned down. Instruments feel smaller, her voice is still big but less involving.
Sublime
Drums still have good impact but its more of a blurred impact. Once again I feel it is more fatiguing. Seems like less seperation between instruments/vocals etc.
Amel Larrieux
Definitely the treble seems to have gone down some notches, and everything more blurred again. Don't get me wrong it still sounds good but just once again less involving.
CONCLUSION:
Over all I can tell you there is most definitely a dicernable difference between the two setups, having the Audio-gd Roc in the chain comes out on top by imo a decent margin. Without the Audio-gd Roc the music is still nice but just does not have the LIVE quality of the Roc that I prefer. Straight out of the Cambridge with no Roc, the music seems to blur together a little more with reduced treble a bit. Bass impact / Drum Impact is still powerful yet once again not as live or it is missing that liveliness.
The Audio-gd as a preamp in my chain seems to bring on the seperation, detail and live quality that I love.
Ultimately,
Audio-gd Roc in the chain = WOOOOHOOO live in my studio!
Stay tuned for my headphone impressions probably this weekend it will be SE'd impressions of the dt880 (600 ohm) and then I will post the recabled 4-pin XLR balanced impressions later once I get it done.