giovanni
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2003
- Posts
- 368
- Likes
- 15
Dudes, take this for what it is, that is, where it comes from, me !
So I have had the USBTD for a few days now, couple of weeks I guess, and I will tell you what I think. I did not do so earlier because first I was in the process of selling it (so not too appropriate) then I had not had enough time with it at all.
Anyhow what I describe is ALL relative to the audio out port of my Mac only.
The Mac and the USB are both connected to my MPX3 (which has two RCA inputs) so I could also do a near perfect A/B (near because I had to switch both the MPX3 and the sound output on the Mac).
The dac is cleaner, less in your face and subtly defined across the whole range. Initially, this gave me the impression of a somewhat darker sound (I am sensitive to this with my 580) but as I listened on I realized it was just more precise. In particular, in the more complex traits (classical or other) the dac revealed its comparative quality.
The lows no longer would get lost in time and space, much better controled with the dac, but still nice and punchy when needed. And the highs, well, the same thing, but there was less "metal" in the higher frequencies and a better measure of distance.
What the above meant to me, overall, was a more balanced presentation, simply so.
Oh well, I am kind of sad in a way that I have actually sold it. By the way I suspect the use of a better IC helped a lot. I found the differences between the two sources easier to understand, after switching from a crap cable to an Oxyfuel something.
I have a Benchmark and a DA10 on the way, and that will be another entertaining experiment. The USBTD's form factor just does not do it for me, I had never imagined it is soooooo small and does not stand still on my desk ! A problem for me, my desk is the only place in my apt that ought to be clean and orderly.
It was fun, my first dac has come and gone.
ciaooo,
gio
So I have had the USBTD for a few days now, couple of weeks I guess, and I will tell you what I think. I did not do so earlier because first I was in the process of selling it (so not too appropriate) then I had not had enough time with it at all.
Anyhow what I describe is ALL relative to the audio out port of my Mac only.
The Mac and the USB are both connected to my MPX3 (which has two RCA inputs) so I could also do a near perfect A/B (near because I had to switch both the MPX3 and the sound output on the Mac).
The dac is cleaner, less in your face and subtly defined across the whole range. Initially, this gave me the impression of a somewhat darker sound (I am sensitive to this with my 580) but as I listened on I realized it was just more precise. In particular, in the more complex traits (classical or other) the dac revealed its comparative quality.
The lows no longer would get lost in time and space, much better controled with the dac, but still nice and punchy when needed. And the highs, well, the same thing, but there was less "metal" in the higher frequencies and a better measure of distance.
What the above meant to me, overall, was a more balanced presentation, simply so.
Oh well, I am kind of sad in a way that I have actually sold it. By the way I suspect the use of a better IC helped a lot. I found the differences between the two sources easier to understand, after switching from a crap cable to an Oxyfuel something.
I have a Benchmark and a DA10 on the way, and that will be another entertaining experiment. The USBTD's form factor just does not do it for me, I had never imagined it is soooooo small and does not stand still on my desk ! A problem for me, my desk is the only place in my apt that ought to be clean and orderly.
It was fun, my first dac has come and gone.
ciaooo,
gio