[mcullinan]

So you are saying no D1 and no D2? Whats your goto DAC then? The Sabre?
M

 

[project86]

If that last post is directed at me, I am using the D2 as my new reference. Possibly selling the D1. Might just keep it though since I like it so much.

I won't ever get rid of the D2. It's amazing.

 

[mcullinan]

Ok. Cool! I'll have to get one in May. They need to get a bigger manufacturer. Was there a wait for the D1 too?
Peace!

 

[project86]

Ok. Cool! I'll have to get one in May. They need to get a bigger manufacturer. Was there a wait for the D1 too?
Peace!

It's a small family business, and I don't think they have a desire to become huge. Designer James Kang makes a great analogy - he feels he is something like an artist who makes fine instruments. Maybe a luthier or something. He doesn't have to make the most, or the best ones out there.... He just wants people to enjoy the ones he does make. In that way he can also feel less competitive with other companies - all are fellow artists encouraging people in their musical journeys.

Honestly it is a refreshing stance to take. It sounds better when he says it though - I think I'm making him sound too egotistic, when that is far from the truth.

There was a wait for the D1 at times too.

 

[mcullinan]

It sounds smart. I think at a certain point in growing a business you also lose a certain amount of control. You won't be able to do everything personally and that could be an issue that comes into play too. Finding people with a likeminded perspective, people you trust. Not degrading the reason why you took on a venture.
 
But its a humble outlook, you know.
They are from Plainsboro, NJ... I had a townhouse there when I was younger... maybe I should camp out like an Apple fan.. haha.
PEace.
M

 

[KevinWolff]

Has anyone done a real comparison of the D1 with the U2 vs. coax? Is it worth it sonics-wise? I know it's worth it to be able to read 24/88 and 24/192 files, but I wondered if it sounded much better.

 

[cky8]

I have mentioned I think twice already in this thread. The U2 to me in short sounded more focussed, extracting more micro details and had better controlled extension. Coax to me sounded tonally richer from the Asus Xonar D2X. The U2 overall is more coherent. It has to be noted they are small differences. I preferred the U2. Whether it is worth it, is up to you. For me, having a USB to SPDIF converter around can always be handy as a high quality transport from a laptop/PC...
 
I believe the differences can be small though for coax vs U2 if you have a high quality source that outputs a high quality low jitter signal (coax).

 

[earthling]

Quote:

If that last post is directed at me, I am using the D2 as my new reference. Possibly selling the D1. Might just keep it though since I like it so much.
I won't ever get rid of the D2. It's amazing.

I agree.
 
Love the D2.  Have no interest in looking at anything else.  Happy, content, just loving the tunes.

 

[Riker]

Can't wait to get my own !!
 
May 28th is when it will be available again for order..
 
Been waiting over 2 years for a DAC and I believe this is the one to get. From what I keep reading, I am going to be very happy !!!
Riker

 

[earthling]

I got a few requests to post impression from my comparison of the D1 and D2.  I am no writer/reviewer so I apologize if I am not going into details the way that you might expect but then these are my impressions, not a review.
 
First off, the differences between the D1 and D2 are small, but real.  There is not a night and day difference by any stretch of the imagination, it is subtle but in all ways the D2 is an improvement over the D1, its simply on another level.  I look forward to reading project86s impressions as I know he has/had access to more expensive SOTA Dacs.
 
The D1 is already a reference quality DAC IMHO and is easily one of the top performing DACs available.  Unlike Project86 I cannot compare to a really expensive DAC as I dumped everything that I did have after I had a good listen to the D1 and I really only had the D1 and D2 side by side for a relatively short amount of time (month).  Long enough however to form some opinions.  I used both the logitech squeezebox touch and a PC source for the USB input as well as a PC feeding coax. The logitechs are running a custom build to support a greater range of sampling rates (EDO plugin).  The source material was my FLAC collection.  The headphones were HE-500s, Sennheiser 650s, and Audeze LCD-2 r2.
 
The main differences between the two can be summed up by attack, overall management of complex music (micro dynamics even in the presence of notes with a greater dynamic presence), decay, and soundstage.  On the leading edge of notes whether it was the snap of a snare, cymbals, guitar string, or piano, you could hear the slightly more coherent and present initial attack of the instrument on the D2.  This took direct A-B comparison between the two in order to notice it.  I could not do so from memory (I tried) which speaks volumes about the capabilities of the D1.  Whenever the music got complex you had the sense that either of them could effortlessly handle anything that was thrown at them, but the D2 did so with just a bit more aplomb than the D1.  Again, you would really have to have both on hand to hear the difference as they both sound good but having heard them side by side the difference was tangible.  The D2 could also handle the microdynamics with a finesse and purity which was absolutely stunning.  I truly thought the D1 was the king in this department but the D2 managed to edge it out ever so slightly imparting a more intimate and emotional experience.  Very few systems can draw me into the music like my main stereo but aside from pure dynamic impact, the D2 managed to match the level of tangible emotional engagement just as well, which caught me off guard.  The combination of the D1 and the HE-500 was in some ways (micro dynamics) more accurate than my main stereo but perhaps there was just that little bit of missing emotional element which kept it as a second place.  For me, I have yet to hear any headphone setup that can match a good full bandwidth stereo system for scale, soundstage, and pure dynamics but still, the D2 was quite surprising as it easily was capable of a level of subtlety that I had not heard from anything other than a very high end system driving full size pure ribbon or planar speakers. With both the HE-500 and LCD-2 as the interface between the D2 and my ears, the music was conveyed with an honesty and transparency that I always found lacking with lesser DACs.  I find the anedio sound to be refreshing in its accuracy without the typical treble lift or midrange punch found in some other systems.  You would never call any anedio product 'warm' but thats only in comparison with the plush sound of some systems.  Because the D2 is absolutely free of glare or grain, the sound is smooth which is what I feel is the most appealing about systems that tend towards more warmth, but it is also different as it manages to be smooth without any loss or exaggeration of detail at any level,  a truly magical combination. 
 
Where I feel the D2 has the biggest advantage over the D1 is in terms of decay and soundstage.  Listening to a studio recording I could hear farther into the room.  This is not about separation or placement of instruments which is already excellent.  This is the decay of vocals and instruments into the room environment giving a greater sense of space around the stage and a more palpable sense of its size.  Its almost as if you can hear into the emptiness of the recording venue. I know that sounds weird but that is how I picture it.  The overall coherency of the soundstage is also just better with the D2.  It all just blends together into a more believable and realistc presentation.  This is taking nothing away from the D1 which was already stellar in this regard, it is just a notch higher with the D2.  I am sure project86 will have more to say on this and other differences as he has a good ear, more equipment for comparison and a larger selection of headphones.  For me the highest compliment I can pay to the D2 is what I put in my original response "Have no interest in looking at anything else. Happy, content, just loving the tunes."  For people that know me personally this is the highest praise I would place on any product as they know me as the guy that always finds something to complain about.   I think that the D2 is probably the best money I have ever spent on my audio addiction. Anyhow, that is my 2c. 

 

[Durberg3]

Earthling,
Great non-review , very detailed and helpful. What is your opinion of the D2 headphone amp? Is it a good match with the HE-500 or LCD 2s and how does it compare to a stand alone amp? Thanks for your impressions

 

[rawrster]

Thanks for the impressions of both. I got a D1 recently and feels like I'm not missing out on too much with the D2.

 

[AlexRoma]

I have a same question.. Does Anedio D2 have a better amp compared to D1  ? Can D2 push headphones to their top performance , both 300omh Senns and Planar Magnetic phones (except HE6 of course) ? If so, than I'm hooked...

 

[project86]

Quote:

I have a same question.. Does Anedio D2 have a better amp compared to D1  ? Can D2 push headphones to their top performance , both 300omh Senns and Planar Magnetic phones (except HE6 of course) ? If so, than I'm hooked...

 
It is improved, significantly in some ways. When using an easy to drive Grado, Audio Technica, or IEMs, the difference is small. With more difficult loads like high impedance cans or planars, it is more easily discernable. Does it reach their top performance? That's debatable. Compared to some very expensive stand alone amps I've tried, the D2 integrated section is competitive if maybe not always the absolute best. It excels at clarity and high resolution, so depending on what sound you prefer it could be a perfect match. If you want a smoothing effect, this is not the headphone amp to do that for you.  

 

[moj0]

Quite a hefty price-tag; thanks for the review. There was no mention of bass in the review (?).
 
Quote:

The D1 was startlingly good with low frequency reproduction. It had such texture and weight that for a time I thought it was slightly boosted. But after extensive listening, I concluded that it was not actually tipped up but just exceedingly clean. There was so much richness and clarity that lesser DACs sounded flat and lifeless by comparison. I listened to the XRCD release of Unity by Ernie Watts which is one of my favorite recordings for testing new gear. The track “Tricotism” features an intro that has both an electric bass and an upright acoustic bass both jamming together. I’ve heard it reproduced admirably even on a good sub-$200 DAC, but I’ve never heard it sound quite this good.