[sheldaze]

  I have a centrance dacport lx with is supposably a dacport (dac/amp) but without the dac section. 
However after doing some research, the dacport lx does actually contain the same amp inside but is buffered. 
So from my laptop windows 7 or my android lg g3 phone with my headphones directly plug without an amp, the buffered amp section of the dacport lx is automatically on max and so with the absence of a volume control, is adjusted via the digital control on the laptop /android device.
Howeve with the dacport lx connected to a headphones amp, the same digital control is present that effects the volume the same way.
So how do I know for sure that the amp connected to the dacport lx is not just double amping the buffered amp section of the dacport lx instead of completely bypassing the amp section.
I am using the usb audio player pro because my lg g3 doesn't support usb otg native. 

FYI, the DACport LX is a completely different generation of product. The current generation, and the topic of this thread, are the DACport Slim and the quite similar DACport HD, released in 2015.
 
You may still find some responses here, but your product was released 2010-2011.

 

[Fungus]

  FYI, the DACport LX is a completely different generation of product. The current generation, and the topic of this thread, are the DACport Slim and the quite similar DACport HD, released in 2015.
 
You may still find some responses here, but your product was released 2010-2011.

yes I know but since this is a newer thread I thought I would get more response.
So can anybody shed some light on this? 

 

[KraftD1]

Dacport LX is the older version without the amp, it is a usb DAC only, so just hook it up to an amp and you are good to go. In terms of system volume control, no sure.

 

[Fungus]

Dacport LX is the older version without the amp, it is a usb DAC only, so just hook it up to an amp and you are good to go. In terms of system volume control, no sure.

No the lx does have an amp. It just doesn't have volume control.

 

[KraftD1]

No the lx does have an amp. It just doesn't have volume control.

Making it a DAC essentially, which is what it was marketed as.  Turn volume to max on your computer and control with the amp you hook up is the usual advice.

 

[Fungus]

 
Making it a DAC essentially, which is what it was marketed as.  Turn volume to max on your computer and control with the amp you hook up is the usual advice.

Actually it's false marketing by Centrace stating the lx to be a dac when it is essentially a dacport with the same amp but locked at line-level and the only only difference between the dacport and lx is the dacport uses a volume potentiometer and lx using fixed-resistor divider. 
So in a nutshell, anyone looking to plug in an external amp to the lx will just be double amping the fixed max volume of the interanal amp. 
This is why if I directly plug in headphones to the lx without an attached amp, the amp is still in use. 
You don't hear other companies companies releasing stand alone dac but with an amp section not publicly advertised. The lx is obviously marketed towards people who are looking to connect with an external amp so if the public knew about the truth, I doubt the product would sell.   

 

[peter123]

Actually it's false marketing by Centrace stating the lx to be a dac when it is essentially a dacport with the same amp but locked at line-level and the only only difference between the dacport and lx is the dacport uses a volume potentiometer and lx using fixed-resistor divider. 


So in a nutshell, anyone looking to plug in an external amp to the lx will just be double amping the fixed max volume of the interanal amp. 


This is why if I directly plug in headphones to the lx without an attached amp, the amp is still in use. 


You don't hear other companies companies releasing stand alone dac but with an amp section not publicly advertised. The lx is obviously marketed towards people who are looking to connect with an external amp so if the public knew about the truth, I doubt the product would sell.   

I really don't understand what you're trying to say but it's normal for a DAC only device to have just a line out and not a volume control. If this is not what you're complaining about then I'm sorry if I've misunderstood.

 

[DaveLT]

  Actually it's false marketing by Centrace stating the lx to be a dac when it is essentially a dacport with the same amp but locked at line-level and the only only difference between the dacport and lx is the dacport uses a volume potentiometer and lx using fixed-resistor divider. 
So in a nutshell, anyone looking to plug in an external amp to the lx will just be double amping the fixed max volume of the interanal amp. 
This is why if I directly plug in headphones to the lx without an attached amp, the amp is still in use. 
You don't hear other companies companies releasing stand alone dac but with an amp section not publicly advertised. The lx is obviously marketed towards people who are looking to connect with an external amp so if the public knew about the truth, I doubt the product would sell.   

Do you know that all DACs usually need a opamp? 

 

[Fungus]

I really don't understand what you're trying to say but it's normal for a DAC only device to have just a line out and not a volume control. If this is not what you're complaining about then I'm sorry if I've misunderstood.

no I perfectly understand it's normal for a DAC only unit to not have volume control, it's the fact the lx claims to be a digital to analog converter when it actually consists of a amp that is not publicly advertised. 

 

[Fungus]

  Do you know that all DACs usually need a opamp? 

.

 

[Armaegis]

Double-amping is not the evil that some people make it out to be.
 
Virtually all dac chips require some sort of buffer on the outputs. In many cases, there is also an I/V conversion stage before that. Sometimes the converter also provides the buffering necessary.
 
If your buffer can provide enough current and is stable driving a reactive load while maintaining your desired specifications, then the difference compared to an amp is largely semantic.

 

[waxdoctor]

this is what I found at mass drop - replied by CEntrance:
 
"...due to special mode filtering we employ in the AK4490 (our secret sauce), there is more clarity in the midrange and a punchier bass. "

  Short Delay Sharp Roll-off is the default configuration, which is used on most AK4490-based devices.  Based on the sound signature of my DACport HD, that appears to be the case here as well.

 

[ikit]

a new Dacportable is out at Indiegogo : https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/dacportable-listen-to-music-everywhere--4/x/13480819#/

 

[flac4me]

I just received my DACPort Slim from the last MassDrop. Does anyone know what is the burn-in period for this dac?

 

[Riisalat]

I just received my DACPort Slim from the last MassDrop. Does anyone know what is the burn-in period for this dac?

I dont think dacs have/need a burn in period.