Review: JDS Labs O2 (Black edition) + O2/ODAC discussion

[tdockweiler]

LOL my definition of transparency is if I can use it for 2+ years and it doesn't audibly change the sound of any of my headphones.
If the amp is only good with specific types of headphone then it's somewhat of a fail for ME. To me a headphone amp should be equally good with those that are bright/warm/v-shaped etc.
 
I'm sure others have a different idea of what "sounds" transparent to them.
 
For me the most transparent amp i've "heard" is the Micro Amp with Astrodyne unit. Usually when people criticize it I think it's their source. O2 sounds pretty similar..as close as i've come. I'd probably fail a blind A/B test perhaps. There's some small differences though.
 
BTW I read somewhere that the O2 can sound a tiny bit more trebly than normal with a weaker AC adapter using the Q701. Doubt this is true but it's worth a try.
 
ODAC mostly definitely sounded transparent. Didn't sound bright/warm etc. No change to any of my headphones. Same with the Modi.

 

[adydula]

You know the main reason I like the O2.ODAC combination so much is it lets me forget about the amplification and listen to what the music sounds like with a set of cans....
 
Its a standard to me that doesnt change.
 
It just works and works so well.
 
Very transparent..
 
Listening to Kenny Rankin right now and it SUPERB, absolutely SUPERB on my new Beyer T90's.
 
Absolutely luscious....
 
Over and Out...
 
Alex

 

[Ashade]

I didn't want to post anything but...

The definition of transparent is pretty clear: The signal coming out should be the same than the one coming in. If it's an amp it has just to be amplified. If it's a DAC the analog signal must be equivalent to the digital signal. THAT'S transparent by definition from an electronic perspective.

The objective 2 DID demonstrate to be pretty transparent for a broad range of frequencies ( 10 Hz to 50kHz if I recall properly). It doesn't have anything to do with sinergies. I don't remember what kind of test where performed with the ODAC but free was searching to get an objective DAC.

If you don't like how your headphones sound out of a transparent amp then you don't like your headphones, that's it, pretty simple. If you prefer it with another amp then you don't like transparency, again, that simple.

 

[Sonic Atrocity]

I didn't want to post anything but...

The definition of transparent is pretty clear: The signal coming out should be the same than the one coming in. If it's an amp it has just to be amplified. If it's a DAC the analog signal must be equivalent to the digital signal. THAT'S transparent by definition from an electronic perspective.

The objective 2 DID demonstrate to be pretty transparent for a broad range of frequencies ( 10 Hz to 50kHz if I recall properly). It doesn't have anything to do with sinergies. I don't remember what kind of test where performed with the ODAC but free was searching to get an objective DAC.

If you don't like how your headphones sound out of a transparent amp then you don't like your headphones, that's it, pretty simple. If you prefer it with another amp then you don't like transparency, again, that simple.

 
^^^ This. Completely agree. That is what I seek.
 
However, I still appreciate Tdock's post. I understand what he's getting at. If I had V-curved cans I might want to apply the same reasoning. 

 

[miceblue]

So you guys are saying the O2 is the end-of-all-amps for transparency then?

 

[tdockweiler]

   
^^^ This. Completely agree. That is what I seek.
 
However, I still appreciate Tdock's post. I understand what he's getting at. If I had V-curved cans I might want to apply the same reasoning. 

 
That's basically what I said

It should not alter anything. If the DAC is colored then the amp itself will sound colored (duh). Same goes with the headphone.
If I don't like how the headphone sounds then I should get a new headphone and not a new amp.
 
I like how with my current amp for the last 2-3 years I could plug in any new headphone (or one I've had before) and it doesn't change.
 
The only time my amp has changed it's sound is when I got a new DAC. That's it.
 
A good sign of transparency is when you blame your amp for faults when it's actually the DAC. I've done that once! For awhile I always complained that my amp was too warm, had a small soundstage etc and it was 100% the DAC. Doh! Luckily i've found two DACs that are transparent enough to me (Modi and ODAC).
 
So with a good amp/dac there is no such thing as "synergy". Synergy is stupid!
 
What's amusing to do is connect really crappy sources up to your amp and see if they sound the same/any different. On the O2/Micro for me there is really no change just some minor improvements (not in sound signature). I hate it when a desktop amp seems to add it's own signature to the sound.

 

[tdockweiler]

So you guys are saying the O2 is the end-of-all-amps for transparency then?

 
Not for me, but close enough for me to not care much.
 
I haven't heard anything past $500 though.
 
I've heard some say the UHA-6s "sounds" more transparent than the O2, but no idea myself.
 
 
ODAC/Modi for sure. But i've only had those and the E7, HRT MSII and E17.
If the MSII is considered transparent than I'm retiring from all this nonsense! Sounded quite colored, but some nice coloration

 

[Sonic Atrocity]

Yeah, I heard the HRT was pretty coloured. I will be sure to check out the modi. It is likely I will get the o2 + odac though.

 

[stv014]

So you guys are saying the O2 is the end-of-all-amps for transparency then?

 
Well, not in some "extreme" cases, for example:
- with headphones that are unusually hard to drive (e.g. the HE-6 with very dynamic classical music at high SPL the power output might simply not be enough)
- some IEMs can have audible (barely, a few tenths of a dB) FR variations even with the low output impedance of the O2
- channel imbalance at low volume with very sensitive headphones/IEMs - this is perhaps the most common problem
- clipping in the gain stage can be an issue sometimes, depending on the source output voltage and the available gain settings; this can, however, be worked around by reducing the volume at the source

 

[adydula]

Yup I am.....unless someone can demo one for me and show me the error of my 'ears" and bias.
But let me add.....(post after thought)..tha there are others that are just as transparent...
Alex

 

[Sonic Atrocity]

Yup I am.....unless someone can demo one for me and show me the error of my 'ears" and bias.
But let me add.....(post after thought)..tha there are others that are just as transparent...
Alex

Which amps would you say are transparent?

 

[adydula]

One that comes to mind is the Violectric V100  ( and the V200).
Another would be the Benchmark HP2A.
 
A.

 

[Ashade]

The objective 2 is definitely transparent which doesn't mean is perfect nor the ultimate amp as stv014 already mentioned. It's just a super cheap, super transparent amp.

You might not like its transparency or you might search for other features such as eq, bass boost, etc. Or it might just not work in your application, but it's a very good reference.

DAC's are another story, because there are many factors in a digital analog conversion processes, and every chip converts under different criterias, but still I think ODAC is a very nice option.

 

[adydula]

Ashade,
 
Whats not perfect about it?
 
A.

 

[stv014]

DAC's are another story, because there are many factors in a digital analog conversion processes, and every chip converts under different criterias

DACs can be just as transparent (except maybe for the rare golden eared person hearing a - very minor - difference between reconstruction filters for Red Book audio, which, however, can be changed with software upsampling), but there is a lot of misinformation leading many to the belief that there are huge audible problems unless you spend a lot on a "high end" DAC.