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I still find the order to be headphones then amp then DAC -- a Yggy is a great buy, but doesn't change that ordering for me. If you're into analog, then cartridge and phono stage jump above amp.
I still find the order to be headphones then amp then DAC -- a Yggy is a great buy, but doesn't change that ordering for me. If you're into analog, then cartridge and phono stage jump above amp.
Quality digital files, delivered with as little damage as possible to a very good dac, is the foundation of a system with a realistic musical presentation. Downstream components (amps and headphones) can change the "personality" of a system in exciting and fun ways, but can never "correct or repair" damage done to the music signal upstream. Not unlike spending $ for a phono cartridge (properly set up) in a vinyl rig.
IMOYMMV etc.
Xcalibur255, approximately how many days has your Yggy been left on until, as you say the gears shifted? Great post.
That is possible if you stay away from listening to TotalDac/Rockna/MSB DACs for >10 years . The only assurance to not upgrading your gear is not to listen to gear at a much higher level than the one you own.
you think senns hd6xx k7 series and 400i is enough for this dac?
you think senns hd6xx k7 series and 400i is enough for this dac?
Hi I have the same opinion but say it a little differently. For me, its always the source first. Digital or analogue its the source first then down steam from there. Of course you don't finish off with el cheap headphone or speakers on the back end of something really nice, that's just common sense. In fact i like to step even one step further back and start with the recording. A great recording, to me, will sound great on any system. I find this to be true for vinyl or digital. For me the next two are the DAC and preamp. With digital changing so quickly I bought a Yaggi so i wouldn't have to chase the advances and perhaps be the fist to get an upgrade. I didn't disappoint myself. I find it so good it allowed me to rediscover 16 bit. I'm not sure a lesser dac would have done that. With my current speaker set up I'm about to go onto my third amp (Naim) because I find it makes more difference than changing the speakers. It also helps I really like my current speakers (Opera).
I find it's important to remember to work on synergies to get best value for you money. I have found turntable and tone arm, amp and speakers, amp and headphones, to be the obvious ones. The Dac is like the pillar to my digital system. I am lucky to be able to afford the Yaggi and every thing around it really benefits, in particular my speakers and headphones. All of my upgrading going forward will be based around that.
Personally, I agree with this concept. You still need HP's that are resolving and will scale, but the source music and DAC are the foundation on which to build a system. Then, move forward to the cans. The cables would be the last upgrade to consider, if ever.
Personally, I agree with this concept. You still need HP's that are resolving and will scale, but the source music and DAC are the foundation on which to build a system. Then, move forward to the cans. The cables would be the last upgrade to consider, if ever.
and mostly, You can stack a Lyr on top of a Yggy, But you can not stack a Rag on top of a poor little old Bifrost.
I can definitely agree that cables come far, far after headphones/amps/dacs. My problem with the "source first" mantra is that information loss can occur at ANY point in the chain. Losing X amount of information at the source is no different than losing X amount of info at the headphones -- and when you look at the typical distortion levels of the various components (which is likely to correlate well with information loss), it's going to be headphones then amp then dac. Now if you get into analog, the cartridge and dac are going to have way higher typical distortion levels vs. dacs.
Yes, the "flavor" differences are huge between various headphones, which makes it harder to sort out the "pure" quality differences -- but I'd argue that the quality differences are larger there too.