[whirlwind]

 

   
What's wrong with USB powered DAC's?

Well mainly they are at the mercy of the power supply of the laptop or PC. If it's a good well regulated supply you should be OK, if not the voltage to the DAC can vary depending on how much of a load the Laptop is under. Lord knows what audible effects there could be if the USB voltage is being modulated by the varying activities of the Laptop.
Just about any amp will in part be judged by the size and quality of it's power supply, it all begins there. Would you be more comfortable having your DAC/HP Amp powered by the wall wart that powers the whole laptop at the same time or would you rather have a power supply for the DAC/HP Amp only that looks like this.

As for my comment on battery power, your probably better off with batteries than USB power, at least the voltage won't be affected by anything else besides the DAC-HP Amps own load.  But I still feel the larger and better regulated the power supply is the better off you be in the long run. Just MHO and lots of possible variables involved too.

I agree with having a very nice power plant in your units.
 
You want to be able to handle the voltage swings in a high impedance headphone.   

 

[340519]

 
Yes Bryston doing it agin
http://www.monoandstereo.com/2014/11/bryston-bda-3-dac-new.html

Very cool. I absolutely love my amp from them. I'll have to check this dac out at my dealer in kanata.

 

[CanadianMaestro]

  Well mainly they are at the mercy of the power supply of the laptop or PC. If it's a good well regulated supply you should be OK, if not the voltage to the DAC can vary depending on how much of a load the Laptop is under. Lord knows what audible effects there could be if the USB voltage is being modulated by the varying activities of the Laptop.
Just about any amp will in part be judged by the size and quality of it's power supply, it all begins there. Would you be more comfortable having your DAC/HP Amp powered by the wall wart that powers the whole laptop at the same time or would you rather have a power supply for the DAC/HP Amp only that looks like this.
 
 

I agree with much of this +1.  I often underestimated the importance of internal power routing (separate isolated internal power supplies for analog and digital sections of DACs) and the noise characteristics of power supplies inside gear like amps and DACs. In a nutshell, inter-component transmission of noise from internal power supplies can add noise to your system by spreading from unit to unit. The AC from the wall hits your internal power transformer, which converts it to DC. That conversion process requires a bunch of diodes that switch quickly, generating a certain amt of noise. That noise can then spread to other gear and to your signal lines. As an aside, this fact negates any benefits of shielded power cables from the wall/power strip/conditioner. Inter-component spread of noise generated from within components will happen regardless of whether the power cables are shielded or not.  As long as the interconnects are shielded, you're fine. Anyways, ideally, a digital player  should have no background tasks running, no fans, nothing. Computers compromise that to different degrees. A dedicated soundcard like a Juli@ that's modded for very low noise would sound very good out of a fan-less dedicated player. That's something that Bryston has done extremely well with their BDP-1/BDP-2 units.
 
cheers, coffee time here.

 

[solblack]

 
@c-flyer, G1217 does great work for sure. Very small op, I hope they make a killing! Really well-designed amps at really sane prices. 
 
cheers

Ok, you guys conversation is throwing me for a loop

Maestro are you two talking about the Polaris and Ember found at garage 1217?
If not your talking about the Ayon Polaris?
I would not mind buying the Ember II look interesting.

 

[solblack]

  Very cool. I absolutely love my amp from them. I'll have to check this dac out at my dealer in kanata.

Yes the spec read great, Too much for my pockets now have a PC Build I have been putting aside.

 

[CanadianMaestro]

 
Ok, you guys conversation is throwing me for a loop

Maestro are you two talking about the Polaris and Ember found at garage 1217?
I would not mind buying the Ember II look interesting.

Yes. Go for it!  

 

[ButtUglyJeff]

I know there are several Cowboy Junkies fans on here, and I need to be talked into this box set...
 
http://www.hdtracks.com/notes-falling-slow
 
(I promise to listen to this with my HD650s)

 

[CanadianMaestro]

  I know there are several Cowboy Junkies fans on here, and I need to be talked into this box set...
 
http://www.hdtracks.com/notes-falling-slow
 
(I promise to listen to this with my HD650s)

I'm not a big fan of hi-res, and for the CJs, especially. But I bought this Live album a while back, and I like it.
 
http://www.amazon.ca/200-More-Miles-Cowboy-Junkies/dp/B000024KWC/ref=sr_1_15?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1446214649&sr=1-15&keywords=cowboy+junkies
 

 

[Solrighal]

  I know there are several Cowboy Junkies fans on here, and I need to be talked into this box set...
 
http://www.hdtracks.com/notes-falling-slow
 
(I promise to listen to this with my HD650s)

 
That link doesn't work & I can't find any reference to it on the HDTracks site. I've not heard any of the three albums in the box but everything else I have by them is wonderful.

 

[Solrighal]

  I know there are several Cowboy Junkies fans on here, and I need to be talked into this box set...
 
http://www.hdtracks.com/notes-falling-slow
 
(I promise to listen to this with my HD650s)

 
Have you listened to Cowboy Junkies before? I only ask because up until a couple of months ago they were a band I'd heard of but for some reason never actually listened to. When I finally got around to it they blew me away. The Trinity Session is good, as is The Wilderness and Caution Horses. The latter is on just about constant repeat right now.
 
Also, their music is incredibly well suited to the laid back HD 650, particularly with valves.

 

[ButtUglyJeff]

   
Have you listened to Cowboy Junkies before? I only ask because up until a couple of months ago they were a band I'd heard of but for some reason never actually listened to. When I finally got around to it they blew me away. The Trinity Session is good, as is The Wilderness and Caution Horses. The latter is on just about constant repeat right now.
 
Also, their music is incredibly well suited to the laid back HD 650, particularly with valves.

 
I'm kinda in the same boat as you.  I was aware of them, but just now stating to think I would enjoy them.  I bet HDTracks have international limitations.  I was just curious about this new release...

 

[solblack]

   
I'm kinda in the same boat as you.  I was aware of them, but just now stating to think I would enjoy them.  I bet HDTracks have international limitations.  I was just curious about this new release...

when they first came out saw them on "Tonight Show,Jay Leno" I knew they would appeal to some folks
The box set on Amazon for about $17 dollars.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015E735X2?keywords=Cowboy%20Junkies&qid=1446216389&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

 

[solblack]

It seem like the Women artist are making the best albums. Singing wise

 

[i luvmusic 2]

  Let's lighten the atmosphere.

 
What is your favorite AMP+DAC with the HD650?
I'm thinking of buying another amp.

TEAC UD H01,BH CRACK and SEX.

 

[CanadianMaestro]

  TEAC UD H01,BH CRACK and SEX.

And of course, y'all know which one I am addicted to....