[Stillhart]

I might just grab a pair.  33% chance of a white elephant gift, 66% chance of a good deal.  

 

[Lord Raven]

I just wanted to ask if there is a head-fi thread about this DAC?

PS Audio Sprout on Massdrop for $499

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/ps-audio-sprout

Can you point me to a rave review?

For those unfamiliar with this item, that's $300 off the Amazon price for a integrated amp that gets nothing but rave reviews. A super deal.

I think you just saved my money

Best to check the Stereophile review measurements of this device. For instance, there's a bass boost built into the amp (you can't change it) on the speaker output and cross talk was meh considering the price. And then looks like there is some rolloff below 70hz on the headphone output. I would bet that for $499, you could easily get a better DAC/headphone amp if that's all you need (instead of the other features).

 

[cel4145]

I think you just saved my money

Rule #8 of audio purchases: Just because something is 40% off MSRP, that doesn't make it a good deal

I would imagine it's a decent deal if you need most/all of it's features. Speaker amp, phono stage, bluetooth . . . Definitely a feature rich device for its size with a powerful headphone amp. But it doesn't seem designed for accuracy/transparency in mind. Good bet that a Schiit Modi/Magni stack would be as good or better for a DAC/headphone amp.

 

[money4me247]

Rule #8 of audio purchases: Just because something is 40% off MSRP, that doesn't make it a good deal

I would imagine it's a decent deal if you need most/all of it's features. Speaker amp, phono stage, bluetooth . . . Definitely a feature rich device for its size with a powerful headphone amp. But it doesn't seem designed for accuracy/transparency in mind. Good bet that a Schiit Modi/Magni stack would be as good or better for a DAC/headphone amp.

good advice. msrp prices don't always correlate to how something stacks up against competition. remember you save the most $$$ when you just don't buy it at all hahah

 

[cel4145]

good advice. msrp prices don't always correlate to how something stacks up against competition. remember you save the most $$$ when you just don't buy it at all hahah

+1

That, and most people save a lot of money when they don't subscribe to this thread :etysmile:

 

[YtseJamer]

The HD650 are $300 @ Buysonic

 

[paulsancheezzee]

  The HD650 are $300 @ Buysonic

Stupid California tax puts it at $329 for me. Is that a decent price or do the folks here feel it can get lower?

 

[YtseJamer]

  Stupid California tax puts it at $329 for me. Is that a decent price or do the folks here feel it can get lower?

 
I don't think that you will be able to find a better price than that because Sennheiser have increased the list price to $500 recently.

 

[AxelCloris]

  Stupid California tax puts it at $329 for me. Is that a decent price or do the folks here feel it can get lower?

 
You can find them for less if you're willing to buy used, but for a new set I don't think you'll see cheaper. It's the first place I've seen offer them at $300 in a few months so you're stuck with the sales tax.

 

[paulsancheezzee]

   
I don't think that you will be able to find a better price than that because Sennheiser have increased the list price to $500 recently.

 
 

   
You can find them for less if you're willing to buy used, but for a new set I don't think you'll see cheaper. It's the first place I've seen offer them at $300 in a few months so you're stuck with the sales tax.

 
 
Thank you very much for the input from you both and everyone here. The chase is finally over. Really appreciate it!

 

[rudyae86]

Stupid California tax puts it at $329 for me. Is that a decent price or do the folks here feel it can get lower?

Adorama had them for cheap a few months back and they didn't charge tax. Just keep an eye out for that store to do a sale on them.

 

[mtkupp]

I just wanted to ask if there is a head-fi thread about this DAC?
Can you point me to a rave review?
I think you just saved my money

Ok, rave may be an exaggeration But the general response is solid and a decent value for the feature set even at retail. At $300 off it's a better value. Yes, you can probably put together a better dac/amp combo for headphone use, but as a multi-purpose component it's an excellent value. It's also very rare to see these discounted at all.
 
http://www.cnet.com/news/ps-audio-reinvents-the-stereo-integrated-amp-for-the-21st-century/
 
http://www.audiostream.com/content/ps-audio-sprout-0#V0RXGVIUAgzuPagK.97
 
http://www.audiophilia.com/wp/?p=15790
 
http://www.stereophile.com/content/ps-audio-sprout-integrated-amplifier
 
conversation with designer
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2014/06/ps-audio-sprout-a-qa-with-scott-mcgowan/

 

[Allanmarcus]

I just wanted to ask if there is a head-fi thread about this DAC?
Can you point me to a rave review?
I think you just saved my money

 
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=ps+audio+sprout+review

 

[planetpowers]

  good advice. msrp prices don't always correlate to how something stacks up against competition. remember you save the most $$$ when you just don't buy it at all hahah

Ps Audio is a serious company when it comes to making high end stuff.

 

[planetpowers]

  Ps Audio is a serious company when it comes to making high end stuff.

Nothing they sell wouldn't be a good buy at 40% off