[Dsnuts]

Quote:

Wait wait, so you mean it's made in and shipped from like... Geneva, or Zurich... and not, err... Shanyang, or Zhengzhou?!

 

 

[kiteki]

LOL

 

[kiteki]

http://hifimediy.com/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=4
 
"We are a team of Chinese and Europeans developing and selling audio equipment for DIY (do-it-yourself)."
 
 
So the Sabre is made in... Switzerland.
 
Talk about zero marketing.  Damn...
 
 
That JDS Labs ODAC (for $149, What) is all hype hype hype.

 

[Dsnuts]

Quote:

lol...kiteki...lol
 
anyway. for the ELE, which cable should i get? cant use the printer one

 
 I noticed your local walmarts should have decent audio cables. Belkins for $10 or so.
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Gold-10-Foot-Hi-Speed-Cable/dp/B00062UKIY/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1354214111&sr=1-2&keywords=belkin+usb+cable  Something like this. Or this
 
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F3U133V-06-GLD-6-Foot-Hi-Speed-Cable/dp/B000621N26/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1354214111&sr=1-3&keywords=belkin+usb+cable  Even cheaper. 6ft.

 

[Dsnuts]

Listening to the Sabre Dac some more using my HA-S500.. The sound quality is quite excellent..Glad I made the purchase..If you end up trying one I doubt anyone will be disappointed with the sound quality. This being said. The build quality on the dac is kinda so so however.

The all plastic housing looks kinda flimsy. This is where the Ele dac is clearly the winner.. I dig the all aluminum box the Ele dac comes in. I suppose if the Hifimediy folks used an all aluminum housing it would add to the cost. So this dac is all about function over looks. Mine has what looks like a dig in the middle of the plastic housing. It looks used. lol.
 
Listening to the same tracks using the Ele dac..Yup. It is like I stated before. Sounds just as nice..The clarity, the dynamics, musical depth, precision. It is all there. The only real difference I am hearing is the bit cooler tonality vs the bit warmer slant on the Hifimediy. Both are far from a cold sound or a dark one on the Hifimidey. The steak and the lobster. Both are excellent..
 
The Ele dac works really well with amps that give some warmth to the sounds. Both the E11 and the Bravo amp does this. While the hifimediy would benefit from more of a neutral one.

 

[kiteki]

Have you tried ELE versus Zurich DAC ➵ E11 ➵ S500?

 

[Dsnuts]

Will try both amped and compare.
 
The Ele dac to the E11 is the fresh sushi to your hot sake.. Seriously a very nice pair. Considering these two will set someone back $70 or so for both These two just jives extremely well. This combo and the fact that the Ele has a bit of amping going on already will drive some hard to drive cans easily me thinks. All of my cans and earphones are easy to drive. Cus I drive easy. I would love to try a 250 ohm can or even a 300 ohm one on this configure. I bet it would sing with ease. More dynamics to your dynamics. More warm sake. 
 
The Hifimediy also sound tremendous using the E11. It is thick prime rib to your creamy potatoes. I think because the foundation for great sound is already established in these 2 Dacs it will only be amplified using something as simple as an E11. This sounds as good or better than anything I have heard to date..This sounds more like a full fledged system than anything this simple. Even though the tonality on the dac itself is warmer than the Ele. Using the E11 does not add to the warmth of the sound. It just expands the sound more than anything.. So excellent pairing.
 
I think for sheer value, build quality, ease of use. The Ele dac a no brainer especially if you have never used an external card to enhance your earphones and headphones.
 
For a bit more warmth to your sounds equally easy in usability and if you need 24bit ability. This is also a no brainer.. Both are excellent performers. I have a feeling we will see more and more comparisons to highly regarded dacs vs these 2 but for now just know. You guys are gonna get some excellent sound using either one.

 

[daveyostrow]

The new batch of Sabre "can also act as a USB to optical converter", pretty nice. Considering the price and the rugged housing on the ELE, there is little doubt which one i will go for.

 

[waynes world]

The Ele dac to the E11 is the fresh sushi to your hot sake.. Seriously a very nice pair. Considering these two will set someone back $70 or so for both These two just jives extremely well. This combo and the fact that the Ele has a bit of amping going on already will drive some hard to drive cans easily me thinks. All of my cans and earphones are easy to drive. Cus I drive easy. I would love to try a 250 ohm can or even a 300 ohm one on this configure. I bet it would sing with ease. More dynamics to your dynamics. More warm sake.

Being lazy... can you use the E11 while it's being charged?

 

[Dsnuts]

You would figure that it would be able to but no. Once you hook up your usb to the E11 it is in charge mode and you can't use it. I don't know if you are gonna need a E11. That is unless you plan on using it on the go to amp your dap or phone. I would get your Dac first and see how you do. It is not a real necessity to use an amp with either one. Especially the Ele dac cus it has some amping going on anyways. Both will have too much volume being driven from computers.

 

[Dsnuts]

Some weirdness happening to headfi. Threads are coming out weird and double posting and such. Whacky.

 

[waynes world]

You would figure that it would be able to but no. Once you hook up your usb to the E11 it is in charge mode and you can't use it. I don't know if you are gonna need a E11. That is unless you plan on using it on the go to amp your dap or phone. I would get your Dac first and see how you do. It is not a real necessity to use an amp with either one. Especially the Ele dac cus it has some amping going on anyways. Both will have too much volume being driven from computers.

Thanks

 

[cute]

Quote:

Here is more of a surprise. See that Ele dac next to it?..From what I am hearing the Sabre dac is not a clear winner here in sound. Another surprise. I suspected there was a bit of amping happening on the Ele dac. Now I know for sure.. The volume is much louder on the Ele dac meaning the sound is indeed being amped. The Sabre dac seems to be a pure Dac with zero amping of any kind.
 
 

 Amped?  Output imedance might make the difference in volume.....check your specs!

 

[kwerdenker]

Quick question on the side: anybody from europe ordered anything from the meelec ebay shop? I just ordered a set of tips and was wondering how long the shipping would take.

 

[Dsnuts]

Sorry guys. I have been having issues posting stuff all day. Has something to do with Firefox.. It double posts and then cramps stuff together is been weird all day.