[wolfen68]

Quote:

When you miss something when you don't use it, you got something good. I feel that way with my racing bike and mountain bike on the roads. The racing bike has so much more effortless speed and handling that the mountain bike feels like I am pedaling a boat.

...but try pedaling that racing bike through some technical singletrack and you'll miss your mountain bike soon enough
 

 

[jermng]

Quote:

I am posting a link here to the Sys Concepts optical cable because it is that good. I can hear the difference with 16/48 and anything higher like 24/96 requires it. There really is a difference and for what you get, the cable is cheap. 
 
http://www.sysconcept.ca/product_info.php?products_id=365

Wow! I ordered 2 cables with different ends and lengths before I saw this post. Thanks for the re-assurance.

 

[GeorgeGoodman]

Quote:

Quote:

When you miss something when you don't use it, you got something good. I feel that way with my racing bike and mountain bike on the roads. The racing bike has so much more effortless speed and handling that the mountain bike feels like I am pedaling a boat.

...but try pedaling that racing bike through some technical singletrack and you'll miss your mountain bike soon enough
 

Well, yeah. The mountain bike rules off road.
 
To get back on topic, I currently use Monoprice fiber optic cable which is probably the worst on the market. I need some other stuff such as a good source and an amp before I get a good fiber optic cable.
 

 

[120717]

Same with the P4 but I kinda need comparisons against the D12 before I consider purchasing either.

 

[HiFlight]

Both the D12 and P4 have excellent amplifier sections.  The P4 offers more possibilities for experimenting with different opamps and has a higher output if you intend to drive very difficult phones such as the AKG K340.   It is a basic amplifier only, whereas the D12 includes inputs for USB, Optical and Coax.   It can be recharged via the USB input and does not require an external charger as does the P4.  
 
The choice between the 2 is really based on your equipment needs, as both sound excellent. 
 

 

[120717]

I meant comparisons betweeen their respective equipment types, but I was concerned that by getting a D12 I may lose out on what the P4's amp has to offer, while at the same time I have no idea how good the P4 actually is.

 

[GeorgeGoodman]

Hiflight has been saying the D12 has enough power for all but the most power hungry cans, and you get a lot of flexibility with it. Unless you have or want some really hard to drive cans, I would go for the D12.

 

[120717]

I see. As the P4 seems different from the P3+ but the D12 is a new D12 but with what I've heard of it, I guess it could be the better choice for me.
 
Would this make the D12 better value for money?
 
There are still a few things to consider however, as the line out on my Fuze doesn't work with Rockbox installed. FLACvest suggested amping from the headphone out but I'm unsure of the consequences.

 

[jamato8]

Quote:

I meant comparisons betweeen their respective equipment types, but I was concerned that by getting a D12 I may lose out on what the P4's amp has to offer, while at the same time I have no idea how good the P4 actually is.
 

The P4 has a more powerful amp but both the D12 and P4 are extremely good sounding. It really depends upon what phones you will be using and if you need a dac, and the D12 has dual dacs, one for each channel and being that they are the best portable Wolfson dacs you get some good digital to analog conversion going on there. 
Quote:

I see. As the P4 seems different from the P3+ but the D12 is a new D12 but with what I've heard of it, I guess it could be the better choice for me.
 
Would this make the D12 better value for money?
 
There are still a few things to consider however, as the line out on my Fuze doesn't work with Rockbox installed. FLACvest suggested amping from the headphone out but I'm unsure of the consequences.

If you amp from the headphone out, you are running the signal through the amp section of the Fuze and then to the amp section of the D12, which in my opinion is one too many amps. 
 

 

[Armaegis]

Quote:

There are still a few things to consider however, as the line out on my Fuze doesn't work with Rockbox installed. FLACvest suggested amping from the headphone out but I'm unsure of the consequences.

Do you have the most recent rockbox build? The latest one is supposed to work with Fuze lineout.

 

[120717]

Armaegis. Oh I was unaware of this, thanks. I'll check with my friend as he put Rockbox on before sending me it.
 
If it DOES work that's great news as I won't need a new DAP.

 

[mrspeakers]

I was able to operate the D12 very successfully with my JH16s, which are low power consumers, without the buffers.  This noticeably improved the sound, giving even sharper transients and increasing the sense of "air" and dark-space between the notes.  Very impressive and flexible device.
 
The SQ is ultimately not as good as the CEntrance DACPort, but it's much more flexible and self-powered, so they each have a spot in my quiver...
 

 

[jamato8]

I have some different op amps I ordered from HiFlight for the D12 that I look forward to trying with buffers bypassed like Mrspeakers mentions. I look forward to the combination with my JH13's. 

 

[mrspeakers]

I have some different op amps I ordered from HiFlight for the D12 that I look forward to trying with buffers bypassed like Mrspeakers mentions. I look forward to the combination with my JH13's. 

G
Let me know how it goes...

 

[Train]

If I used the D12 as a USB soundcard, is it able to charge via USB while operating as a DAC?