[020Assassin]

  I am considering the Schiit Modi. I am just not sure if it offers a noticable improvement over the macbook

 
The MacBook has a pretty good internal DAC, but I can hear a difference between listening to iTunes through the headphone port, or through USB > FiiO external dac/amp.

 

[WilliamLeonhart]

Try the jds o2. Considering their popularity I think you can get an used pair easily. I haven't tried the Schitt so I can't really offer any opinion, but the o2 has made day-and-night different on anything I have, from headphones to speakers system

 

[rage3324]

Try the jds o2. Considering their popularity I think you can get an used pair easily. I haven't tried the Schitt so I can't really offer any opinion, but the o2 has made day-and-night different on anything I have, from headphones to speakers system

Is the o2 a dac+amp? If so, how do I bypass the amp?

 

[headwhacker]

 
Is the o2 a dac+amp? If so, how do I bypass the amp?

 
If you need only the DAC, You can just get the ODAC. It's around $150. But O2+ODAC is a good combination for a reference sound (transparent) and should have no problems driving all headphones in your list (provided you have the right gain options).
 
But I can see you are into tubes. So you may not like the transparency the ODAC (and/or) brings.

 

[diamondears]

An equally competent alternative for portable use is the iFi nano iDSD ($200).

 

[WilliamLeonhart]

Sorry I meant the ODAC. When I plug the Little Dot I+ into my ODAC the sound is still very smooth and warm. I have not tried any tube DAC except for the Aune T1, but IMO it might be an overkill to own both a tube DAC and a tube amp.

 

[rage3324]

I prefer a DAC that is not USB powered. What are my options then? SHould that even be a concern?

 

[diamondears]

No love in here for the iFi nano iDSD? It's an integrated DAC + amp. 1.65Vrms. With my fetish interchangeable digital filter (2 options--standard/linear and minimum phase filters). Minimum Phase filter=best digital filter IMO. I'm sure you will like the iFi house sound quality. I did. And this is portable, btw, but doesn't sound like the stereotypes on portables (vs desktops).

 

[headwhacker]

I prefer a DAC that is not USB powered. What are my options then? SHould that even be a concern?

What makes you not considering a DAC powered by USB?

 

[rage3324]

What makes you not considering a DAC powered by USB?

 
I have concerns about jitter but maybe I am just crazy?

 

[headwhacker]

   
I have concerns about jitter but maybe I am just crazy?

 
If properly designed and implemented it should not be a problem. It has been well documented. ODAC is a very good example.

 

[diamondears]

   
If properly designed and implemented it should not be a problem. It has been well documented. ODAC is a very good example.

I agree on rage3324's concerns.
 
Haven't heard the ODAC, but I believe that there must be galvanic-isolation of the USB power signal. The difference is audible, at least for me. The sound becomes more "digitally" to me.
 
The iFi micro iDSD has this; so even if you power from USB using it, the "unwanteds" from electricity are filtered/not there anymore. Plus you can use the micro using just the battery as power source, which in this case the issue here becomes a non-issue. This is why I highly recommend the iFi nano iDSD as its purely battery powered, plus it is not expensive.
 
No love for iFi nano or micro iDSD's in here?
 
Cheers.

 

[headwhacker]

  I agree on rage3324's concerns.
 
Haven't heard the ODAC, but I believe that there must be galvanic-isolation of the USB power signal. The difference is audible, at least for me. The sound becomes more "digitally" to me.
 
The iFi micro iDSD has this; so even if you power from USB using it, the "unwanteds" from electricity are filtered/not there anymore. Plus you can use the micro using just the battery as power source, which in this case the issue here becomes a non-issue. This is why I highly recommend the iFi nano iDSD as its purely battery powered, plus it is not expensive.
 
No love for iFi nano or micro iDSD's in here?
 
Cheers
 
 

 
 
Like I mentioned, it's about implementation. I did a quick comparison of O2+ODAC with the Centrance Hifi-M8. Not ABX type yet, but I used a switch box to quickly switch between M8 and ODAC. Level-matched using my Beyer T1. Other that the click of the switch I can't hear any auduble difference. It just sound like listening to exactly the same source.
 
I haven't seen anyone yet mentioned the M8 sounded digital. 

 

[diamondears]

Like I mentioned, it's about implementation. I did a quick comparison of O2+ODAC with the Centrance Hifi-M8. Not ABX type yet, but I used a switch box to quickly switch between M8 and ODAC. Level-matched using my Beyer T1. Other that the click of the switch I can't hear any auduble difference. It just sound like listening to exactly the same source.

I haven't seen anyone yet mentioned the M8 sounded digital. 

To my ears, all DACs with decent implementation sound the same with the same digital filter.

 

[Moreau]

Before I ordered the leatherette ear pads from U.S I bought some from China on eBay for the princely sum of £1.66, they arrived yesterday so went about fitting them, bearing in mind they were not intended for Grado's, in fact I don't know what phones they were meant for. I kept the foam pads in place and stretched the faux leather pads over them. They have a two layer material that covers the drivers and sounded very muffled so I cut holes in them and now they sound excellent with deep bass and nice treble. When my 325's were standard and I cupped my hands over the grilles the bass disapeared and they sounded very thin and strange, since changing to the wood shells this no longer happens. Is this usual?