VentureCraft new DDC/DAC Go-DAP DD Socket 1 product

[AJHeadfi]

Thanks for your efforts audionewbi. I use true iDevice compliant HP-P1 mainly because I need highly transportable system, but still often connect to a notebook, and I very much like iPod Touch UI at this time. I have no idea which opamp Fostex use, but it seems like a good fit. One problem with having a separate DAC and amplifier is matching, both a drawback and possible advantage. Certainly the HP-P1 does not compete with a refined non transportable setup, but it can get close. I wondering if Venture products could get closer, alas it seems more different than superior sound quality.

 

[audionewbi]

Quote:

Thanks for your efforts audionewbi. I use true iDevice compliant HP-P1 mainly because I need highly transportable system, but still often connect to a notebook, and I very much like iPod Touch UI at this time. I have no idea which opamp Fostex use, but it seems like a good fit. One problem with having a separate DAC and amplifier is matching, both a drawback and possible advantage. Certainly the HP-P1 does not compete with a refined non transportable setup, but it can get close. I wondering if Venture products could get closer, alas it seems more different than superior sound quality.

I think this is the problem venturecraft is trying to address By been able to match the iDevices DAC output opamp to your DAC here is very little room in doubting what is the cause of sound variation in ones setup.
 
I am still planning to purchase the OPA627 and portaphile 627X which uses OPA627 and test it again. If I could have afford it I would have loved to purchase the HP-P1 but from what I have read the weakness of HP-P1 is its amp section. 

 

[AJHeadfi]

Quote:

I think this is the problem venturecraft is trying to address By been able to match the iDevices DAC output opamp to your DAC here is very little room in doubting what is the cause of sound variation in ones setup.
 
I am still planning to purchase the OPA627 and portaphile 627X which uses OPA627 and test it again. If I could have afford it I would have loved to purchase the HP-P1 but from what I have read the weakness of HP-P1 is its amp section. 

 
I believe the HP-P1 does not equal other portable amps in ability to drive difficult headphones. But people with much experience seem to be surprised by the amplifier ability also. I think the DAC and amplifier section are well matched in the HP-P1, both are strong performers, but not everything to everyone. VentureCraft looks like a worthy competitor, along with other nice boutique like portable devices. I believe iDevice license etc from Apple is a big commitment for a company to make. AnkaChan and Rudi have had both, but I think they may have a hard time doing a shootout between them.

 

[audionewbi]

Quote:

 
I believe the HP-P1 does not equal other portable amps in ability to drive difficult headphones. But people with much experience seem to be surprised by the amplifier ability also. I think the DAC and amplifier section are well matched in the HP-P1, both are strong performers, but not everything to everyone. VentureCraft looks like a worthy competitor, along with other nice boutique like portable devices. I believe iDevice license etc from Apple is a big commitment for a company to make. AnkaChan and Rudi have had both, but I think they may have a hard time doing a shootout between them.

I respect fostex for providing a headphone amplifier. They are still cheaper than cypher lab which lacks the amp feature. To be honest part of me regret not going with HP-P1 but making the best of what I got

 

[AJHeadfi]

Quote:

I respect fostex for providing a headphone amplifier. They are still cheaper than cypher lab which lacks the amp feature. To be honest part of me regret not going with HP-P1 but making the best of what I got

 
Doesn't look like you got anything less than the HP-P1, it most likely better in different systems than the HP-P1.

 

[AnakChan]

If we're talking about an integrated DAC/Amp, then it makes more sense to compare the Go-DAP X with the HP-P1 instead of the DD Socket 1. The DD Socket 1 is more of a CLAS alternative.

Personally for me the HP-P1's amp never thrilled me. I always used it with the Pico Slim instead. Since I was going multi component I got the CLAS which was a smaller DAC than the HP-P1. It was only recently why I realized why the HP-P1 didn't suit my tastes...it had a headphone out impedance of 10 ohm & I kept using that setup with IEMs. Recently I was told the diff between filter 1 & 2 of the HP-P1 is 10 ohm <-> 50 ohm.

 

[audionewbi]

How would you rank DD socket 1 against the new cypher labs iDACs?

 

[AnakChan]

How would you rank DD socket 1 against the new cypher labs iDACs?

If fully balanced, I'm gonna have to pick the dB/Rx Mk3.

If its single ended, I haven't done enough tests yet.

 

[AJHeadfi]

Quote:

If we're talking about an integrated DAC/Amp, then it makes more sense to compare the Go-DAP X with the HP-P1 instead of the DD Socket 1. The DD Socket 1 is more of a CLAS alternative.

Personally for me the HP-P1's amp never thrilled me. I always used it with the Pico Slim instead. Since I was going multi component I got the CLAS which was a smaller DAC than the HP-P1. It was only recently why I realized why the HP-P1 didn't suit my tastes...it had a headphone out impedance of 10 ohm & I kept using that setup with IEMs. Recently I was told the diff between filter 1 & 2 of the HP-P1 is 10 ohm <-> 50 ohm.

 
Thanks for sharing the talk AnakChan. However I don't understand, Fostex says they are digital filters, one of which is a delay filter intended for acoustic music. How does resistance come into this? Maybe I've missed some crucial information somewhere?
 
Fostex :
 
"... coupled with 2 filters including a 32-bit minimum delay filter designed specifically for acoustic sounds ..."
"Unique Digital Filter - use regular filter or unique “minimum delay filter” without pre-echo"
 
With the Go-DAP DD Socket 1, I would only compare it to the line out of the HP-P1.

 

[AnakChan]

Thanks for sharing the talk AnakChan. However I don't understand, Fostex says they are digital filters, one of which is a delay filter intended for acoustic music. How does resistance come into this? Maybe I've missed some crucial information somewhere?


Fostex :


"... coupled with 2 filters including a 32-bit minimum delay filter designed specifically for acoustic sounds ..."

"
Unique Digital Filter - use regular filter or unique “minimum delay filter” without pre-echo"


[COLOR=474747]With the Go-DAP DD Socket 1, I would only compare it to the line out of the HP-P1.
[/COLOR]

Yep. That's what I'm trying to figure out too...I just posted on the HP-P1 thread asking. I'm trying to confirm the validity of the claim.

 

[AnakChan]

Setup: Orotfon MHd-Q7 with Rhapsodio RDB+ v2 (standard SE cable)

 
 

Track: Best Audiophile Voices VI: Sarah Morgann's Through The Eyes of Love

 

1) DD OPA627 vs CLAS original

The CLAS feels more agressive whilst the DD OPA627 feels more mellow. Due to the agressive nature, I feel the CLAS to sound less 3D but a 2D with greater impact. The CLAS seems to have a little bit more sibilance in comparison to the DD but not intolerable. The DD OPA 627 sounds more musical and involving with the subtle variations and therefore overall easier to pick up detail.
 
With the CLAS I feel it grabs you hard, whilst with the DD OPA627 the slightly more mellowness eases the listener into the song.
 

2) DD OPA627 vs CLAS -dB (Single Ended)

The CLAS -dB feels even more mellow than the DD OPA627. Almost feels (sleepy) slow. There seems to be a slight touch of added warmth to the dB but a little less detail compared to the DD. The low output voltage is most noticeable of the 3. I have to increase the amp volume to match.
 
 
 

Track: Sticks & Stones: Cher Lloyd's Want U Back

 

1) DD OPA627 vs CLAS original

The CLAS original continues to maintain a greater "in your face" impact and feels faster than the DD OPA627. Again, a slight touch of sibilance in comparison to the DD OPA627 but tolerable.
 

2) DD OPA627 vs CLAS -dB (Single Ended)

The -dB continues to sound slow whilst the DD OPA627 sounds more involving and detailed. The DD feels more toe tapping
 

Track: Greatest Hits: Journey's Don't Stop Believin'

1) DD OPA627 vs CLAS original

The CLAS again has the bigger impact. The DD OPA627 actually feels slow by comparison. Surprisingly for this track, I do prefer the CLAS over the DD.
 

2) DD OPA627 vs CLAS -dB (Single Ended)

I've maxed out the volume on the amp for the -dB and is still not volume matched. A fair comparison can't be made due to the volume mismatch but the -dB is way too mellow for a classic rock such as this.
 

General Impressions

The Go-DAP DD Socket 1 seems to sit nicely between the original CLAS and the new CLAS -dB (in Single Ended mode). Whilst the original CLAS has done well during it's life, the newer AKM DACs seem to provide an added dimension and detail. Meanwhile, I have to admit with new CLAS -dB, I was surprised somewhat that despite using an AKM DAC is quite different from the DD Socket 1's AKM DAC. They are using different DAC models but being in the same family, I expected them to sound closer to each other. I actually feel the DD Socket 1's AKM DAC leans closer to the CLAS original's Wolfson than the CLAS -dB's AKM DAC.
 
However what's not surprising is the performance of the CLAS -dB in Single Ended mode. This  brief impression seems to paint the -dB in a bad light in comparison to the DD Socket 1 and CLAS original, but Single Ended mode is really not it's forte (which is why I stress on Single Ended so many times above). The CLAS -dB really shines in balanced out mode which turns it into a different beast.
 
Of the 3 DACs, if I were to use Single Ended, the VentureCraft DD Socket 1 would be my personal clear choice as it seems to balance well for most genre. The CLAS original still has it's place with some specific genre like classic rock.
 
The tables are turned when the CLAS -dB is used in balanced mode with something like the ALO Rx Mk3, ALO International, or RSA's Intruder.

 

[audionewbi]

My DAC doesnt seem to respond when I connect my idevice to it. Hmm?

 

[AnakChan]

Reset switch at the bottom??

 

[audionewbi]

Quote:

Reset switch at the bottom??

yea that too doesnt work, few days ago the battery button stopped working I thought it was a battery issue, left it to charge, after that tried to connect it to my ipod and yea no luck. I know this stuff happens so no hard feeling but I never had a unit malfunction literally under 2 hours of usage. 
 
I've looked into the manual to figure out what this light configuration means nothing is mentioned about it.
 

 
 
EDIT: The English manual indicate
precharge: Orange green
Charge: Orange
Complete: Green
 
Mine just changed from what it was in the picture to : "Nothing"-"Orange"
 
Could it be that the manual is wrong?
 
 

 

[audionewbi]

UPDATE: It seems to be charging issue. The "BATTERY" indicator is working now. I need to check whether the unit continues to use battery while it is off as I did not use this device for more than two hours without even using the device to charge my ipod.

After full charging I will test the battery life this week and report back.