What's with these two trends: Everything portable and DAC + AMP in one box these days?!

[Solan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrdeadfolx /img/forum/go_quote.gif Isn't it really just the Pico and the Predator that have been recently released as an amp/dac combo? And I think the everything portable "trend" started with the advent of the MP3 player.

Young man, before you were born we had Sony Walkman, where we played our cassette tapes. Crappy music taped from a dubious radio signal from Luxemburg and always interrupted far too soon by chatter. We thought we were pretty audiophile and portable, too.

 

[MrScary]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solan /img/forum/go_quote.gif Young man, before you were born we had Sony Walkman, where we played our cassette tapes. Crappy music taped from a dubious radio signal from Luxemburg and always interrupted far too soon by chatter. We thought we were pretty audiophile and portable, too.

I well remember my sony walkman as well I loved that thing boy I was hot then I remember recording my band with a single channel sony boom box.. Man I was rocking.. hehe I think too many people think that the MP3 DAP player revolutionized something where in realize it has merly just compressed audio signals. As I was hacking my P2 today that is broken again from Ibasso (BaD Charging unit again) I looked at the wiring inside and thought how funny everyone is worried about this cable and that cable when the power to the unit is by thin wires the size of hairs haha and powered by the notoriously crappy LIthium Ion battery that is explosive to say the least I think that worrying about very small things should start from the inside out ever wonder how a Sony DAP sounds so good it doesnt have gigantic capacitors 3000uf ??

haha I love the response Solan
you got me on a role no flaming intended (mrdeadfolx) just gave me a giggle.

 

[Beefy]

It seems a bit late now, because it is all said and done, but here is my $0.02.......

I plan on buying a Corda 2Move in the very near future, primarily for use with my laptop at work and while working at home. It will also do double duty as a headphone amp for an iPod while travelling.

None of this is critical listening so I don't need anything really expensive. Nothing I have seen will even come close for the price and convenience and as such I don't see it as a compromise.

 

[FallenAngel]

Not that I'm changing my position on whether I think that Amp+Dac combinations are a better value vs separate Amp and DAC combinations, I do see and understand the value of them for the ultra portable consumer, obviously if size is a serious concern, a single box solution (especially if it's VERY small) is appealing. I guess this thread started with my strong belief that they seem like such a bad bang/buck purchase for the home & portable user. I use an Amp+DAC myself work work/laptop use - HPDac, but that was under $100 and is similar to an AlienDAC + PINT, so I think that's worth it. For home and portable use, I saw better valued solutions.

 

[stevenkelby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FallenAngel /img/forum/go_quote.gif For home and portable use, I saw better valued solutions.

Fair enough, which ones specifically, for $500 amp and DAC? And do you know for sure they have better SQ than a Pico?

Thanks.

 

[grawk]

If he's talking about that AlienDAC and PPA, I will grant that it's possible the PPA sounds better than the amp in the pico, but the AlienDAC isn't even in the running in comparison to the pico DAC.

 

[stevenkelby]

That's what I thought, maybe he has heard something better though? Or knows someone who has?

 

[FallenAngel]

So far, pretty much every desktop amps has sounded better than any portable amp to me (including the Pico) - such as the Millet MAX, PPAv1, PPAv2, SOHA, CKK-III, Pimeta, just to name the ones I've personally built and spent considerable time with. Plus a few select portables have really impressed me - PPAS, Xin SuperMacro, LaRocco Diablo.

On the DAC side, I always said the Pico has a fantastic DAC section, and I'm sure it does, but I just haven't spend nearly enough time with it to do a good comparison to other DACs. This is one section of my setup that I have been putting off upgrading and for now I have been using a seriously maxed out AlienDAC with BlackGate in PSU and Auricap on output which sound VERY sweet, almost as good as my diyMods (5G WM8758 and 2G Mini WM8711) with Sonicap outputs, but lacking a little clarity. I'm sure these aren't all the way up to the Pico's WM8740, but they do sound great. Until I upgrade to the OPUS (also WM8740), I'm keeping it simple with the AlienDAC.

 

[grawk]

The opus has the advantage of being more expensive and sounding worse than the pico used as a dac...

 

[stevenkelby]

Thanks for that info, I will continue the research!

 

[tfarney]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevenkelby /img/forum/go_quote.gif Fair enough, which ones specifically, for $500 amp and DAC? And do you know for sure they have better SQ than a Pico? Thanks.

I'm waiting for an answer to this one, because the separate home amp/dac solutions I"ve seen were more expensive.

Tim

 

[MontanaJustin]

It does seem like the combo portables (especially Pico and Predator) are considered higher SQ/cheaper than dedicated separate around here.
Plus, not only do you get a portable amp (should you ever need it) and a portable amp/DAC (trips involving laptops), you also can take your one purchase from room to room in your house, to and from work everyday, etc.

That is why I want to purchase a Pico right now...not only can I use it as a DAC in my bedroom and my living room, but also for 8 hours everyday at work as a DAC and as an amp for my bike ride to and from work.

Where will I find stand alone components so cheap that I can buy 3 DACS (bedroom, living room, work desk), a portable amp (bicycle) and an extra amp (work desk) all for the nice price of $500?

*This assumes I'd continue using my Headroom home amp in my bedroom (plugged in behind the Pico) and my main amp and speakers in the living room (again, after using Pico's DAC)

 

[holland]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grawk /img/forum/go_quote.gif The opus has the advantage of being more expensive and sounding worse than the pico used as a dac...

Is that from personal experience? I'm actually looking for more commentary on the Opus, but haven't come across this particular statement yet.

 

[tfarney]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MontanaJustin /img/forum/go_quote.gif It does seem like the combo portables (especially Pico and Predator) are considered higher SQ/cheaper than dedicated separate around here. Plus, not only do you get a portable amp (should you ever need it) and a portable amp/DAC (trips involving laptops), you also can take your one purchase from room to room in your house, to and from work everyday, etc. That is why I want to purchase a Pico right now...not only can I use it as a DAC in my bedroom and my living room, but also for 8 hours everyday at work as a DAC and as an amp for my bike ride to and from work. Where will I find stand alone components so cheap that I can buy 3 DACS (bedroom, living room, work desk), a portable amp (bicycle) and an extra amp (work desk) all for the nice price of $500? *This assumes I'd continue using my Headroom home amp in my bedroom (plugged in behind the Pico) and my main amp and speakers in the living room (again, after using Pico's DAC)

Does the Pico have line outs that bi-pass its amp? I didn't think it was big enough for that.

Tim

 

[grawk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by holland /img/forum/go_quote.gif Is that from personal experience? I'm actually looking for more commentary on the Opus, but haven't come across this particular statement yet.

It is from personal experience, although I didn't spend as much time with the opus as I would have liked. It's not as good an implementation as the pico is.

Quote:

Does the Pico have line outs that bi-pass its amp? I didn't think it was big enough for that.

It doesn't, but don't let that concern you too much. Just treat the headphone out as a variable out and you're fine. Many dacs have such things.