[Wodgy]

The first Stereophile review did measure the updated version with the AD1852. Whether or not that version had the "bad caps" is anyone's guess.

 

[Edwood]

HAHAHA.

An upgrade path is there for sure.

Optical output is the best path, right?

Hmmmm. Bel Canto DAC2 has optical input. Wonder how that stacks up to the internal DAC of the RME PAD.......must........stop...............can't.... .....resist..........

LOL, I think the internal DAC of the RME PAD will tide me over for some time. OK, probably not for as long as I think.

Well, until I hear a better setup at the next SoCal meet. Haha.

-Ed

 

[Edwood]

Uh, I don't see any electrolytic caps in the second "bad caps" pic.]

I see four of them in the first "good caps" pic.


Am I looking at them correctly?

-Ed

 

[Ph34rful]

How would you guys who have the card describe it?

Like its general sound?

Is it bright at all? Or natural?

I am 99% sure I am gonna get one. But I just want to make sure I know what I'm getting into.

 

[Edwood]

More natural, more detail, and more soundstage.

I did not find it harsh at all. And that is with the K1000's. The king of harshness if you are not careful.

-Ed

 

[Geek]

How smooth is this card? I.e., how liquid, transparent, and natural are the highs? How is the balance? Is the midrange in proportion to the rest of the frequency spectrum?

Knowing it sounds good with K1000s is definitely a plus, as those are some really really picky phones, easily in the same class as HD600/HD650.

Cheers,
Geek

 

[Edwood]

Initially I was disappointed because it seemed like it wasn't as foward and harsh like the smART DI/O with the K1000's. I was mistakening slight harshness for dynamics.

Then I realized how much more detail I could hear. Not to mention the larger soundstage. We hooked up the analog outputs and digital output to the Grace 901 and toggled the switch. It was funny. You could definitely hear the soundstage open up with the REM PAD's analog out, and then compress with the internal DAC in the Grace. and back and forth.

It is definitely smoother and more detailed. You'll like it.

-Ed

 

[Geek]

Excellent. My quest to build the ultimate all-around useful PC is almost complete. . .

The sad thing is my phones/amp cost almost twice as much as the computer itself, hehe. Little glitch in planning.

Cheers,
Geek

 

[Edwood]

Head-fi stuff more expensive than:

My fun computer, yes.

My workstation..heheh. No.

-Ed

 

[lan]

A good computer isn't that expensive. Good sound is. :/

 

[Geek]

Plus you don't have to worry about good sound becoming obsolete 5 years after purchase

Cheers,
Geek

 

[Edwood]

5 years? LOL, not anymore. Well, if you do anything other than surfing and solitaire.

-Ed

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Quote:

Originally posted by Edwood Well, if you do anything other than surfing and solitaire.

You just described 90% of the computer users I know.

 

[Edwood]

And out of the 10% that do more with their computer, less than 1% of them use their computers for high end audio. MP3 does not count. Not even close.

-Ed

 

[lan]

And out of the 1% that use their computers for high end audio, 1% use them with an external DAC