[devilboy]

The DAC section is not the reason why the A6 became popular. It sold so well because of the streamer quality and user interface. Easy to use and convenient menu layout, all streamer services flawlessly integrated and so on. The streamer part is so good that it beats standalone streamers for twice the price. Sure, there is a DAC section in the A6 too, but that is mediocre indeed. Many buyers hook up the A6 with 1K-4K external DACs and enjoy their savings on a multi thousand-dollar standalone streamer. That is just how it is.

That's how I understand it. I just bought one brand new from headphones.com. I bought it specifically for the streaming feature. My DAC is a Denafrips Pontus II 12.

 

[jjazzy]

<removed wrong post>

 

[jjazzy]

That's how I understand it. I just bought one brand new from headphones.com. I bought it specifically for the streaming feature. My DAC is a Denafrips Pontus II 12.

My advice is, go listen to the a6, a6 master and a8 and chooce wisely. The a8 sounds the best digitally and anaologue. The a6 master is getting closer to a8 (with the upgrade lps psu). A6 sounds okay/good and analogue.

Reading you have decent r2r dac, wanting the smoothes sounds, you will prefer the a8 (but let your ears be the judge BUT a big BUT! Do that with decent enough headphones, or amp+speakers). Doing that you will notice the a8 sound more organic, but you have to experience it yourself to understand.

Because most will always say there is no difference, a zen stream will just sounds the same streaming as a 8000 euro streaming device… (which is not true but you’ll get my point ). Let your own ears be the judge

 

[devilboy]

My advice is, go listen to the a6, a6 master and a8 and chooce wisely. The a8 sounds the best digitally and anaologue. The a6 master is getting closer to a8 (with the upgrade lps psu). A6 sounds okay/good and analogue.

Reading you have decent r2r dac, wanting the smoothes sounds, you will prefer the a8 (but let your ears be the judge BUT a big BUT! Do that with decent enough headphones, or amp+speakers). Doing that you will notice the a8 sound more organic, but you have to experience it yourself to understand.

Because most will always say there is no difference, a zen stream will just sounds the same streaming as a 8000 euro streaming device… (which is not true but you’ll get my point ). Let your own ears be the judge

That's the plan, Stanley.

 

[vadinoy]

How to use SMB Server to transfer music folder from PC to A6? through WIFI
solved the problem with Total Commander )))

 

[jjazzy]

seems that there is a new firmware coming, anybody have more information?

for the A6 v1.2.67 (Date leak May 9th 2024)
for the A8 v1.2.83 (Date leak May 16th 2024)

 

[vadinoy]

is the preamp turned on by default in A6?

 

[celo83]

Is this unit really that good? So many rave comments everywhere online.

 

[jjazzy]

Is this unit really that good? So many rave comments everywhere online.

For the money the A6 is quite good, I personally only thing the A8 is amazing (digital&analogue because of the dual power supply with lps and femto clocks)

But my advise order it, judge yourself and sent back if you don’t like it

 

[celo83]

For the money the A6 is quite good, I personally only thing the A8 is amazing (digital&analogue because of the dual power supply with lps and femto clocks)

But my advise order it, judge yourself and sent back if you don’t like it

Thanks! So do you recommend the A8 instead if you don’t have an external DAC?

 

[jjazzy]

Thanks! So do you recommend the A8 instead if you don’t have an external DAC?

If you have no external dac, the A8 is a no brainer, with it’s akm 4499 dac, it is way waaayyyyy more musical

 

[WarrenS]

If you have no external dac, the A8 is a no brainer, with it’s akm 4499 dac, it is way waaayyyyy more musical

I suppose the question is whether or not you have any intention in the future of adding an external DAC? If not then the A8 is a great solution

 

[jjazzy]

I suppose the question is whether or not you have any intention in the future of adding an external DAC? If not then the A8 is a great solution

That does not matter, digital the A8 also sounds better, I know a lot of want to ignore it or refuse to accept it, but the difference is quite noticable with a decent dac. (I chose the A8 for that reason, auditing al three of them at the same time and location/shop)

Part of it is propably the dual power supply, but it is what it is

 

[Sharppain]

That does not matter, digital the A8 also sounds better, I know a lot of want to ignore it or refuse to accept it, but the difference is quite noticable with a decent dac. (I chose the A8 for that reason, auditing al three of them at the same time and location/shop)

Part of it is propably the dual power supply, but it is what it is

Yep, this is quite a true statement but every one has to pay attention to "the difference is quite noticable with a decent dac". And here comes the deviation about what is 'a decent dac'. For some a decent dac is iFi Zen V2 but for me it is iFi iDSD Pro, for others it is an SMSL SU-Ultra or Geshelli JS2 but for me it is the Gustard A26, and from it kick up to TT2. When doing my comparison A6 vs A6 ME vs A8 I found a smear difference b/n the first two and small, but not negligible, b/n the first two and A8 and that could catch only on iFi iDSD Pro, Gustard A26, TT2, plus a solid amp like Burson Soloist 3XP for headphones or Topping LA90 discreet for speakers.

 

[jjazzy]

Yep, this is quite a true statement but every one has to pay attention to "the difference is quite noticable with a decent dac". And here comes the deviation about what is 'a decent dac'. For some a decent dac is iFi Zen V2 but for me it is iFi iDSD Pro, for others it is an SMSL SU-Ultra or Geshelli JS2 but for me it is the Gustard A26, and from it kick up to TT2. When doing my comparison A6 vs A6 MS vs A8 I found a smear difference b/n the first two and small, but not negligible, b/n the first two and A8 and that could catch only on iFi iDSD Pro, Gustard A26, TT2, plus a solid amp like Burson Soloist 3XP for headphones or Topping LA90 discreet for speakers.

Indeed you need a decent dac to hear it.
I use mscaler, tt2 and soloist 3xr gr, and I hear the difference clearly. But I certainly get you point