Advice Requested: Topping D50 III + A50 III vs. JDS Labs Element III MK2 vs. RME ADI-2 DAC FS

[taylorwmj]

Title says it all. Looking for advice/input on which of these to buy for desktop use with 80% headphone (NOT IEM) use:

• Topping D50 III + A50 III (cheapest + separates)
• JDS Labs Element III MK2 (best looks, all-in-one, USA-built)

or splurge and call it endgame with...

• RME ADI-2 DAC FS (best quality, most robust, can get a cost through RME dealer ~$950 USD)

Listening will be from iPhone and Apple Music via USB cable or from Linux desktop. May end up getting Genelec monitors for desktop since I can get those at dealer price too (so obviously huge plus to the RME for future use with that)

 

[ChenHui]

The A50III is underpowered and does not work satisfactorily with my dt70pro and HD650. I do not recommend this combination.

 

[johny_2000]

The A50III is underpowered and does not work satisfactorily with my dt70pro and HD650. I do not recommend this combination.

So, the A50 III has 190 mW @ 300 Ohms (HD650) for the SE output and 760 mW @ 300 Ohms for the BAL output.

Sennheiser HD650 specifications:
Sound Pressure Level (SPL) 103 dB at 1 Vrms = 3.33 mW. Now we know that when 3.33 mW is supplied to the headphones, we get an SPL of 103 dB.

What about the SPL at 1 mW?
Well, by increasing power from 1 mW to 3.33 mW, we obtain a 10*log(3.33/1) dB gain = 5.22 dB gain. 103dB – 5.22dB = 97.8 dB @ 1 mW for the Sennheiser HD650.

We also can calculate the sound pressure level for a certain power.

For 190 mW (SE output), the math is:
SPL gain between 1 mW and 190 mW = 10*log(190 / 1) = 22.8 dB
97.8 dB + 22.8 dB = 120.6 dB!

For 760 mW (BAL output), the math is:
SPL gain between 1 mW and 760 mW = 10*log(760 / 1) = 28.8 dB
97.8 dB + 28.8 dB = 126.6 dB! – that’s ear piercing loud!

FYI:

Deafening, human pain limit

120 dB

 

[Scrivs]

Get the RME and be done with it. Buy once, cry once

 

[johny_2000]

Get the RME and be done with it. Buy once, cry once

I have both, RME and D50-A50! Never cried for either one .

 

[Mulder]

The RME ADI-2 DAC is by a good margin the most capable of those you are considering. It is in a class of its own. Otherwise, I would buy the JDS Labs Element III mk2 because it has such an amazingly cool design. Perhaps the coolest headphone amplifier out there. And it is in practice completely transparent. RME is so much more than just a headphone amplifier. It drives an power-amp if you will, and its DSP capabilities really have no equivalent in any other DAC. But on the other hand, if you're only going to listen with headphones, and if you have an EQ in your software, then you'll get just as good sound with LDS Labs. And it will not cost as much as the RME.

 

[taylorwmj]

The RME ADI-2 DAC is by a good margin the most capable of those you are considering. It is in a class of its own. Otherwise, I would buy the JDS Labs Element III mk2 because it has such an amazingly cool design. Perhaps the coolest headphone amplifier out there. And it is in practice completely transparent. RME is so much more than just a headphone amplifier. It drives a power-amp if you will, and its DSP capabilities really have no equivalent in any other DAC. But on the other hand, if you're only going to listen with headphones, and if you have an EQ in your software, then you'll get just as good sound with LDS Labs. And it will not cost as much as the RME.

Thanks a bunch for all the info.

 

[taylorwmj]

I have both, RME and D50-A50! Never cried for either one .

Any preference? Pros/cons of each?

 

[johny_2000]

Any preference? Pros/cons of each?

In terms of sound quality and specs, both units are excellent!

Pros of RME ADI-2/4 Pro SE:
- Versatility
- Stable drivers/firmware/updates
- Very powerful remote control software for PC/Mac/iOS
- All-in-one design to minimize interference and interconnect issues
- Very powerful headphone amplifiers with two (independent) TRS outputs and a Pentaconn balanced option.
- Built-in high-performance dual-channel ADC with XLR/TRS inputs
- Separate XLR/TRS outputs for monitors/power speakers
- Built-in PEQs/Loudness/DSP functions
- Useful bright color display with lots of important information available at a glance
- robust design and build quality
- excellent technical support
and much more.

Cons:
- high price
- larger footprint
- power consumption/heat dissipation


Pros of D50&A50:
- Top-notch output characteristics with the latest DAC/Amp chips available
- Low power consumption/heat dissipation of DAC (USB powered)
- Low cost for a desktop-class device
- High build quality
- Small footprint of the stack

Cons of D50&A50:
- Requires interconnect cables (TRS/RCA/3.5mm)
- Prone to ground loop noise (USB Isolator required for best performance)
- Lower power headphone amplifier (TRS and Pentaconn outputs)
- Not very useful small monochrome display that can't be turned off completely
- Questionable drivers/firmware/updates