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desktop amp/dac like jds labs available on amazon?

Blake Klondike

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I'm looking for a dac/amp to drive hd800 and hifiman x that is similar to this JDS labs but available on amazon (trying to spend gift certificates)


right now I am using a fiio Q5 but I want something more substantial with a big knob like the JDS.

source is amazon music on a Samsung S9 phone.

can anyone recommend anything that would be suitable or is the best bet to go with JDS and spend the $400 amazon gc on a vacuum cleaner?

thanks and happy holidays to everyone!
 
There's nothing else with a similar design and built-in EQ.

Even if you don't need EQ, the same style is usually only found on audio interfaces:

I'd buy the Element from JDS' website.
 
I'm looking for a dac/amp to drive hd800 and hifiman x that is similar to this JDS labs but available on amazon (trying to spend gift certificates)


right now I am using a fiio Q5 but I want something more substantial with a big knob like the JDS.

source is amazon music on a Samsung S9 phone.

can anyone recommend anything that would be suitable or is the best bet to go with JDS and spend the $400 amazon gc on a vacuum cleaner?

thanks and happy holidays to everyone!
One more option.

 
thanks I dont trust schiit. they strike me as bullshit artists. there's no reason to buy from anyone other than JDS except that they don't accept amazon gift cards, which is what I have to spend.
I have purchased 3 of Schiit's economical DACS and the original Saga pre-amp. No issues with those products. I also own an Element 3 Mk2 and no issues there either. As far as Schiitt being "full of shit" - that I will disagree with. While they have an unusual sense of humor, they go out of their way to not con people into believing in pixie dust.
 
As far as Schiitt being "full of shit"
Excuse me, but they indeed had had really serious and childish flaws in product assembly quality, as Amir himself has shown us several times here. Even the Guangzhou guys at least know how to hold a soldering iron properly (not that it really helps them, but still). IDK if this aspect has been improved since, but for some reason I don't feel like I want to check it.
 
Excuse me, but they indeed had had really serious and childish flaws in product assembly quality, as Amir himself has shown us several times here. Even the Guangzhou guys at least know how to hold a soldering iron properly (not that it really helps them, but still). IDK if this aspect has been improved since, but for some reason I don't feel like I want to check it.
I believe those were early products. Can you provide a recent example? It also appears they responded to ASR testing results by purchasing an AP 555 and using it to improve their designs. There are always 2 sides to any equation…
 
I believe those were early products.
It depends on which products to consider "early". But they were being advertised (so that I was fooled into buying them; it was before I had discovered ASR) and sold very actively despite their obvious problems with production quality. Basically, they were assembling the devices on their lap. And it was not a problem that could be discovered only with an AP analyzer, it was just a matter of gross negligence, hence inexcusable. And this is aggravated by their marketing that was built around their alleged "Made in USA" quality.

As I said, I have no interest or time to track their progress on the matter anymore, and this manufacturer is in my personal black list since then. So no recent examples from me.
 
Excuse me, but they indeed had had really serious and childish flaws in product assembly quality, as Amir himself has shown us several times here. Even the Guangzhou guys at least know how to hold a soldering iron properly (not that it really helps them, but still). IDK if this aspect has been improved since, but for some reason I don't feel like I want to check it.
this is what I remember and it undermines my consumer confidence.
 
alleged "Made in USA" quality.
Not sure what this means. Are you disputing they're made in the USA? I'll admit that "Made in USA" is not something I've ever seen anyone outside the USA rate as a mark of quality; that said, I have a Asgard 3 amp I've used multiple times per week for years now without issue, plus a little Loki eq unit used less frequently. The amp measured extremely well here and it's a solid unit. I'm not aware of any "childish flaws" although I question the utility of placing the power button at the back of the unit instead of the front where it would be easier to get to; that's about as serious a complaint as I can muster!
 
Not sure what this means.
Then read my posts again.

Are you disputing they're made in the USA?
They were marketing (and still do) the manufacturing location as an advantage. But in reality being made in the USA did not guarantee any quality, as it turned out. They were merely average performing products with very serious problems of craftsmanship back then. They might have improved in this regard, but it does not matter to me anymore.

I have a Asgard 3 amp I've used multiple times per week for years now without issue, plus a little Loki eq unit used less frequently. The amp measured extremely well here and it's a solid unit.
Good for you. I was, too, blissfully ignorant and was enjoying my Modi 2U+Magni 3 stack along with the Fulla 2 until I stumbled upon teardown photos here.

I'm not aware of any "childish flaws"
Here, have a look:

 
Then read my posts again.


They were marketing (and still do) the manufacturing location as an advantage. But in reality being made in the USA did not guarantee any quality, as it turned out. They were merely average performing products with very serious problems of craftsmanship back then. They might have improved in this regard, but it does not matter to me anymore.


Good for you. I was, too, blissfully ignorant and was enjoying my Modi 2U+Magni 3 stack along with the Fulla 2 until I stumbled upon teardown photos here.


Here, have a look:

Your examples are 5-7 years old.
 
I dont trust schiit. they strike me as bullshit artists.
I've been running a Schiit headphone amp for nearly 2 years without any issue at all and I play the music very loud otherwise bush craft and movie videos are a cakewalk. I have little to no detectable hiss too. It's OK gear... :D
 
I've ever seen anyone outside the USA rate as a mark of quality
I'm Canadian and I go for, "Made in the USA" tools, electronics and whatever comes along. I bought the Schiit headphone amp because it is made in the USA and that should give me good shipping access to the manufacturer if any issue arises.
 
They were marketing (and still do) the manufacturing location as an advantage. But in reality being made in the USA did not guarantee any quality, as it turned out. They were merely average performing products with very serious problems of craftsmanship back then.
I checked out those Schiit teardown reviews and if those minor errors in assembly irritate you then you should see other manufacturers' stuff. It can get a lot worse than those old Schiit teardown reviews indicate. I suspect the combination of the flux used, the solder with iron temperature caused those solder balls and glitches in soldering.
 
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