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EarMen Tradutto Review (DAC)

Rate this DAC:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 144 71.3%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 48 23.8%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 6 3.0%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 4 2.0%

  • Total voters
    202

Jimbob54

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The 4.4 mm is clearly the little-guy getting sand kicked in his face. For the record, I really appreciate the 4.4mm headphone jack on my compact amp! Clean, simple and compact.
Which is exactly where it should stay- as the easily accessed, oft disconnected balanced headphone out on a device where XLRs are too bulky/ heavy. For which it is perfect and better IMO than the too small 2.5mm TRRS.
 

JanesJr1

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Which is exactly where it should stay- as the easily accessed, oft disconnected balanced headphone out on a device where XLRs are too bulky/ heavy. For which it is perfect and better IMO than the too small 2.5mm TRRS.
I have read that TRRRS connectors like 4.4mm can reduce crosstalk, but I have no personal expertise on the subject....
 

CedarX

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I have read that TRRRS connectors like 4.4mm can reduce crosstalk, but I have no personal expertise on the subject....
I believe it is relative to a TRS 3.5mm SE and it is more about avoiding the potential crosstalk issues from TRS to RCA cables/ adapters than reducing them: inevitably, TRS-RCA cables have a common ground section, which could be very short (just the TRS connector itself) or quite long (from the TRS connector to the “Y” branch out). If the impedance of this common ground section is non negligible, it will affect crosstalk performances. Interestingly, some headphone cables used (use?) this old trick as a simple “cross-feed” effect—an unusually high impedance single cable can be an indicator…
 

JanesJr1

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I believe it is relative to a TRS 3.5mm SE and it is more about avoiding the potential crosstalk issues from TRS to RCA cables/ adapters than reducing them: inevitably, TRS-RCA cables have a common ground section, which could be very short (just the TRS connector itself) or quite long (from the TRS connector to the “Y” branch out). If the impedance of this common ground section is non negligible, it will affect crosstalk performances. Interestingly, some headphone cables used (use?) this old trick as a simple “cross-feed” effect—an unusually high impedance single cable can be an indicator…
Thank you for clarifying this!
 

Purité Audio

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Doodski

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vkvedam

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Now that's why we don't need anymore audiophiles expressing their golden ear observations :rolleyes:
 

vkvedam

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DonR

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I have read more than good reviews for this device, so I wonder how relevant this review is. Especially when you look at the official measurements on the EarMen page and this one here.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19qBeFoz1cn6c8-2114sNCyNYvaSIiIm_
It's very likely that this product suffers from inconsistent quality control and thus @amirm got a dud but that is hardly a ringing endorsement for the product. However, the poor filter response is simply inexcusable.
 

DHT 845

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Now that's why we don't need anymore audiophiles expressing their golden ear observations :rolleyes:
Srboljub Stojanovic heard and liked this in Tradutto

1644251946536.png


He likes HF distortions in DACs, that is obvious :)

He ownes R2R denafrips Ares 2 DAC. Previously he also liked more his Ares DAC to Topping D70s

Topping d70s:
1644252152936.png
 

confucius_zero

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DHT 845

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doesn't this make a "less sharp treble"?
That's a good question. I don't want to listen his topping d70s review any more, but the answer is there (why he likes this):
denafrips Ares II DAC :

1644258132126.png
 
Last edited:

CedarX

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doesn't this make a "less sharp treble"?
Possibly…. The question around 2nd vs. odd harmonics? I think there is nothing wrong in “liking” distortions, or liking the Tradutto as long as one is honest and discuss euphonic traits—I like impressionist paintings, yet they are very far from being perfect pictures! The Tradutto objectively measures poorly, but some may like it :cool:
 

DHT 845

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I think there is nothing wrong in “liking” distortions, or liking the Tradutto...:cool:
Yes, but he's on the good way, he sold his Hegel amp and bought some class D IcePower 1200AS2 based amp :):D
But he did not admit that Hegel was piece of crap, just that new amp has better soundstage, bass etc.

In the next step he'll sell Ares 2, I am quite sure about it. It's just the matter of time.
 

Barry_Sound

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Is the review based on price alone? Since there was no listening test I assume the DAC would sound fine anyway. Personally I avoid DACs with volume control because they mess up my mind (Mac output has volume control, DAC has volume control, Amp has volume control... please not).
 
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