Good Dac / Nice DAC and VU meter

[The French]

Hi,

I own a Topping E30 and a Topping A50s combo.

Soundwise, they are both amazing, on any headphones I have.

But (no science in here) I wish I could have a nicer combo.


At 12yo, my father gave me its old hifi system (I've stolen this picture online), the system he bought the year I was born, 1976.
I've spent 10 years listening to all my music on this system (I also had the Double Tape player he's bought later, and a Philips CD player)

I gave it to a young cousin many years later

Well, you see the idea.
I'm not sure I may improve the sound of my Headphones system, so I'll try to improve the look of it.
I'm looking for nice Headphones devices, ideally with a VU Meter,

Do you have any recommandations (max price of 1000 €/$), for something good...and nice ?

Do real VU Meter have an influence on the DAC quality ?

 

[capitanharlock]

Of course the vu-meters don't have any influence on sound, they disappeared 'cause they cost, and the manufacturers persuaded the audiophiles that without them (and tone controls, and many other useful features) the audio gears would have sounded better.
One of the few headphone amp with a real vumeter it's the SPL Phonitor line:, but they cost more than 1k:

 

[The French]

Many thanks.

I had seen that SPL device, but it's not cheap indeed.

I wish the affordable chinese brands such as Topping or SMSL could have two lines of products.
The one we all know, and a Premium one (so with another name), taking the same internal components, but adding better looking case, VU Meter, LCD screen or internal power supply.
Most of the BS we are constantly hearing on the Audiophile market, is due to a real need, for nicer equipment.

Just like when people prefer the Yogurt when it's in the blue pot, Vs the same Yogurt coming from the brown pot.

Maybe it's me, but when I see my tiny E30, even if I know it's fantastic, I can't really love that tiny device.
It's so light it does not even stands correcly in place, because of the RCA cables.

 

[Zek]

It's so light it does not even stands correcly in place,

Put a brick on them ... or something like this...

it will improve the sound ...

 

[litemotiv]

If you just like to have a couple of nice Vu meters you can consider getting a separate device like the one below, and use it together with another DAC / headphone amp:

Costs about $150-200 from Aliexpress.

 

[The French]

If you just like to have a couple of nice Vu meters you can consider getting a separate device like the one below, and use it together with another DAC / headphone amp:

Costs about $150-200 from Aliexpress.

Looks nice on this picture, but they are apparently not good at all

Douk VU2 Review (VU Meter/Input Selector)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Little Bear / Douk VU2 input selector and VU meter. It was kindly purchased new by a member and drop shipped to me. VU2 costs US $189 from Amazon including Prime shipping. The main attraction here are the VU meters and Douk delivers with two...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I've had an eye on the Oppo HA1, which is a hell of a nice device.
But it's quite old, apparently not so reliable, and they are not measuring that well

 

[litemotiv]

Looks nice on this picture, but they are apparently not good at all

Yes you shouldn't use it as an actual RCA hub!

But it also has a microphone input for the Vu-meters, so as long as you use that and only use the device as a standalone meter then it would be fine.

 

[capitanharlock]

If you need analog vu-meters, the SPL are the cheapest ones.
If you can settle for digital ones, I would consider this, it fits your bill too.

 

[Snoopy]

Just use a streamer software with a VU meter plugin

 

[Kuppenbender]

Yes you shouldn't use it as an actual RCA hub!

But it also has a microphone input for the Vu-meters, so as long as you use that and only use the device as a standalone meter then it would be fine.

DoukAudio (or NobSound to their friends) have a number of VU meter boxes.
https://www.doukaudio.com/products/...r-speaker-audio-switcher-box-db-panel-display
This one works as a speaker or amp switching box

 

[tifune]

Just use a streamer software with a VU meter plugin

This is probably the best option. Just get the cheapest monitor you can find to use as a secondary and build the meters any way you like

Failing that, @The French I got a CENtrance Ampersand for 30% off at black Friday. It hasn't been independently tested yet; I suspect it's good enough given it's targeted use case. Most of their stuff has meters although the DAC was not well received here especially given it's price. The CEO kept saying he would follow up to straighten the story, but I don't think it ever came to fruition

 

[tifune]

DoukAudio (or NobSound to their friends) have a number of VU meter boxes.
https://www.doukaudio.com/products/...r-speaker-audio-switcher-box-db-panel-display
This one works as a speaker or amp switching box

The only one tested I'm aware of wrecked the signal well into audible levels. I agree they look cool, though

 

[threni]

Maybe it's me, but when I see my tiny E30, even if I know it's fantastic, I can't really love that tiny device.
It's so light it does not even stands correcly in place, because of the RCA cables.

I never touch my E30 so it doesn't move around much but when I was installing it I added a blu-tak to keep it in place so it faces the right direction for remote control reception.

 

[The French]

I think I will have a serious look at the RME ADI-2.
It seems to partially meet my needs will for some kind of a VU Meter, without sacrificing anything regarding the sound.

 

[Berwhale]

How about this...

 

[capitanharlock]

It’s a completely different beast, useful mostly for music producers.

 

[Berwhale]

It’s a completely different beast, useful mostly for music producers.

Yes, I get that, but it can be driven via USB with a supplied VST plugin. So I would image that it's possible to get it working either directly with eAPO or with Voicemeeter Banana on a desktop PC setup. The spectrum analyser and vector scope views look pretty cool. There's a better demo of it's capabilities here:

Plus it's available for £219 in the UK (i.e. a lot cheaper than an RME DAC)...

TC Electronic Clarity M Stereo Audio/Loudness Meter for sale | Bax Music

Buy your TC Electronic Clarity M Stereo Audio/Loudness Meter at Bax Music and enjoy delivery in 2 business days, a 3-year warranty and our lowest-price guarantee.

www.bax-shop.co.uk

 

[DWPress]

I think the new TEAC line of modern/retro looking gear matches up to your old Scott aesthetics. They are ridiculously expensive though for all that bling.

 

[Doodski]

I think the new TEAC line of modern/retro looking gear matches up to your old Scott aesthetics. They are ridiculously expensive though for all that bling.

Teac is seriously nailing the looks checkmarks in the new gear.

 

[capitanharlock]

Yes, I get that, but it can be driven via USB with a supplied VST plugin. So I would image that it's possible to get it working either directly with eAPO or with Voicemeeter Banana on a desktop PC setup. The spectrum analyser and vector scope views look pretty cool. There's a better demo of it's capabilities here:

Plus it's available for £219 in the UK (i.e. a lot cheaper than an RME DAC)...

TC Electronic Clarity M Stereo Audio/Loudness Meter for sale | Bax Music

Buy your TC Electronic Clarity M Stereo Audio/Loudness Meter at Bax Music and enjoy delivery in 2 business days, a 3-year warranty and our lowest-price guarantee.

www.bax-shop.co.uk

It would be another box, with another mount (to buy separately), and some other cables. Replacing the Toppings with the Rme it’s the best option in my opinion.