Good Dac / Nice DAC and VU meter

[Ralph_Cramden]

RME with DIN PPM meter.

 

[JaccoW]

RME with DIN PPM meter.

Can you tell me how you set this up? Is this basically just two Raspberry Pi's with a screen on top?

 

[92fxrhm]

Shanling EM5 DAC/Network Streamer - looks ‘nice’ - no reviews

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

Can you tell me how you set this up? Is this basically just two Raspberry Pi's with a screen on top?

Yes. Hyperpixel 4 touchscreens, Printminion cases, Pi Zero WH or Zero 2 W.

 

[Snoopy]

Shanling EM5 DAC/Network Streamer - looks ‘nice’ - no reviews

View attachment 179493

The VU meters seem to work only with local files and not with streaming services

 

[capitanharlock]

Placing the display on top it's so weird...

 

[The French]

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.

I've already had a look at this line (well, apparently all their devices have that same retro look), which is indeed, very very nice.
The TEAC AI-503-A (my preference as it also has an headphones output and an USB input) and the (even more) old style AP505 which is a speaker amp only.

But I'm not sure they are as good as they are nice.

​

 

[Paolo]

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.

I have the RME. It exhibits a well accomplished industrial design and look the part. The meter is especially nice, and gives you useful information on what you're playing. So, beautiful, but in a "professional way", not exactly what I like in my living room.

That said, I share your longing for more captivating designs, possibly new interpretations and iterations to give a nicer feel to those absurdly high performing devices and I will definitely pay a reasonable premium for that.

 

[The French]

I have the RME. It exhibits a well accomplished industrial design and look the part. The meter is especially nice, and gives you useful information on what you're playing. So, beautiful, but in a "professional way", not exactly what I like in my living room.

That said, I share your longing for more captivating designs, possibly new interpretations and iterations to give a nicer feel to those absurdly high performing devices and I will definitely pay a reasonable premium for that.

Yes the RME is clearly not the nicest, it has obviously not been made to be.
Its design serves a purpose.
That's probably why it's so popular : it's a tool made for pros.
I've just seen that the new firmware allows differents colors now ! (Just to show how far from a pro I am )

As far as I wanted a VU Meter, I wouldn't like to sacrifice the sound quality, nor the practicality.
Adding a VU Meter seems complicated.

There is obviously a space to fill in the Hifi market.
1/ A good measured product
2/ In a nice case
3/ At a reasonable price.

Most products fails the 1/ (specially those with a nice case, must be a way to hide poor measurements).
Some succeds 1/ + 2/ but failed a the 3/ (The T+A Dac 200 for instance, well I haven't seen any measurements of that one, but I'm guessing)

Shanling EM5 DAC/Network Streamer - looks ‘nice’ - no reviews

View attachment 179493

I was very interested by this one, but the closed Android OS is a dead end to me.
Plus the digital VU Meter will only be available on Shanling's own Music app.
It's like a DAP, plugged to DC, but with a very limited OS, which can also (and preferably apparently) be controlled with a phone through an app.

 

[digitalfrost]

But I'm not sure they are as good as they are nice.

TEAC devices have been reviewed here:

Review and Measurements of Teac AX-501 Amplifier

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Teac AX-501 integrated power (speaker) amplifier. It is on kind loan from a member. The AX-501 is part of the reference series from Teac so doesn't come cheap as desktop products go. I see the price at USD $999 on Amazon plus $35 shipping...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Review and Measurements of Teac HA-501 Headphone Amp

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Teac HA-501 headphone amplifier. It is on kind loan from a member. The HA-501 in black costs $549 including Prime shipping from Amazon. Oddly, the silver color is much cheaper at $354! Black anodizing must have become very expensive. :) The...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Review and Measurements of Teac NT-503 Networked DAC

Let me confess that I have had a man-crush on the look of the teac NT-503 for quite a while! :) Compared to a lot of utilitarian DACs that I test, the Teac looked so much nicer and professional in the pictures. Alas, at $1,000 retail price, I was reluctant to purchase it. Fortunately due to...

www.audiosciencereview.com

They are not bad. Not very good either, but I think for the form factor and the looks, it's more than good enough.

 

[capitanharlock]

The T+A Dac 200 costs around 5k.
The Teac with the vu meters is an integrated amp.
The Shanling is very limited and uses its own app, a deal breaker.

Yes, the Rme has a very "pro" look, and that's why it costs a reasonable amount of money.

At the moment, I would consider the Rme or the SPL.

 

[jumos]

I have TEAC AX-505...both that one and its non-integrated cousin have that exact look you (and I) want. They also sound, and measure extremely well, being built on Hypex Ncore modules inside. Unfortunately their matching DAC doesn't have VU meters. Theyre also not very cheap at about $1500 USD

 

[EdTice]

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.

Can you elaborate. I looked again. And I can't see any way to get this device to work as VuMeter without passing the signal through. If connecting it via a Y cable would let me have VUMeter for that price without spoiling the signal it would be a no brainer.

 

[soundofsingle]

The T+A Dac 200 costs around 5k.
The Teac with the vu meters is an integrated amp.
The Shanling is very limited and uses its own app, a deal breaker.

Yes, the Rme has a very "pro" look, and that's why it costs a reasonable amount of money.

At the moment, I would consider the Rme or the SPL.

T+A HA200...

 

[EdTice]

I have TEAC AX-505...both that one and its non-integrated cousin have that exact look you (and I) want. They also sound, and measure extremely well, being built on Hypex Ncore modules inside. Unfortunately their matching DAC doesn't have VU meters. Theyre also not very cheap at about $1500 USD

I just emailed Amir to see about getting this VuMeter tested. It has no switching so hopefully the RCAs are just pass-through and don't degrade audio. And it has removable rack mount ears.

Amazon.com: Technical Pro DB30 1U Rack Mount dB Decibel Meter Display+8 Outlet Power Supply : Electronics

Buy Technical Pro DB30 1U Rack Mount dB Decibel Meter Display+8 Outlet Power Supply: Amplifiers - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[litemotiv]

T+A HA200...

One thing that's nice about the T+A models is that both the VU backlights as well as the leds are fully RGB and can be set to any desired color:

Edit: also the VU meters are multi-purpose and can be set to either input level, output level, DAC clock rate and jitter rate. Quite useful when connecting external equipment and seeing these metrics at a glance.

 

[EdTice]

One thing that's nice about the T+A models is that both the VU backlights as well as the leds are fully RGB and can be set to any desired color:

Edit: also the VU meters are multi-purpose and can be set to either input level, output level, DAC clock rate and jitter rate. Quite useful when connecting external equipment and seeing these metrics at a glance.

The IRS allows deductions for T+A. (Apologies to those who haven't seen The Wolf of Wall Street)

 

[capitanharlock]

T+A HA200...

It’s only 6k euro. But nice looking.

 

[litemotiv]

The IRS allows deductions for T+A

The DAC 200 and HA 200 are expensive yes, i guess you could consider them 'end game' devices. For those who have the cash available they are very nice options, in terms of features, build quality and aesthetics.

 

[capitanharlock]

I see, but the topic‘s author, as many of us, has a budget, and those T+A are way over this budget.