AlexHRider
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Sure.. if it was buyable xD and with it you get DAC section which i don't need since i got the RME
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Hypex DIY Preamplifier Kit Review
- Thread starter amirm
- Start date
phoenixdogfan
Major Contributor
Problem with that is unit has no digital crossover, DAC, or DSP and it only accepts two analog channels (unless the RCA inputs allow 4 channel input), so you can't even use the output of a 4 channel dac like a miniDSP Flex as its input. (And why would you need to when the Flex outputs 4Vrms over 4 channels with DAC, Dirac and Xover). So all you could do is output a full range signal to a sub which will do a low pass while your mains will run full range with no high pass.
Given the limited inputs, lack of DSP, DAC and Crossover, I see no use case as a modern digital preamp, and given the power limitation, a less than universal case for a headphone amp. Me, I'd far rather have an A90D plus a Flex for roughly the same price.
I think this product just misses the mark with its feature set, given how the bar has been raised on this kind of offering in the last couple of years. And if they're planning on adding these feature sets in the future, maybe they should have held off until they had a finished product here.
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OP
- Thread Starter
- #24
It is digitally controlled so no mismatch.
Assuming one would add the DAC card later and use digital inputs, the single XLR input would be free for another source. Still strange but OK if that means both outputs can have different ranges (high pass, low pass). A valid trade off in my opinion.
bloodshoteyed
Major Contributor
with the expected time of arrival for the add-ons, i wonder if it's going to be Pi+hat based?
I think stepped attenuator, so analog.
Is it just me or are there no markings/text on rear stating Inputs and Outputs? If I had to guess, the dual XLR out could be for active mains and active subs, without having to Y or loop through. Just a guess tho..
And is that a "Class D" logo/text on front? OMG, I just see pavlov audiophiles freaking out now about the "sound" of a "Class D" preamp
*EDIT - Never mind, I just noticed the miniscule arrows at bottom!
Why would it be Class D? That's for driving high power to speakers. Completely unnecessary in a preamp. It's surely just a name.
charleski
Major Contributor
Given the number of very low impedance planars around today, any headphone amp that wants to live in a $1k+ product needs to do better current delivery than this. It will be marginal with a HFM Edition XS.
It's the name of Hypex's DIY division, not class of output stage. But the reaction of those who listen with their eyes will be amusing...
1250 euros of volume control? No thank you.
Any decent dac offers a balanced 4V output preamp option, why would I cram this in between? It doesn't give me the possibility to switch from different sources, it doesn't have an integrated dsp, it doesn't have a sub output, it doesn't even have the possibility to set a high pass and low pass filter for the two xlr outputs, it doesn't even have an internal dac. What is it supposed to do for me?
"Not terrible" rating for technical execution, but for me, that's NO
Any decent dac offers a balanced 4V output preamp option, why would I cram this in between? It doesn't give me the possibility to switch from different sources, it doesn't have an integrated dsp, it doesn't have a sub output, it doesn't even have the possibility to set a high pass and low pass filter for the two xlr outputs, it doesn't even have an internal dac. What is it supposed to do for me?
"Not terrible" rating for technical execution, but for me, that's NO
TheWalkman
Senior Member
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Because it looks cool and matches your DIY amp?
I’m with you Talisman: I can’t see dropping $1300 +/- for this either.
I would say that they should have waited and released the preamp with the digital boards already finished, as the preamp alone seems incomplete until the digital boards come later.
Great review! Limited in functionality as it has too few inputs (and no digitals one). Future add-ons in the empty space might correct this, with increase in price. There are more competitive offers from the market, like the Okto DAC (functionally, a digital preamp) and the Toppings that measure as well or better.
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Wouldn't connecting a DAC directly to a power amp risk frying your speakers if there's a bug in the DAC firmware that randomly resets/ changes its output volume? See horror story linked below.
Not trying to save this particular product, just asking as a newbie.
Topping D70S fried my speakers...
I don't know why but today when I switched on the Topping D70S the volume was at -0db. Of course, i never set the volume so high, and usually the dac reminds the volume of the previous time, but not today. Result: the amplifier fried the tweeter of one loudspeaker. I don't know what the Topping...
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