Lexxie
Member
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2023
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Hello, thanks for reading this post.
I am in a situation where I can buy Signature One for $120 on Craigslist (used), or Zen DAC V2 for $200.
My research on it led to some confusion over whether Signature series might be better than non-signature (seems so). But are Signature V1 better than standard V2, that's the question!
I know V2 can amplify a headphone by itself but I'm not interested in that as I surely have a better amp to feed to. So I guess what I wonder is,
1. What differences in DAC quality if any (detail, stage, colour) ?
2. What differences in pre-amp (analogue-out) quality ?
Disclaimer: I'm sympathetic to MQA-nay-sayers but I'm also a performing artist with free Tidal for life, so that's what I get whether I like it or not (I have no comparison to tell you).
I am neutral on MQA debate from having no references to say. Yes I know V2 does its own decoding (but so what, is it bit-different from what the tidal app does, aren't they just doing the same process making the same bits anyway, so how is this a feature I should go for?) I feel like well, just because I don't know for sure and MQA 3.0.1.1 might come in the future, it might be worth it to get the V2 so it gets firmware update when MQA gets better.
Otherwise it's a real question #1 and #2 above, to make my choice. As a GOLDEN EAR who has a $200 max to spend on the DAC, I would pay up to the max happily to get better sound. But if the Signature One is actually better sound at $80 less, then of course you know which one I want.
Please help! Thanks.
I am in a situation where I can buy Signature One for $120 on Craigslist (used), or Zen DAC V2 for $200.
My research on it led to some confusion over whether Signature series might be better than non-signature (seems so). But are Signature V1 better than standard V2, that's the question!
I know V2 can amplify a headphone by itself but I'm not interested in that as I surely have a better amp to feed to. So I guess what I wonder is,
1. What differences in DAC quality if any (detail, stage, colour) ?
2. What differences in pre-amp (analogue-out) quality ?
Disclaimer: I'm sympathetic to MQA-nay-sayers but I'm also a performing artist with free Tidal for life, so that's what I get whether I like it or not (I have no comparison to tell you).
I am neutral on MQA debate from having no references to say. Yes I know V2 does its own decoding (but so what, is it bit-different from what the tidal app does, aren't they just doing the same process making the same bits anyway, so how is this a feature I should go for?) I feel like well, just because I don't know for sure and MQA 3.0.1.1 might come in the future, it might be worth it to get the V2 so it gets firmware update when MQA gets better.
Otherwise it's a real question #1 and #2 above, to make my choice. As a GOLDEN EAR who has a $200 max to spend on the DAC, I would pay up to the max happily to get better sound. But if the Signature One is actually better sound at $80 less, then of course you know which one I want.
Please help! Thanks.