JDS Labs Atom DAC Review

[confucius_zero]

somehow not hearing from anybody regarding what this unit adds or does not add to the performance - and experience thereof - the Atom amp..

not many here committed to the purchase yet due to the numbers favoring the topping e30 and subjective impressions of what it "could add" to the atom are highly discouraged.

 

[Sonic Atrocity]

Wow, this looks amazing. I'm seriously thinking about doing the atom amp/atom dac stamp. According to OP, both measure neutral.

My goal is fidelity, transparency, and neutrality. Should I go with this stack?

 

[Veri]

My goal is fidelity, transparency, and neutrality. Should I go with this stack?

Sure it'll achieve that if you only need USB it's a great stack.

 

[fieldcar]

Sure it'll achieve that if you only need USB it's a great stack.

Though, a subjectivist reviewer would tell him it's too clinical and lacks warmth. Heh.

 

[Veri]

Someone should make audiophile hot pockets

 

[Sonic Atrocity]

Sure it'll achieve that if you only need USB it's a great stack.

Thanks. I appreciate your response.

 

[Veri]

Thanks. I appreciate your response.

It's essentially the latest-gen of nwavguy's "Objective" stack. Enjoy! And if you find Atom flimsy in any way, I recommend switching the volume knob to a bigger one, plenty of people on the board here have done just that.

 

[iplaydrunk99]

God, I love my atom stack so much !! hella good even on my IEMS

 

[Sonic Atrocity]

It's essentially the latest-gen of nwavguy's "Objective" stack. Enjoy! And if you find Atom flimsy in any way, I recommend switching the volume knob to a bigger one, plenty of people on the board here have done just that.

Oh yeah, I was highly inclined to acquire that years ago. However, I read it often had clipping issues, and JDS suggested lowering your computer's volume anywhere from 97-99%. As a fidelity freak, and as a matter of principle, I declined to purchase the O2/ODAC.

Does the atom stack have the same and/or similar issues?

 

[Sonic Atrocity]

God, I love my atom stack so much !! hella good even on my IEMS

Oh yeah? Please do tell. I currently use etymotic HF5s with my iPod classic 7th Gen. I plan on using them on the atom stack, and will be purchasing an HD600 as well.

 

[Theriverlethe]

Oh yeah, I was highly inclined to acquire that years ago. However, I read it often had clipping issues, and JDS suggested lowering your computer's volume anywhere from 97-99%. As a fidelity freak, and as a matter of principle, I declined to purchase the O2/ODAC.

Does the atom stack have the same and/or similar issues?

Wasn’t that fixed with rev.B and the PCM5102a?

 

[Sonic Atrocity]

Wasn’t that fixed with rev.B and the PCM5102a?

Admittedly I do not know. But as long as the atom stack doesn't have any of these weird issues I'm a happy camper.

I'm very excited. I'm almost 31 and this will be my first home rig.

 

[confucius_zero]

I love my atom stack so much

how does it compare to your previous setup?

 

[iplaydrunk99]

how does it compare to your previous setup?

it is such an improvement to me because i use those NFB 11.28 and MAYFLOWER ARC 1 before LMAO, on my ears JDS is really legit company

 

[despoiler]

I'm not seeing the pads on the PCB for a filter selector switch like you find on the OL DAC. Can anyone confirm if it's possible to change the filter? I'm not a fan of brickwall filters for playback.

 

[Warbles]

Hello again. Might I be correct in assuming that because the DA3 is not a pure DAC but a DAC/amp combo, that 'double amping' is occurring when I connect it to my Atom? Resulting in deleterious effects on sound quality?

 

[Veri]

Hello again. Might I be correct in assuming that because the DA3 is not a pure DAC but a DAC/amp combo, that 'double amping' is occurring when I connect it to my Atom? Resulting in deleterious effects on sound quality?

No not necessarily, if the DA3 has a line-out it's perfectly fine to use it that way.

 

[magicscreen]

Damn, I realise this is Audio Science Review, but it's still just downright weird somehow not hearing from anybody regarding what this unit adds or does not add to the performance - and experience thereof - the Atom amp..


Just sayin' !!

It sounds like this

 

[KPH]

It sounds like this

I am still waiting and would like to hear from other reviewers. Watching it again, he does not explain much or compare the dac to other dacs but maybe that kind of is the explanation. Guess it is good for the price but not significantly good, but it makes a perfect stack which would be good for a low budget setup. I wonder if there is going to be a atom dac amp coming.

 

[Veri]

he does not explain much or compare the dac to other dacs but maybe that kind of is the explanation.

That's just zeos, can't understand how he speaks 30-40 minutes about so very little. Like HOW.