Quite good!
DSD does nothing so there is no reason to have it anyway...
Have you listened to DSD?
Quite good!
DSD does nothing so there is no reason to have it anyway...
Depending how good output is done on the software player side you can get one or two dB SINAD advantage over other players and PCM/DSD with native DSD in JRiver for instance.Quite good!
DSD does nothing so there is no reason to have it anyway...
Depending how good output is done on the software player side you can get one or two dB SINAD advantage over other players and PCM/DSD with native DSD in JRiver for instance.
Looks lean and mean for $211 delivered. What a deal.
I tried DSD out of interest. Sounds the same as 320kbps MP3.
Looks lean and mean for $211 delivered. What a deal.
This is a review and detailed measurements of the JDS Labs Atom DAC. It was kindly sent to me by the company and costs US $99.
As the name indicates, this is the long anticipated companion to the JDS Labs Atom headphone amplifier:
View attachment 68333
I like the big circle but oddly, it is not a switch. There is an inline switch with the power supply for that purpose:
View attachment 68334
And that is the other odd thing. Typical DACs in this category are just USB powered. This one comes with the standard AC transformer JDS ships with their other products. It is not an issue for performance but I would think it is a cost that could have been optimized.
There are no other inputs which is fine with me but some want optical, etc.
DAC Audio Measurements
The JDS Labs Atom set a new bar for high performance headphone amplifier at very low cost. Can the DAC repeat the same? Here is our dashboard:
View attachment 68335
This is very good performance. Alas, it now slots in a very crowded segment of excellent budget DACs:
View attachment 68336
Zooming in:
View attachment 68337
Signal to noise ratio is in the same category of above rating:
View attachment 68338
IMD+noise is very good:
View attachment 68339
As is 32-tone test:
View attachment 68340
Some harmless spurious tones are visible in jitter test:
View attachment 68341
Linearity which is a measure of accuracy is superb:
View attachment 68342
Only one filter response is provided:
View attachment 68343
Good attenuation of out of band spectrum results in good THD+N versus frequency:
View attachment 68344
Conclusion
For anyone looking for a perfect match with JDS Labs Atom, the DAC is naturally a perfect fit. Its distortion is below threshold of audibility so can be proven to be totally transparent to what you play.
The company is in US and provides superb support -- something that is next to impossible to get at times from bargain offerings elsewhere.
Overall, I am happy to recommend the JDS Labs Atom DAC.
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As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
261.... that is the number of products I have tested with a DAC in them!!! How about you all donate that much in dollars by the end of the week? Fair exchange, no? https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
First of all, the atom amp volume knob is trash, and should be replaced right away.For people concerned with "build quality" and what not you have to ask yourself what the primary purpose of your device is? If you're looking for better aesthetics why not just buy better furniture? Pretty much all that should matter from a DAC/AMP is the audio quality.
First of all, the atom amp volume knob is trash, and should be replaced right away.
As for build quality, yes, it absolutely matters. And yes, audio quality precedes build quality, but build quality is still a factor, like it or not. For example, I have my modi 3/magni heresy stack on my desk with my sub output control and audio interface on top of them. I'd be wery doing this with the atom stack because of how hollow and thin the atom amp feels.
Don't get me wrong; I love my atom as much as my heresy (well, once I changed the volume knob), but there's no denying it feels cheaply made, and I feel like I need to be "delicate" with it.
Worth noting that this is largely a thing of the past, and even if something does happen, schiit has been on point with customer service.whereas Schiit uses solid cases but has issues with grounding, headphones being destroyed, or amps catching fire.
Worth noting that this is largely a thing of the past, and even if something does happen, schiit has been on point with customer service.
Catch fire or just release smoke?They've had more than one amp catch fire in the last couple weeks over in r/headphones :-(
The most recent one says smoke (but of course, where there is smoke...):They've had more than one amp catch fire in the last couple weeks over in r/headphones :-(
I like my Atom Amp, and this one isn't too bad either based on performance alone.
They are building down to a price, but for me as a consumer, that still just doesn't cut it compared to the chinese competition.