JDS Labs Atom DAC+ Review

[fbfranco]

The $110 Atom DAC+ seems to measure better than the $250 EL DAC II in almost any way. Any reason for getting the more expensive DAC (subjective performance, resolution)? The Amp side of the equation is clearer, as the Atom AMP+ is very good but the EL AMP seems considerably better, justifying the price gap.
Is the best possible price/performance the Atom Dac+ with the EL AMP II?

 

[Zensō]

The $110 Atom DAC+ seems to measure better than the $250 EL DAC II in almost any way. Any reason for getting the more expensive DAC (subjective performance, resolution)? The Amp side of the equation is clearer, as the Atom AMP+ is very good but the EL AMP seems considerably better, justifying the price gap.
Is the best possible price/performance the Atom Dac+ with the EL AMP II?

Both are well beyond the threshold of audibility; in other words they sound exactly the same. With the Element series you’re paying for the much nicer machined enclosure.

If you’re feeding the DAC via USB, you’d be better off going with the Element II. The separates are only advantageous if you need some other digital input.

 

[RndJeff]

The $110 Atom DAC+ seems to measure better than the $250 EL DAC II in almost any way. Any reason for getting the more expensive DAC (subjective performance, resolution)? The Amp side of the equation is clearer, as the Atom AMP+ is very good but the EL AMP seems considerably better, justifying the price gap.
Is the best possible price/performance the Atom Dac+ with the EL AMP II?

BTW, If you're in Canada, this is the place to get JDS Labs products.

Element II (Copper Ring)

SIMPLIFIED AUDIO, RE-ENGINEERED We redesigned Element II to maximize your desktop audio experience. Element II packs the performance you expect from JDS Labs into a precision machined aluminum chassis, with an equally impressive 32/384k DAC, and button activated preamp RCA outputs. Enjoy the...

www.deskhero.ca

 

[SmileyFate]

hey guys, first time getting into this audiophile stuff and im planning on getting an HD6XX but im torn between the schiit magi 3+ and modi 3+ vs the atom amp+ and dac+... any thoughts would be appreciated

 

[Joe Smith]

hey guys, first time getting into this audiophile stuff and im planning on getting an HD6XX but im torn between the schiit magi 3+ and modi 3+ vs the atom amp+ and dac+... any thoughts would be appreciated

I have the Magni 3 and Modi 3 (not the later + models), very happy with them. No problems after two years. The volume pot on the Magni is a little scratchy when changing volume, I've tried a dot of lube and it helped but did not eliminate entirely. Since I only set the volume at the start of a session, it's not a big deal. (The volume pot on my Magni 2 was better, darn it.)

I have not owned JDS stuff but I am VERY impressed with their responsiveness/customer service chain - I have sent in a couple of random questions, and the owner responded within minutes each time. I think their latest versions look great and sure measures great. I wish the cases were metal, but with proper rubber feet, they'll probably sit just fine.

You can't go wrong IMO either way. If you have very demanding phones re power, peek at that comparison again between the two but I don't think they are that far apart.

 

[3rdShift]

hey guys, first time getting into this audiophile stuff and im planning on getting an HD6XX but im torn between the schiit magi 3+ and modi 3+ vs the atom amp+ and dac+... any thoughts would be appreciated

I have the modi 3 (not plus), magni heresy and jds atom amp. I can't tell a difference between the heresy and atom amp, though the heresy knob can be scratchy when adjusting volume. I have wd40 specialist contact cleaner, but haven't fixed it yet (laziness lol).

Make your decision based on features; you probably won't be able to hear a difference between the two stacks.

 

[Joe Smith]

My favorite thing about the Modi is that it powers from the USB, but can also be powered from a small-form charger if using with a phone, and its 3 inputs - USB, Coax and Optical... A little more versatile than the Atom

 

[3rdShift]

My favorite thing about the Modi is that it powers from the USB, but can also be powered from a small-form charger if using with a phone, and its 3 inputs - USB, Coax and Optical... A little more versatile than the Atom

Yeah, the modi does have that going for it, but the atom dac+ adds an optical input at least. I've been very happy with the two modi 3s I have in use. They've been rock solid reliable since I got them.

 

[raistlin65]

I would get the Atom and avoid the scratchy volume lottery with the Magni series. Plus, JDS Labs seems to have the better reputation for customer service should you have a problem.

There would be no audible difference between Atom stack and Element 2

 

[3rdShift]

I would get the Atom and avoid the scratchy volume lottery with the Magni series. Plus, JDS Labs seems to have the better reputation for customer service should you have a problem.

The schiit customer service issues haven't been issues for a very long time now.
Still, you raise a valid point; I've never had any pot issues with my atom amp.

 

[raistlin65]

The schiit customer service issues haven't been issues for a very long time now.
Still, you raise a valid point; I've never had any pot issues with my atom amp.

Heard lots of people in the past year complain they were having trouble getting in touch with Schiit customer service.

 

[Labjr]

I've been using Caig products for over 30 years and highly recommend Deoxit D5 for cleaning scratchy potentiometers. If you can manage to get the stuff inside the pot, it works wonders. A little spritz is all you need. Better than any other contact cleaner I've ever used. Most contact cleaners evaporate and the problem comes back. Deoxit deoxidizes and leaves a protective film that lasts.

 

[Atratusnex]

Yeah, the modi does have that going for it, but the atom dac+ adds an optical input at least. I've been very happy with the two modi 3s I have in use. They've been rock solid reliable since I got them.

Would take the jds labs atom + dac, great service... and i will probably never forgive the nwavguy and Asgard handling back in the days with schiit on headfi.

 

[mikefc]

Any chance we could get a graph of jitter measured thru the Toslink input? I'm just wondering how much worse it is than USB
since that is what I have. Thanks!

 

[jseaber]

Any chance we could get a graph of jitter measured thru the Toslink input? I'm just wondering how much worse it is than USB
since that is what I have. Thanks!

S/PDIF decoding is processed by the ESS, so jitter is exceptional via TOSLINK. The Sabre chips shine in this area.

The attached TOSLINK jitter test was taken on a random sample pulled from a new batch of boards earlier this week (first batch of Atom DAC+'s built in Chicago):

 

[Kevbaz]

I received an Atom DAC+ and Atom Amp+ This week in the UK and really pleased with the performance on my CD player via TOSLINK.
In a few months I will buy another Atom pair for my desktop system - Qobuz on MacBook.
Cheers
Kevin

 

[mikefc]

S/PDIF decoding is processed by the ESS, so jitter is exceptional via TOSLINK. The Sabre chips shine in this area.

The attached TOSLINK jitter test was taken on a random sample pulled from a new batch of boards earlier this week (first batch of Atom DAC+'s built in Chicago):

Wow! Way better than the low end Schitt. Thanks

 

[mikefc]

What a joy! I got my Atom+ DAC last night. I was up until 3am listening to it.
It is jaw dropping good.

I used to run a DAC based on 20yr old technology. It provided a soundstage that was ok. It did a little
bit of depth. It could throw images beyond the left and right speaker and do up and down imaging.

After putting the Atom+ DAC in my system, the soundstage completely envelops the
room (on decent recordings). It does depth amazingly well. On my 2-channel setup, I hear
images out in front of the speakers, to the sides, and up and down. They fill the entire room.

Before the Atom+ DAC, I had a soundstage that was like a bubble in front of me. The bubble was
anchored around the speakers and extended from the speakers. I could look at the bubble,
but I couldn't enter into it. The Atom+ DAC takes you into that soundstage bubble. The Netflix series
Animal, and Night On Earth for example...puts you underwater, in the caves, in the thunderstorm, or right next to
the animals in the jungle. I'm looking forward to the college football games this weekend to see
if it can put me in the stadium. That might save on ticket prices.

It does everything I was hoping a new component would do for a system. I haven't seen such a *huge* change in my
system in 35 years. I apologize for all the subjective impressions, but this is an incredible piece of gear and an
unbelievable bargain.

Thanks

 

[confucius_zero]

not the best picture but it's definitely better than the SMSL Sanskrit 10th mkII on my desk.

 

[tvrgeek]

It was a toss-up between JDS and Schiit. I went Asgard as it was an all-in-one box rather than two. I do have their little Subjective tone control which helped me figure out a little tweak to my crossovers, but it is out of the circuit now. I seriously doubt one can hear any difference. ( no one has proved to my ears a $5000 DAC sounds any better either) Two great little companies. Both prove good engineering beats fancy part numbers and features we can't use. ( Who has 24 bit 192K CDs?) For the really cheap, the Fully configured Asgard has jumped in price, Today, I would buy the JDS pair.