JDS Labs Element IV DAC & HP Amp with EQ Review

[JimmyBuckets]

FYI Firmware 1.31 is out...

 

[TRDK]

Firemware 1.4.1 has been launched

 

[JimmyBuckets]

I designed this for the EL4. Design is up on Printables.com if you have a printer. Also Core for Android is available on the Play store.

 

[Blake Klondike]

I designed this for the EL4. Design is up on Printables.com if you have a printer. Also Core for Android is available on the Play store.

this is so cool! is the EL4 a combination dac/headamp? how does core for android fit into this? is the thing you designed just a stand for both the JDS and the phone, set up in such a way that cables can be easily connected? this is a really interesting direction to go in, vs what i have been looking to do, which is a stand-alone bedside unit that sidesteps the phone. man, we sure can make listening to music complicated, huh?

 

[Blake Klondike]

Firemware 1.4.1 has been launched

does it add any functionality?

 

[JimmyBuckets]

does it add any functionality?

Yes

JDS Labs Blog – Audio True to Sound

blog.jdslabs.com

 

[JimmyBuckets]

this is so cool! is the EL4 a combination dac/headamp? how does core for android fit into this? is the thing you designed just a stand for both the JDS and the phone, set up in such a way that cables can be easily connected? this is a really interesting direction to go in, vs what i have been looking to do, which is a stand-alone bedside unit that sidesteps the phone. man, we sure can make listening to music complicated, huh?

Hi thanks,
Basically it's just a stand, but I figured I can use my old phone as a "music server" and keep in there all the time. I didn't like the idea of always moving the USB cable around when handling the phone to change songs. I was nervous over time it would put strain on the EL4's USB input. This keeps everything stationary between the phone and the EL4. Oh and yes it is a DAC and AMP with on board DSP. The newest firmware lets you store 10 (I think) pre sets for EQ. That is where Core comes in. This is a visual interface to make any changes to the settings of the EL4. You can do everything from the onboard screen but Core makes it quick and easy. Until yesterday Core was desktop only. So now with the phone, stand, and EL4 I don't need anything else for full functionality. The holes in the base of the stand line up with the feet on EL4 so it stays put pretty well on the base. I put plenty of pass though places for the USB cables. In my pics you can see on one side I wrapped up the extra cable around the pass though to keep it tide. I am really enjoying the set up.

 

[lumin8]

Firmware 1.5.0 is out which adds customizable loudness compensation support.

This puts it on near perfect feature parity with the RME ADI 2 for half the price...

 

[pollock0424]

Firmware 1.5.0 is out which adds customizable loudness compensation support.

This puts it on near perfect feature parity with the RME ADI 2 for half the price...

You mean the RME ADI 2 DAC ? ADI 2 Pro FS is also an ADC. Does JDS do ADC@DSD rates and allow all possible customization filters for the ADC ?

 

[JimmyBuckets]

You mean the RME ADI 2 DAC ? ADI 2 Pro FS is also an ADC. Does JDS do ADC@DSD rates and allow all possible customization filters for the ADC ?

The EL4 is only a DAC.

 

[unpluggged]

RME ADI 2

The ADI-2 has no such features whatsoever (no DSP at all) and has been discontinued for several years, having been replaced with the ADI-2 FS (that also has no DSP and cannot be compared here).

 

[pollock0424]

The ADI-2 has no such features whatsoever (no DSP at all) and has been discontinued for several years, having been replaced with the ADI-2 FS (that also has no DSP and cannot be compared here).

Not even PEQ ? I thought that PEQ is implemented with DSP.

 

[unpluggged]

Not even PEQ ?

Not "even" PEQ, nor digital volume, balance, dim, B/T, dynamic loudness, stereo width, crossfeed, deemphasis, M/S processing, nothing. Not even a USB interface.

ADI-2 - RME Audio Interfaces | Format Converters | Preamps | Network Audio & MADI Solutions

RME Audio Professional Live, Studio, Recording and Broadcast Solutions. Unrivalled Quality, Performance & Stability MADI Interfaces, Converters & Preamps.

rme-audio.de

ADI-2 FS - RME Audio Interfaces | Format Converters | Preamps | Network Audio & MADI Solutions

RME Audio Professional Live, Studio, Recording and Broadcast Solutions. Unrivalled Quality, Performance & Stability MADI Interfaces, Converters & Preamps.

rme-audio.de

 

[JimmyBuckets]

I think the implied statement was that the current RME DAC ADI 2 FS is very comparable for music listening with the JDS EL4 now. I am pretty sure there isn't anyone comparing it to out of production or full-blown interfaces.

 

[unpluggged]

I think the implied statement was that the current RME DAC ADI 2 FS

My implied statement was that the RME ADI-2 DAC FS (of which there are multiple revisions with the same feature set using different BOM, in particular DAC chips and FPGA chips), the RME ADI-2 and the RME ADI-2 FS are three distinct devices that are not to be confused with each other In this context, one should also distinguish the ADI-2 Pro [AE], the ADI-2 Pro FS, the ADI-2 Pro FS R [BE], and the ADI-2/4 Pro SE.

 

[TRDK]

Firemware 1.5 has been launched

 

[oratory1990]

My implied statement was that the RME ADI-2 DAC FS (of which there are multiple revisions with the same feature set using different BOM, in particular DAC chips and FPGA chips), the RME ADI-2 and the RME ADI-2 FS are three distinct devices that are not to be confused with each other In this context, one should also distinguish the ADI-2 Pro [AE], the ADI-2 Pro FS, the ADI-2 Pro FS R [BE], and the ADI-2/4 Pro SE.

All the ADI-2 versions have a PEQ though (5 bands + 2 shelving filters)

 

[unpluggged]

All the ADI-2 versions have a PEQ though (5 bands + 2 shelving filters)

The ADI-2 and the ADI-2 FS do not feature a DSP and so no PEQ, and have little in common with the rest of the ADI-2 lineup, as I pointed out in the previous post In fact, I think it's not a good choice for devices that are so vastly different in features to have such similar names, and this constantly leads to confusion, as we can see here.

It was much less confusing when there were only two models, the basic ADI-2 and the advanced, DSP-based ADI-2 Pro. Since then, this family expanded significantly, and a DAC-only model was added, so people often overlook the existence of the ADI-2 and ADI-2 FS models, often thinking that the "DAC" part in the ADI-2 DAC FS is not part of model's name, but just its description that can be ommitted. But it turns out to be not as simple

 

[Soria Moria]

Firmware 1.5.0 is out which adds customizable loudness compensation support.

This puts it on near perfect feature parity with the RME ADI 2 for half the price...

More satisfying knob too! Hopefully they add the ability for crossfeed. Then it would be the perfect dac/amp to me.

 

[Jimmy Steele]

This review is just what I was needing...it's been awhile since this review was done, but the measurements are still valid, showing us this product is well engineered. I think the Element IV has a very cool aesthetic factor (love that huge knob) and so am delighted it tests as good as it looks. Nice, one of those components that checks all the "sensory" boxes. Thank you, Amir. Your work is truly appreciated.