JDS Labs Element IV DAC & HP Amp with EQ Review

[jseaber]

level audio as of today

that surely makes a lot of confidence

Level Audio is up--not sure what happened that day. Andi submitted an order yesterday.

iPhone, most likely no: iOS, in its current form, doesn't expose USB/HID communications to iOS app. There are a few non-trivial workarounds, but this is an Apple restriction (USB bi-directional communication is a potential "backdoor" security threat); not much JDS Labs can do about it. Anything else—Android, Linux, MacOS—is possible.

Actually, Core for iOS is in TestFlight now! We're reworking the UI and will submit to the App Store this month. Yes, it required a new communication protocol.

 

[CedarX]

Yes, it required a new communication protocol.

Midi “workaround”, similar to RME iOS app?

 

[jseaber]

Midi “workaround”, similar to RME iOS app?

Yes, MIDI SysEx for iOS communication. The same USB CDC (serial) method will remain used for all other platforms.

 

[Mocie]

@jseaber are you guys still working on the Room streamer GS teased in a vid a few months back? Super excited for anything new from you guys.

 

[jseaber]

@jseaber are you guys still working on the Room streamer GS teased in a vid a few months back? Super excited for anything new from you guys.

GS followed up last month on his Roon streamer project. Our contributions are minimal (USB galvanic isolation and general manufacturing advice). GS is spearheading the design and development. No idea on ETA!

 

[maehld]

i just noticed that the iOS App is now in the App Store. I just have the Element 4 since friday. What a coincidence.

 

[jseaber]

i just noticed that the iOS App is now in the App Store. I just have the Element 4 since friday. What a coincidence.

Apple approved at 11pm on Friday night!

JDS Labs Core DSP App - App Store

Download JDS Labs Core DSP by JDS Labs on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more apps like JDS Labs Core DSP.

apps.apple.com

We'll have a blog post and announcement up by tomorrow.

 

[Bren Derlin]

Just ordered the Element IV to pair with my Noire X. Should be here Thursday, or Friday at the latest. Can't wait to get this amp on my desk.

 

[Chanur]

I just ordered one of these. It has a ton of voltage as you can see in the review and will drive high impedance headphones well. Combine with PEQ and American made and it's a no brainer. Returning my Fiio .

 

[Chanur]

It arrived. Its freaking awesome. Couldn't be happier. I also uploaded @amirm Sennheiser HD598 EQ info and gave him and ASR credit for it. So if you have a pair its there in the Core app now.

 

[Chanur]

Also ordered an Atom 2 stack for the bedroom. Got here today and even came engraved. How ever I'm an idiot and got the amp engraved instead of the DAC! Oh well.

 

[hamsta007]

I don't know if I'm dellusional or what but to I have old ifi ZenDAC v1 and it sounds better to me for some reason than the Element 4

 

[staticV3]

I don't know if I'm dellusional or what but to I have old ifi ZenDAC v1 and it sounds better to me for some reason than the Element 4

Compare the two blind and level-matched and you won't be able to tell them apart

 

[adc]

I flipped through the last few pages of this (now quite durable!) thread for the first time in, oh, a year and a half; and also perused the product info at the JDS page, but I don't see an obvious answer to this question: all the new interfaces since release are nice, but do they still require an internet connection in order to configure the E-IV?

 

[Chanur]

I flipped through the last few pages of this (now quite durable!) thread for the first time in, oh, a year and a half; and also perused the product info at the JDS page, but I don't see an obvious answer to this question: all the new interfaces since release are nice, but do they still require an internet connection in order to configure the E-IV?

The software is on the computer. How ever it's my understanding the PEQ presets can be loaded to your Element and then you can toggle through them even if not connected.

 

[adc]

The software is on the computer.

Unfortunately, that doesn't tell me whether it's actually a local program or just another interface to a required internet ("cloud") service, as most "apps" are.

 

[Chanur]

Unfortunately, that doesn't tell me whether it's actually a local program or just another interface to a required internet ("cloud") service, as most "apps" are.

I think the PEQ part is run in the software on your computer. The profiles you can import im not sure about. If it wasn't so late I'd test it.

 

[AVKS]

Unfortunately, that doesn't tell me whether it's actually a local program or just another interface to a required internet ("cloud") service, as most "apps" are.

The manual probably has the information you're looking for/gets you started in the right direction.

https://jdslabs.com/media/support/downloads/active-products/2025-01-02.17-36-36.el4_instructions_en.pdf

 

[somebodyelse]

Unfortunately, that doesn't tell me whether it's actually a local program or just another interface to a required internet ("cloud") service, as most "apps" are.

It's in that grey area where apps that run in the browser live if you go to https://core.jdslabs.com/ - the code is delivered by the server but runs in the local browser. I think the 'native' versions at https://core.jdslabs.com/download-native-app bundle it and use a local web view for Android and iPhone, or Electron for desktop OSs. Electron of course means updates are bigger because you're essentially getting most of Chrome as well as the content when you update. The 'community' shared EQ settings and Squiglink integration of course have to connect to an external server.