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JDS Labs Element IV DAC & HP Amp with EQ Review

Rate this DAC & HP Amp

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 3 1.3%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 14 6.1%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 62 27.1%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 150 65.5%

  • Total voters
    229
In general I feel this trend could use more push back from the market. After 20 years a DEQ2496 is still relevant and being sold today despite its totally outdated external configuration facilities. In my opinion this should be the norm. I mean it's easy to think react will stay around for some time but what did your IT landscape look like in 2005?
Next.js and HTMX are already the hot new React replacements
 
Correct, the “app” is hosted on JDS’ servers, runs in your browser on the PC (Windows/Apple/Linux/ChromeOS) connected to the DAC via USB. Those of us who run Linux are pleased.
Is it possible to use the app from an I-Phone? I mean conmecting the phone via us to the Element
 
Is it possible to use the app from an I-Phone? I mean conmecting the phone via us to the Element
Assuming you mean: connect the phone to the DAC with a USB cable, that's likely possible for audio but when we last looked at this in another thread recently it seemed the web app for adjusting EQ requires a desktop browser to function. I'd guess the web API that allow JavaScript code to access USB isn't in phone browsers. That's ok with me because connecting anything besides a charger my phone with a USB cable is a usability fail. It's a desktop DAC.
 
I think the confusion with the EQ app reflects the weird feature set of the product. It's a plain old DAC -- USB/TOSLINK to RCA/headphone audio converter -- with fancy EQ added. It doesn't have a network interface. It's not a streamer. I can understand that JDS didn't want to add network just for an EQ control app. If you're feeding USB or TOSLINK audio over a cable then for most users it's a desktop DAC and hence you can use a desktop app (running e.g. in a browser) to adjust EQ.
 
I'd guess the web API that allow JavaScript code to access USB isn't in phone browsers.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Web_Serial_API#browser_compatibility
Short version: it works with recent desktop versions of Chrome, Edge and Opera (and probably other chromium-based browsers) - assuming it hasn;t been disabled by corporate policy. There's a plugin for Firefox, but it won't be in the browser itself as Mozilla consider it too much of a security risk. I think that's why Apple haven't implemented it too. The discussion of the Mozilla position got a bit heated.
 
What you want to know about it?
Thank you for the review! I'm primarily interested in a device that can do PEQ for toslink so I guess I'd need to wait and see what they do, but in case, I'd like to know if the PEQ introduces any latency.

Thanks!
 
It is a very thin package so likely doesn't have room for an internal power supply. They could use USB-C but would not provide the power it has without lot of logic to extract higher profile PDs.
Understood. However, it would be a marginal increase in case size with an internal power supply. Wall warts simply take up way too much outlet space and are typically of lower quality.
 
So to get the measured performance requires another $69
You can actually get it for $49 if you opt for the 3d printed enclosure FYI
 
Add $49 for the Synapse. Otherwise, a bunch of people are going to face the same issue you had. Ground loops are BS.
 
I don't understand how this PEQ works. So you connect to a server via a web browser, but how do you adjust the sound in the DAC itself?
Once you are plugged into you PC via USB, you can open up the web browser and connect CORE to your Element Mk4. In the software it shows if you are connected or not to your Element. It's very simple to use and worked without a hitch for me.
 
As I understand it, you can only load one setting at a time. If you want to switch between different headphones with different settings, then as I understand it, you have to open the computer and load a new setting every time? Is it possible to load the settings locally on a computer as files, or must the user connect to their server and regenerate the same settings over and over again if you want to switch between different settings?

All DSP functionality is performed on the XMOS processor. Yes, you can import .txt files in Core by clicking the "Import" button. Try it out:
https://core.jdslabs.com/

More detail can be found on our blog:
Element IV stores all settings, as well as your active Headphone and Preamp DSP settings, onboard. This means your EQ settings follow your Element IV wherever you use it (i.e., multiple PCs, tablets, phones, or consoles). When you open Core on another system, it reads settings from the Element IV connected to your machine.

You may save unlimited EQ “presets” in your optional Core account, allowing you to toggle between headphone profiles with a single click.
 
So this mean I have to connect to a computer every time I want to switch from one setting to another?

Yes, what do you have in mind?

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Wall warts simply take up way too much outlet space and are typically of lower quality.
This appears to be an old-fashioned 50/60Hz transformer, as it supplies 17VAC to the DAC. It should last pretty much forever.
 
It will be interesting to see the results of the Synapse vs Topping. I imagine the new phono preamp will be up on the top of the list too (at least on the top of Santa's list...).

When is JDS going to do a stand alone EQ?
 
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