metaleggman
Member
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2020
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- 19
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Hi,
My current setup for my PC is an iFi Zen DAC (using iFi's power wart) connected via a Pentaconn to XLR cable to the Drop THX AAA 789 amp; the Zen DAC is set to fixed output. I was using the Drop XLR to 2.5mm balanced adapter at first, but I just got my Hart Audio cable set in, so I'm still using the XLR input mostly, just without as much danger to my poor 2.5mm ended cables. I use this setup for gaming, movies, etc., but in terms of music I'm either using Foobar w/ASIO or the Tidal desktop app. The cans I rotate through are the Hifiman HE4XX, Senny HD6XX, Senny HD280 Pro, and Shure SE535. For the former-most three, this setup gives ample power even on the lowest gain setting, but given the sensitivity of of the Shure IEMs, I'm at a bit of a conundrum: even using a SE interconnect and the lowest gain, the AAA amp is just too powerful. At best I have maybe 10 degrees of volume pot that's useable before it gets just far too loud.
Is there anything wrong with using the variable output of the Zen DAC, or using variable output to begin with? I believe the review/test posted on here only showed the results for the fixed output; I realize that generally the consensus is to use a fixed output when sending something to an amp (e.g. that's what I set my Bluesound Node to in my Hi-Fi setup), but I can't for the life of remember the exact reason.
If I were to use the variable output, is there a certain sweet spot that might be "best" in terms of the Zen DAC's volume knob? I'm currently testing it out with the iFi DAC pot at about 12 O'Clock, and it gives me a decent amount of range over the SE output from the THX amp.
The biggest reason I'm looking into this is because I like to juggle around cans, and it's just unsafe using the IEMs as I was (Fixed, completely balanced). One wrong move or slip up, and my ears will get blasted. So far my testing with the variable output is positive: sounds good! However, one of the things that attracted me to this forum is that people are generally attempting to discuss these audio issues in more objective ways, and not about how "danceable" the newest power cord is (though I'm sure we're welcome to dance if we want to). So if anyone can provide some concrete reasons against using the DAC with variable output, I'm all ears, as well as to any best practices when using a DAC with its variable output.
If anyone can think of other solutions I'm missing, let me know. From what I've read so far on this and other forums, some people use something like the iFi IEMatch, but I'm not sure that'll do much past what I can accomplish with the DAC's knob and is more for something like a DAP.
PS. The main reason I bought the iFi Zen DAC was mostly because it was the cheapest way to get MQA and balanced output from a DAC. It's obviously not without its faults, and I'll eventually update once more options come out to market (I look at stuff like the Mytek and while it seems impressive, I'm just not sure I'm that wedded to MQA, Tidal, or any particle DAC chip yet to spend that much lol). This is why I can't just lower the volume in Windows or the Tidal desktop app; to use MQA on Tidal, you have to use the DAC in exclusive mode and that sets it to a fixed output, in terms of what's over USB. In Foobar, I can just lower the output a few dB and it's a-ok. The Drop amp, though, is great so far; not really sure when I would need to upgrade it, unless it breaks or I want to burn a hole in my pocket.
My current setup for my PC is an iFi Zen DAC (using iFi's power wart) connected via a Pentaconn to XLR cable to the Drop THX AAA 789 amp; the Zen DAC is set to fixed output. I was using the Drop XLR to 2.5mm balanced adapter at first, but I just got my Hart Audio cable set in, so I'm still using the XLR input mostly, just without as much danger to my poor 2.5mm ended cables. I use this setup for gaming, movies, etc., but in terms of music I'm either using Foobar w/ASIO or the Tidal desktop app. The cans I rotate through are the Hifiman HE4XX, Senny HD6XX, Senny HD280 Pro, and Shure SE535. For the former-most three, this setup gives ample power even on the lowest gain setting, but given the sensitivity of of the Shure IEMs, I'm at a bit of a conundrum: even using a SE interconnect and the lowest gain, the AAA amp is just too powerful. At best I have maybe 10 degrees of volume pot that's useable before it gets just far too loud.
Is there anything wrong with using the variable output of the Zen DAC, or using variable output to begin with? I believe the review/test posted on here only showed the results for the fixed output; I realize that generally the consensus is to use a fixed output when sending something to an amp (e.g. that's what I set my Bluesound Node to in my Hi-Fi setup), but I can't for the life of remember the exact reason.
If I were to use the variable output, is there a certain sweet spot that might be "best" in terms of the Zen DAC's volume knob? I'm currently testing it out with the iFi DAC pot at about 12 O'Clock, and it gives me a decent amount of range over the SE output from the THX amp.
The biggest reason I'm looking into this is because I like to juggle around cans, and it's just unsafe using the IEMs as I was (Fixed, completely balanced). One wrong move or slip up, and my ears will get blasted. So far my testing with the variable output is positive: sounds good! However, one of the things that attracted me to this forum is that people are generally attempting to discuss these audio issues in more objective ways, and not about how "danceable" the newest power cord is (though I'm sure we're welcome to dance if we want to). So if anyone can provide some concrete reasons against using the DAC with variable output, I'm all ears, as well as to any best practices when using a DAC with its variable output.
If anyone can think of other solutions I'm missing, let me know. From what I've read so far on this and other forums, some people use something like the iFi IEMatch, but I'm not sure that'll do much past what I can accomplish with the DAC's knob and is more for something like a DAP.
PS. The main reason I bought the iFi Zen DAC was mostly because it was the cheapest way to get MQA and balanced output from a DAC. It's obviously not without its faults, and I'll eventually update once more options come out to market (I look at stuff like the Mytek and while it seems impressive, I'm just not sure I'm that wedded to MQA, Tidal, or any particle DAC chip yet to spend that much lol). This is why I can't just lower the volume in Windows or the Tidal desktop app; to use MQA on Tidal, you have to use the DAC in exclusive mode and that sets it to a fixed output, in terms of what's over USB. In Foobar, I can just lower the output a few dB and it's a-ok. The Drop amp, though, is great so far; not really sure when I would need to upgrade it, unless it breaks or I want to burn a hole in my pocket.