- Thread Starter
- #1,121
Haven't measured it yet.
There are people out there who have fun seeking "synergy" between amplifiers/dacs and headphones. It is likely that this is a mix of placebo effect and/or a genuine preference for noise and distortion. The Atom seems to have all of the clean power needed for most headphone enthusiasts. I can see people (including myself) wanting something this clean, but with more power, and with old school hifi build quality. I would pay for that.
set the Atom to low gain and maximum volume and use the other amp's volume control to adjust.
Here you go:
I went from
O2 -> Schitt Mjolnir 2 -> THX 789 -> Atom
ODAC -> DacMagic Plus -> Khadas Tone Board
What's the consensus on the Grace SDAC vs Khadas Tone Board?
One has an enclosure and the other one does not ?
Here the case for KTB, available on preorder:One has an enclosure and the other one does not ?
To have one sent to the U.S., seems like the shipping cost will be more than the actual case, or am I wrong?Here the case for KTB, available on preorder:
https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/alum...minum-case-for-khadas-tone-board-p-13626.html
I believe there's some 3d designs which you can get made with whichever 3d printing service is cheapestTo have one sent to the U.S., seems like the shipping cost will be more than the actual case, or am I wrong?
I don't have the equipment, or skills to make my own enclosure, that's why I don't own the Tone Board. Anyone in the States making and selling quality cases ?? Never noticed anyone actually selling them.
Is it a myth or actually true? People in my local group aren't exactly fond of technical aspects or measurement as far as i know , because usually when there is a discussion of an amplifier they don't really bring out the measurements , unlike you guys here!
I found hd800s sounds better than utopia better than hd800 and Stellia sounds little bit better than hd800s.This is myth - at least for the Focal Utopia. The requirements to power the Utopia are relatively miniscule for a headphone of its calibre. I have no problem powering them from an O2/ODAC - which for all intents and purposes performs more than sufficient. Spend a tiny bit more and you have yourself a JDS Labs Atom and EL DAC, which probably won't sound any better.
Really, by the time you have the money to buy the Utopia, like an expensive car, it's hard to resist the bias to start adding bells and whistles. But they aren't needed. Some really want to believe in magic, and feel important by owning esoteric objects that have unworldly properties.
@solderdude has said it well. Though, I personally found the Utopia performed at a level above the HD800, I very much respect his measurements and approach. Testing with a range of music, but also with high quality binaural environment recordings, the Utopia sounded more realistic, holographic and appeared to have better transient detail. Big caveat though, I did not ever bother messing with EQ with my HD800 (I actually enjoyed its presentation as is). I find the Utopia as close to perfection as I've heard with a dynamic driver headphone, though perhaps an EQ'd HD800 can match it. Part of the attraction, was having a headphone that out-of-the-box performed so well while remaining efficient enough I could listen to it off an iPhone and still use it with an integrated amp. Worth the extra $$$. I know a few think the top end is a bit bright, but I don't get that... not with finely recorded music. My HD540 is brighter ( still a gem though!).
Yes sure. But I don't consider hd800 and hd800s to be any close. Utopia is probably sitting in between the two in some ways than different.Tastes and preferences differ perhaps ?
What's 'better' for person A may be 'worse' for person B.