Suggestions for dac/pre with eq.

[Grumple]

Good day all. I'm looking for suggestions for a dac/pre amp combination. Preferably in one box to save space and plug sockets. Also must have an eq function, preferably either presets or manually adjustable. I'm not especially interested in using software. Final must is at least one analogue input. This is critical, I use a R2R and TT and my CD player, all via rca. (I want to eq those sources as well as any PC audio.) Budget less than £500. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Purité Audio]

Secondhand RME ADI-Pro, there might be something else, perhaps in the pro market.
Keith

 

[Grumple]

Secondhand RME ADI-Pro, there might be something else, perhaps in the pro market.

Nice, very far outside my budget unfortunately. Haven't seen many available second hand either. I guess people really like them and keep hold of them! Thank you

 

[Grumple]

Nice, very far outside my budget unfortunately. Haven't seen many available second hand either. I guess people really like them and keep hold of them! Thank you

 

[Bob-23]

Good day all. I'm looking for suggestions for a dac/pre amp combination. Preferably in one box to save space and plug sockets. Also must have an eq function, preferably either presets or manually adjustable. I'm not especially interested in using software. Final must is at least one analogue input. This is critical, I use a R2R and TT and my CD player, all via rca. (I want to eq those sources as well as any PC audio.) Budget less than £500. Any help is greatly appreciated.

You may consider narrowing your search to an amp with a 'simple' tone control - which should be easier to find.

It was Amir's recent review of the Fidelio X2Hr - in which he noticed a drastic loss of soundstage after digitally eq'ing the X2Hr - which made me reconsider my methods of eq'ing my phones. I had previously used digital EQ (PulseEffects) and analog EQ. (I've got two shelving Baxandall EQs/Tone controls with just a variable high shelf and a variable low shelf.)

To cut it short: I've switched off the digital EQ, and now I use only the Baxandall EQ/Tone Controls: It may be the 'most natural' intervention in the frequency response as it lowers (or boosts) a whole region (treble/bass) at the same amount.

Slight treble reductions of my HD600 or K702 or X2HR are sufficient. With the now famous Sony MDR-ZX110 ( I got it after Amir's review, and, indeed, midrange/vocals are great, great phones for the price) a slight treble boost is sufficient. Character of the phones is largely maintained (e.g. the soundstage of the X2Hr!).

A short research, maybe something like that:

Syba Sonic SD-DAC63106 Stereo 3 Band Tone Control Pre-amp and Headphone Amplifier
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Syba-SD-DAC63106-Control-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00TYYMHQS

Can't say anything about the quality, 4 opamps is ok, such a device is not 'rocket science', there shouldn't be that much that can be done wrong - but who knows. The knobs seem to be bad, but should be replaceable by better ones (?). Maybe any member has got it, there seems to be a video.

I'd try it out - and send it back, if your not satisfied.

 

[noobie1]

I have a Creative Labs X7 which has tone control and analog input. It's about $350 in the U.S. but is ugly. The DAC seems transparent.

 

[Grumple]

Thanks for the suggestions. The Creative Labs X7 is rather hilariously ugly, because I'm a bit of a tart that could be a deal breaker. The previously mentioned RME ADI is available, an early version, for about £560. I could be tempted by that.

It's a shame the Schiit Loki is never available because I could happily give up the DAC requirement. Tone controls is really what I'm after. I'll give the Syba a look, I had a good old google session over the weekend and didn't find that...probably speaks to my googling ability more than anything else. What would be perfect would be something tested by Amir!

 

[abdo123]

MiniDSP 2*4 HD.

 

[Grumple]

MiniDSP 2*4 HD.

Am I right in thinking that to change the eq or filters the mini dsp would need to be accessed through the PC, laptop etc? I.e. there are no such controls externally.

 

[abdo123]

Am I right in thinking that to change the eq or filters the mini dsp would need to be accessed through the PC, laptop etc? I.e. there are no such controls externally.

DSP is in the digital domain, there would never be controls externally like a knob.

If you mean a remote control, it can store up to 4 configurations that you can scroll between, also volume control via the remote control.

 

[Grumple]

DSP is in the digital domain, there would never be controls externally like a knob.

If you mean a remote control, it can store up to 4 configurations that you can scroll between, also volume control via the remote control.

Thanks.

I understand that dsp is digital and therefore there would be no knobs to twiddle. Seems a shame that the only way to change the settings is to fire up the computer and create more presets. Some kind of external human-machine interface would be infinitely preferable. For me at least.

 

[abdo123]

Thanks.

I understand that dsp is digital and therefore there would be no knobs to twiddle. Seems a shame that the only way to change the settings is to fire up the computer and create more presets. Some kind of external human-machine interface would be infinitely preferable. For me at least.

I mean you can always buy DJ equipments and play mixer while you're playing stuff. but other than that you will not find what you're looking for.

 

[Grumple]

I mean you can always buy DJ equipments and play mixer while you're playing stuff. but other than that you will not find what you're looking for.

There seems to be some confusion about what you think I'm after. There seem to be an abundance of DACs with the ability to enter a menu system and change the levels of various frequencies. They just don't have analogue inputs. I'm just after that ability. Forget the knobs.

 

[Grumple]

Further to the above. The mini dsp seems to be almost perfect, however I doubt 4 presets would satisfy me. And I can't be doing with firing up the laptop when I fancy a bit more bass on a record or tape. Shame it doesn't have a graphical user interface to perform said functions.

 

[abdo123]

There seems to be some confusion about what you think I'm after. There seem to be an abundance of DACs with the ability to enter a menu system and change the levels of various frequencies. They just don't have analogue inputs. I'm just after that ability. Forget the knobs.

Incase you have no use for the USB input, you can attach a wifi dongle to it so you could control the MiniDSP wirelessly. (perhaps via an app on your phone, but i'm not sure).

But I really thought when you meant EQ, that you meant Room correction that you would leave constant forever (or at least 4 presets would be enough), not something like a Graphical EQ where you would adjust frequently.

For that I would either get a tone board (Analog Signal processing) or the RME ADI-Pro.

My advice is to try to manage with the included 4 presets.

 

[Grumple]

Nearly all of my listening is very near field (maybe 2 or 3 feet) or headphone so room correction would probably be of limited value.

Best get saving for the RME ADI Pro!

Thanks for the suggestions and taking the time to respond.

 

[Djsedaw]

How about a nice graphic equalizer?

 

[Front Row]

Thanks for the suggestions. The Creative Labs X7 is rather hilariously ugly, because I'm a bit of a tart that could be a deal breaker. The previously mentioned RME ADI is available, an early version, for about £560. I could be tempted by that.

It's a shame the Schiit Loki is never available because I could happily give up the DAC requirement. Tone controls is really what I'm after. I'll give the Syba a look, I had a good old google session over the weekend and didn't find that...probably speaks to my googling ability more than anything else. What would be perfect would be something tested by Amir!

Three cheers for tone controls.

 

[MorningDew]

This DAC/amp from monoprice does what you’re looking for. Reviewed here...
https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...ements-of-monoprice-thx-desktop-dac-amp.7483/

 

[Geert]

One year later and the Monolith THX 788 and MiniDSP HA-DSP are discontinued. All that's left is the expensive RME. Looks like manufacturers assume most people use a software eq solution and there's no market for a standalone device. Unfortunate if you need to connect a headphone to another source than a PC or mobile device.

Maybe I should try to DIY a headphone output in a guitar stomp box.