amp+dac, Is it worth it?

[hodge22]

Hey Guys and Girls,

I've been looking at a jds labs o2 + odac combo unit (http://www.jdslabs.com/products/48/o2-odac-combo/).

My biggest question however is quite simply. Is it worth it?? I love great sounding audio but I'm not sure if the $300 price tag will be worth the difference it makes to my overall listening experience.
I myself have never used a dac or amp so anybody with experience would you please help me decide if I will notice a big difference to my audio or not.

Thanks heaps in advance,
Hodge22
 

[Bloodyvalley]

Fuck no. If you have a recent motherboard, there is nothing to worry about. Spend that money elsewhere, or simply save it.

[dizmo]

If you scour eBay long enough you can find some really great deals on mint condition equipment. Also check out some audio forums. They have excellent prices on slightly used gear.

I picked up a NuForce Icon 2 last week for $90. Looks brand new, functions flawlessly. It definitely pushes the headphones more, however I was also using it on a laptop so it didn't have the greatest output to begin with.

[Goldilock]

it will hardly make difference if you listen to 192kbps mp3, 320kbps mp3 maybe.

 

for that money I'd better spend it on better speaker with some custom cable and interconnect or better headphone if I have good modern motherboard.l

[ForsakenLive]

It all depends on what are you powering and if you are aiming at a specific audio level of quality. It needs a very very good pair of headphones to make such expensive Amp+Dacs be worth it.

What headphones are you using right now?

[SSL]

If your headphones and music don't need it then no.

[SnypeUXD]

People who ask about getting a DAC/amp need to know what they're looking for and their use purposes. If you have shitty headphones, this DAC ain't gonna do shit. Listening to music is composed of three things, the source, the player, and the output. If you have a pair of HD650s and are listening to 192 Kb/s music of your motherboard, its not gonna sound as good as listening to proper 320 or even lossless flies off a proper amp/DAC. No way, most people on this subforum have very little idea of what Hi-Fi actually is. You want to have a set up that is balanced, even the best headphones and amp/DAC can't make shitty audio files sound good, in fact, they would probably make them sound worse as you would be able to hear all the bad parts of the song, as well as the overall quality would not make it an enjoyable experience. If you're just looking for a simple amp/DAC combo, the Fiio E07k is an excellent value for money. Not only does it work as a USB DAC, but it also doubles as a portable amp for your phone or music player, and it retails for about $70 CDN. Though honestly, without a good pair of headphones, the difference on your computer would be minimal.

[SSL]

People who ask about getting a DAC/amp need to know what they're looking for and their use purposes. If you have shitty headphones, this DAC ain't gonna do shit. Listening to music is composed of three things, the source, the player, and the output. If you have a pair of HD650s and are listening to 192 Kb/s music of your motherboard, its not gonna sound as good as listening to proper 320 or even lossless flies off a proper amp/DAC. No way, most people on this subforum have very little idea of what Hi-Fi actually is. You want to have a set up that is balanced, even the best headphones and amp/DAC can't make shitty audio files sound good, in fact, they would probably make them sound worse as you would be able to hear all the bad parts of the song, as well as the overall quality would not make it an enjoyable experience. If you're just looking for a simple amp/DAC combo, the Fiio E07k is an excellent value for money. Not only does it work as a USB DAC, but it also doubles as a portable amp for your phone or music player, and it retails for about $70 CDN. Though honestly, without a good pair of headphones, the difference on your computer would be minimal.

 

The quality of the recording and mastering is more important than the bitrate, which is enough at 320kbps mp3.

[SnypeUXD]

The quality of the recording and mastering is more important than the bitrate, which is enough at 320kbps mp3.

Honestly true, but at the lower end of listening, it starts with getting used to higher bit rates, and then looking for those well mastered files. Which unfortunately do not exist for every artist, as a person who listens to a lot of contemporary rock and indie rock, I can tell you right now that bar Mumford & Sons there are few bands which actually have someone to make sure the mastering is up to snuff. In the end, when your set up is still <800-1000$. Having a good player/DAC and headphones is more important.

[SSL]

Honestly true, but at the lower end of listening, it starts with getting used to higher bit rates, and then looking for those well mastered files. Which unfortunately do not exist for every artist, as a person who listens to a lot of contemporary rock and indie rock, I can tell you right now that bar Mumford & Sons there are few bands which actually have someone to make sure the mastering is up to snuff. In the end, when your set up is still <800-1000$. Having a good player/DAC and headphones is more important.

 

No, it isn't. A mediocre recording will not sound better over high-end gear. Possibly worse as imperfections will be brought to the fore. First priority should be to get good music, followed by good headphones. Buy hey, if you hate money be my guest.

[hodge22]

Ok thanks for all the replies,

I'm currently using a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M50's and I listen to a mix of 320kbps mp3's and some 24bit flacs. That being said, do you think it would be worth it or not?

Thanks heaps,

Hodge22

[creatip123]

Ok thanks for all the replies,

I'm currently using a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M50's and I listen to a mix of 320kbps mp3's and some 24bit flacs. That being said, do you think it would be worth it or not?

Thanks heaps,

Hodge22

 

Most probably not, with that headphone. It's not a 'shitty down the drain' headphone, but I don't think it's sensitive enough to benefit from a separate DAC/amp. Well, not unless your current audio got problems, like hisses or buzzes or not loud enough.

 

With $300 ready to spend, I'd say better upgrade your headphone. Headphone upgrade would yield biggest margin of difference

[SnypeUXD]

No, it isn't. A mediocre recording will not sound better over high-end gear. Possibly worse as imperfections will be brought to the fore. First priority should be to get good music, followed by good headphones. Buy hey, if you hate money be my guest.

Well if the point is to improve your overall sound set up, why can't all three be a thing, and again, a lot of music is not well mastered, but the recording can still be of high quality, like I stated in my first comment, Listening to music has three parts, the source, the DAC/player, and the speakers/headphones. All three should be equal. And if you're going from shitty walmart brand even up to something like urbanears, having high quality music won't make that much of a difference. The faults of bad music might be more noticeable but in the end its reliant on the person.

[Silent_Xaxal]

Unless you get something like the HD600, no need.

[ShearMe]

Unless you get something like the HD600, no need.

 

mfw

[SSL]

Well if the point is to improve your overall sound set up, why can't all three be a thing, and again, a lot of music is not well mastered, but the recording can still be of high quality, like I stated in my first comment, Listening to music has three parts, the source, the DAC/player, and the speakers/headphones. All three should be equal. And if you're going from shitty walmart brand even up to something like urbanears, having high quality music won't make that much of a difference. The faults of bad music might be more noticeable but in the end its reliant on the person.

 

Thank you for explaining this to my tiny brain, I might not have figured it out otherwise.

[SnypeUXD]

Thank you for explaining this to my tiny brain, I might not have figured it out otherwise.

You're welcome.

[EmoRarity]

Thank you for explaining this to my tiny brain, I might not have figured it out otherwise.

Yeah faggot, you need to touch up on your real audio. 

[SSL]

Yeah faggot, you need to touch up on your real audio. 

 

Clearly.