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The new best price to performace sweet spot Amp/DAC

JDS Labs has recently released their new Amp/DAC called "The Element" at the price of $349. This thing comes with rear mounted inputs (as well as 16v ac power and rca jacks, and power and gain toggle buttons), a single 6.35mm output jack in the front, a large volume knob on the top, and most importantly an output impedance of only 0.1 ohms (the O2 amp has an output impedance of 0.54 ohms).The element looks and functions significantly better than the O2 + ODAC at slightly higher price (~$40 more than the O2 + ODAC combo with rear mounted ac power and rca jacks, upgraded knob, and 6.35mm output jack on https://www.mayflowerelectronics.com/shop/mayflower-custom-products/desktop-objective2odac-with-rca/ at $309.95).

 

We could get The Element for less if we could manage to get it to drop on https://www.massdrop.com/vote/jds-labs-dacamps

 

Please show some support and vote on that massdrop poll link and let me know what you guys think of this new Amp/DAC.

 

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Audeze Earpad Mod for Beyerdynamic Heaphones Thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/780786

 

Custom T1 Pro Headset Thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/784337

                                                           http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/465632-beyerdynamic-custom-t1-pro-headset

 


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so, i'm gonna be an awesome pleb here, but i'm pretty sure that on-board audio is ideal price/performance wise :P

(except for the 500 ohm headphones that sound like a concert across the globe on on-board audio.)

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so, i'm gonna be an awesome pleb here, but i'm pretty sure that on-board audio is ideal price/performance wise :P

(except for the 500 ohm headphones that sound like a concert across the globe on on-board audio.)

All of my headsets have 600 ohms of resistance, other than one that has 2000 ohms. I guess that I should have clarified it as an ideal price/performance for an audiophile. Most audiophiles are more for having an external solution so the card does not pick up electrical noise from within their computers.

 

The accepted price to performance sweet spot was accepted by most to be the O2 + ODAC. Here's linus's video on it: 


 

Audeze Earpad Mod for Beyerdynamic Heaphones Thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/780786

 

Custom T1 Pro Headset Thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/784337

                                                           http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/465632-beyerdynamic-custom-t1-pro-headset

 


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At $350, it's hard to call this the best price to performance. The Schiit Uber stack is competitive at $300, the regular version even moreso at $200.

 

Most audiophiles are more for having an external solution so the card does not pick up electrical noise from within their computers.

 

Decent soundcards deal with this issue just fine.

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--

i'm well aware of - and actually considered an odac.

 

but my issue with external solutions is desk clutter.

my desk currently contains 2 laptops, a flight stick, a tablet, two phones, three keyboards, a phone dock, two monitors, a TV, a carefully placed IR sensor mouse to keep the TV working (dont even ask...) a gigabit switch, a surround sound and a tube amp.

 

i honestly wouldnt know where to fit in the DAC at this point, and would much rather prefer an internal card over it, that also provides an extra microphone and line in.

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At $350, it's hard to call this the best price to performance. The Schiit Uber stack is competitive at $300, the regular version even moreso at $300.

 

 

Decent soundcards deal with this issue just fine.

and good onboard shouldent have any issues

n0ah1897, on 05 Mar 2014 - 2:08 PM, said:  "Computers are like girls. It's whats in the inside that matters.  I don't know about you, but I like my girls like I like my cases. Just as beautiful on the inside as the outside."

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At $350, it's hard to call this the best price to performance. The Schiit Uber stack is competitive at $300, the regular version even moreso at $200.

 

 

Decent soundcards deal with this issue just fine.

Maybe, but the output impedance is still better on The Element.


 

Audeze Earpad Mod for Beyerdynamic Heaphones Thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/780786

 

Custom T1 Pro Headset Thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/784337

                                                           http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/465632-beyerdynamic-custom-t1-pro-headset

 


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Maybe, but the output impedance is still better on The Element.

 

By a negligable amount. Damping factor should be at least 8; no headphone has an impedance less than 16, let alone 4.

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By a negligable amount. Damping factor should be at least 8; no headphone has an impedance less than 16, let alone 4.

At least 8 is just a rule of thumb. If that was true then there would be no point in the existence of crazy $1500+ amps. Like the 0.03 ohms of output impedance on the Schiit Ragnarok.

 

And it wasn't a negligible amount, the element literally has half the output impedance of the schiit stack. Think multiplicatively not additively.


 

Audeze Earpad Mod for Beyerdynamic Heaphones Thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/780786

 

Custom T1 Pro Headset Thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/784337

                                                           http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/465632-beyerdynamic-custom-t1-pro-headset

 


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At least 8 is just a rule of thumb. If that was true then there would be no point in the existence of crazy $1500+ amps. Like the 0.03 ohms of output impedance on the Schiit Ragnarok.

 

And it wasn't a negligible amount, the element literally has half the output impedance of the schiit stack. Think multiplicatively not additively.

 

You're totally right. It's a night and day difference.

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That thing does look slim and sexy though.

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You're totally right. It's a night and day difference.

I know you're being sarcastic, but you are right it's not a night and day difference. It's just a fair bit of difference for being $49 more than the schiit stack, and that's as much credit as I'll give it.


 

Audeze Earpad Mod for Beyerdynamic Heaphones Thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/780786

 

Custom T1 Pro Headset Thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/784337

                                                           http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/465632-beyerdynamic-custom-t1-pro-headset

 


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If that was true then there would be no point in the existence of crazy $1500+ amps.

You just stumbled upon a nugget of truth.

In Placebo We Trust - Resident Obnoxious Objective Fangirl (R.O.O.F) - Your Eyes Cannot Hear
Haswell Overclocking Guide | Skylake Overclocking GuideCan my amp power my headphones?

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I know you're being sarcastic, but you are right it's not a night and day difference. It's just a fair bit of difference for being $49 more than the schiit stack, and that's as much credit as I'll give it.

 

$50 for 0.1 ohm less output impedance, I can dig. Definitely more useful than additional digital inputs and pre-amp output.

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Best price to performance? Not really. For almost half the price you can get the Hifimediy Sabre asynchronous DAC with O2 or Magi amp. 

 

It seems like you're paying a premium on the Element for the aesthetic.

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Best price to performance? Not really. For almost half the price you can get the Hifimediy Sabre asynchronous DAC with O2 or Magi amp. 

 

It seems like you're paying a premium on the Element for the aesthetic.

 

Yep. Which is fine, but not val-U.

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I might have gone for Schiit a while back if they did a drop of their Stack on massdrop, but the company said that they won't do any drops on any of their items ever (which is reasonable). So, at the time I just went for a drop on the JDS Labs O2 + ODAC. Hopefully, if we can get a drop on The Element then it could possibly be bought for a lower price than the Schiit Stack, and in that case it (depending on the price) could be a better value than Schiit.


 

Audeze Earpad Mod for Beyerdynamic Heaphones Thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/780786

 

Custom T1 Pro Headset Thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/784337

                                                           http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/465632-beyerdynamic-custom-t1-pro-headset

 


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I might have gone for Schiit a while back if they did a drop of their Stack on massdrop, but the company said that they won't do any drops on any of their items ever (which is reasonable). So, at the time I just went for a drop on the JDS Labs O2 + ODAC. Hopefully, if we can get a drop on The Element then it could possibly be bought for a lower price than the Schiit Stack, and in that case it (depending on the price) could be a better value than Schiit.

 

Potentially, if they manage to bring it down to $200.

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Potentially, if they manage to bring it down to $200.

Why $200? You think that it would have to cost that little to be able to compete against a $300 dollar Schiit Stack?


 

Audeze Earpad Mod for Beyerdynamic Heaphones Thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/780786

 

Custom T1 Pro Headset Thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/784337

                                                           http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/465632-beyerdynamic-custom-t1-pro-headset

 


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Why $200? You think that it would have to cost that little to be able to compete against a $300 dollar Schiit Stack?

 

You can get a Schiit stack for $200 as long as you don't require the features of the Uber versions.

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You can get a Schiit stack for $200 as long as you don't require the features of the Uber versions.

What do you get in the uber versions?


 

Audeze Earpad Mod for Beyerdynamic Heaphones Thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/780786

 

Custom T1 Pro Headset Thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/784337

                                                           http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/465632-beyerdynamic-custom-t1-pro-headset

 


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Why $200? You think that it would have to cost that little to be able to compete against a $300 dollar Schiit Stack?

 

The schiit stack is $200. The Uber version is $300 with more features and performance.

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The schiit stack is $200. The Uber version is $300 with more features and performance.

So overall where do you rank the schiit stack, schiit stack uber, and the element rank in terms of performance (not price or features) greatest to least greatest? Specs for the element are here if you need a reference: https://www.jdslabs.com/products/151/the-element/


 

Audeze Earpad Mod for Beyerdynamic Heaphones Thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/780786

 

Custom T1 Pro Headset Thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/784337

                                                           http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/465632-beyerdynamic-custom-t1-pro-headset

 


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So overall where do you rank the schiit stack, schiit stack uber, and the element rank in terms of performance (not price or features) greatest to least greatest? Specs for the element are here if you need a reference: https://www.jdslabs.com/products/151/the-element/

 

Schiit stack > Schiit stack uber > O2+ODAC > Element

 

The one caveat is that the Modi has slightly fewer effective bits, which means that it might degrade audio quality IF software volume control is used under certain circumstances. Realistically, however, most people won't be able to hear a difference. Anyone who claims to hear a difference will probably be spending more money on their gear anyway.

 

This is also offset by the fact that the Uber schiit stack has more digital inputs, pre-amp out, and better specs overall. The one major advantage of the Element is the big volume knob. That's enough to make me buy one.

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