JDS The Element views?

[XDXD_4U3IF1P]

JDS Labs the Element

I'm seriously thinking of this for my Fostex T50RP headphones.

I am not concerned with price to performance so much, I want to buy this but was aiming to get some views on people who have or had one before I hit the go button!

My only use case is PC FPS game and want as good as I can get directional sound and detailed quality audio.

Currently have no external DAC, but I have a decent motherboard with no interference I can hear, and I use a JDS O2 amp which is nice but a little underpowered for the headphones.

 

Cheers!

[Reckless95]

Isn't the Element is just the O2 stack? 

[XDXD_4U3IF1P]

1 hour ago, Reckless95 said:

Isn't the Element is just the O2 stack? 

I think it's the same DAC chip but a different (more powerful) amp.

[xtroria]

Not worth it. Schiit stack is better for the price

[an actual squirrel]

The amp section is really good, but I'm worried about the dac. They do sell the amp separately, as the el amp.

[XDXD_4U3IF1P]

3 hours ago, xtroria said:

Not worth it. Schiit stack is better for the price

fair enough, thats certainly an option.

Can you give some reasons why it's better, putting aside price? Better DAC, better Amp etc?

[XDXD_4U3IF1P]

3 hours ago, an actual squirrel said:

The amp section is really good, but I'm worried about the dac. They do sell the amp separately, as the el amp.

ok understood, what worries you about the DAC please?

[an actual squirrel]

Well, it's apparently an odac rev b, which will probably be fine, but is not optimal. I tend to recommend the topping d30 over it for example.

[Guest]

17 hours ago, ShoshinUK said:

I think it's the same DAC chip but a different (more powerful) amp.

...and don’t forget that big ass pot (horizontal volume knob). It might be even smoother turning than the Schiit Fulla2. Here’s a 2015 video, cyo-hosted by Tekthing & Tested.

11 hours ago, xtroria said:

Not worth it. Schiit stack is better for the price

I agree with @xtroria about the price. When I was shopping around for a “better” DAC/headphone amp, I saw right away that the JDS Labs. Element was significantly more expensive than the Modi/Magni rig I eventually purchased (I don’t think it was obscenely so... the JDS design was visually appealing & I was impressed by their prompt customer service replies to my inquiries). I chose Schiit Audio because I like my toys to be modular (and it was cheaper).

10 hours ago, an actual squirrel said:

The amp section is really good, but I'm worried about the dac. They do sell the amp separately, as the el amp.

@an actual squirrel ‘s comment was one of the reasons I went the Modi Multibit route. It’s (DAC) is in a separate housing than the powerful headphone amplifier (Magni). I don’t know much about the El Amp; however, it could be an interesting purchase.

 

I got hung up on the headphone amplification/drivability paradigm. I wanted an amp that would drive pretty much anything I could plug into it (that’s <$1000 CDN). @ShoshinUK , you have an interesting opportunity here. It might come right down to personal preference, eh. I have no regrets pouring my beer money into the Schiit Audio ecosystem (the company’s a disrupter in the field, assemble their devices north of Los Angeles, they do direct sale, and I’ve had favourable experiences with their customer service).  The JDS Labs product line look sharp & seem to have all the I/O ports one needs for home. Oh, @ShoshinUK , you might want to compare which company gives you faster and more prompt & hastle-free customer service across the pond (Europe).  I’d love to suggest some Massdrop options; however, their logistics & shipping options still need some development.

 

Cheers from mosquito country!