Hello, I just joined, primarily for the audiophile products. Looking at purchasing the NHT C3 speakers for our new living room. Space is about 15 feet wide by 33 long and they will fire long ways. Space is just for general listening, music room with all equipment is downstairs, so hoping they will fill it with sound nicely. Cheers.
Mar 18, 2024
So I'm curious if you have any thoughts between the two?
I don't want to hate too much on a mobile amp at that price bracket, there is only so much that could be done. But just because the GSX and Blue Hawaii are considered to be top end amplifiers (well, before you get into the hyper expensive things like SETs) doesn't mean everything they put out regardless of price is going to be superior.
I would go with a iDSD Black Label. It's significantly more expensive and definitely not as mobile, but it's on a different level in terms of performance. A real output stage, hardware dual differential balanced, native DSD512 support, high end parts, etc. Keeping in line with the price category, the Dragonfly Red with Jitterbug does surprisingly well WITH easy-to-drive headphones like the TH-X00.
Unfortunately, a "basic" level of understanding of electricity will lead you to only a basic level of music enjoyment -- as, I'm sure you know, we don't listen to electrical currents. Just admit that it's nothing but a crutch for class warfare.
Btw I don't need a battery-powered DAC/amp. I didn't realize until later that the Pico is a battery-powered device.
A: NOTHING , because it's an entire diverse CLASS of products! Hundreds of different designs spanning at least three decades! So WHY are you insisting on some arbitrary factor, especially one that doesn't actually have to do with the D to A conversion?
In the end you're only limiting yourself though, by closing your mind to a significant fraction of the available gear, just because it didn't pass your arbitrary little test.
After all, everyone that knows anything knows the best way to choose a DAC is to buy the smallest & cheapest one! A DAC chip isn't that large and goes for less than $20 (seriously ask Sabre or ESS), so anything bigger than a thumb drive is probably filled with fancy looking tubes and dips that don't even do anything but heat up, just to make tourists pay extra for junk they don't need.
BTW, ifi black label is not in this price range. Pico DAC/amp is $249, while ifi is $549. That's more than twice the price of the pico DAC/amp and more that twice the size also haha.
I have some advice for you. Instead of shitting all over products with low cost components, why not have a listen first then judge cos people like me are just not willing to lug around a ifi for a portable DAC/amp and also not willing to pay over 400 for a portable DAC/amp.
BTW is the oppo HA-2 se shit also in terms of components? Legit question.
Looking for a mobil/portable solut for the Senns.