Massdrop Liquid Carbon X + SDAC DAC/Amp Discussions | Drop

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Massdrop Liquid Carbon X + SDAC DAC/Amp

Audiophile

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macdane

Jan 24, 2018

I'm stuck on a weird detail. There's a 3-position input selector on the front; on the back there's a balanced input and two sets of RCAs labeled "SE Input" and "SE Pass." But then in the specs section it states that there are two inputs: 1xbalanced and 1xSE. So ... what does "SE Pass" stand for, and why does the input selector have 3 positions?

Jan 24, 2018

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ryarn

Jan 24, 2018

macdaneThe third input is presumably the dac (usb).
SE input is an unbalanced input, SE pass is passthrough for that input (so you can have another device work with the unamplified signal).

Jan 24, 2018

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macdane

Jan 24, 2018

ryarnThanks ryarn ... seems like some convoluted terminology to me, but looks like an interesting product.

Jan 24, 2018

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Motorrad

2898

Jan 25, 2018

macdanePretty standard terminology.

Jan 25, 2018

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macdane

Jan 25, 2018

MotorradSorry, I should've been more clear ... I inadvertently referred to terminology when what I really meant was that it seems like convoluted labeling.
The input selector gives you the choice between inputs I, II and III but the actual inputs on the back are labeled "SE Input," "Input Balanced" and "USB" with no indication of how these correspond to I, II or III. Does that make sense?
So I guess source selection is via trial and error? At least there aren't many to choose from.

Jan 25, 2018

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Motorrad

2898

Jan 25, 2018

macdaneThis labelling scheme does not concern me. At all.

Jan 25, 2018

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macdane

Jan 25, 2018

MotorradThat's cool. It doesn't concern me as a customer because I'm not in the market for a new amp. But it troubles me in general when I see designers in the industry doing things that don't make sense ... what may have been done on the *inside* that doesn't make sense? The input selector knob should offer a choice between Milk, Love and Triangle — it bears just as much relationship to the actual inputs as I, II, III but it's much more fun.

Jan 25, 2018

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CEE_TEE

3480

Jan 25, 2018

macdaneAh, good point. I'll have to include a little table in the User Manual...on the front I, II, III just looks better. (I may be biased though, because I am the "III" in my family with my name.)

Jan 25, 2018

macdane

Jan 25, 2018

CEE_TEEWell, Mr III, I have nothing against I, II, III per se, just the fact that none of them correspond at all to which input is which. On my Meier Corda Prehead the input choices are similarly meaningless, but then they're all line level RCA inputs.