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Mark_M
236
Oct 7, 2018
Is there any benefit from having the SDAC and O2 amp separate in a "stack" as shown here instead of the combo unit?
Mark_MAs a theoretical question yes it can matter. The all in one has a wall wart power connection which can easily add noise to the sound stage - and always does at this price point due to lack of shielding. There's ways of removing it but it's harder with a dac+amp unit as the important bits are combined to one board on the inside. The stand alone dac is usb powered so to clean it up the chain can go computer --> jitterbug --> shielded usb cable --> dac. The stand alone amp has a very noisy power brick to clean it up you can go iFi Ipower --> amp --> shielded RCA interconnect --> DAC.
You can do that with the combined unit but you can't filter between the amp and dac as it's internal. You can filter it on the outside ports of course but it's always nagged me on the low end equipment as they just tend to be a bit more "dirty" due to no shielding.
I've always gone with "separation of church and state" on dac's and amps even on the high end.
Mark_M
236
Oct 7, 2018
Brad.ClarkstonWhat is a jitterbug? Also are you referring to this? https://ifi-audio.com/products/ipower/
Mark_MThe fabulous Audioquest Jitterbug--> https://www.audioquest.com/jitterbug/jitterbug-usb-data-power-noise-filter/usb-data-power-noise-filter. Probably the best $60 you can ever spend on a budget to mid-range computer playback system. It does exactly what it's supposed to do. The next step above it is the iFi iPurifier3 it's twice as good but twice the price. It's probably overkill for this DAC tho, the Jitterbug with a better USB cable is probably the best pairing. The iFi iPower does the same thing (reduced power noise) but at the power supply side it replaces the power wart that came with your amp.
My list of upgrades would be:
1.) Buy a Jitterbug - stick it in the USB port of your computer attach the usb cable to it and the DAC. 2.) Buy a better audio grade USB cable (as in $40'ish .. maybe $60 but that's overkill). 3.) Buy a iPower wall wart ($50) in whatever voltage your amp is in.
I have a O2 amp from a drop from a couple of years ago and I just got my new Grace DAC a few days ago. I've ordered #1 & #2 on my list just to see if the low end distortion I hear is a computer and/or cable artifact. They should be arriving Tuesday so I'll update my mini-review accordingly.
Overall this is very nice DAC for the price.
Mark_M
236
Oct 8, 2018
Brad.ClarkstonHmm okay. I'll check those out. But I don't hear any noise such as hiss, hum, or static when using my setup. I have the O2+SDAC connected to my Aune X7S. When there is no audio it's very quiet. Also the Aune has a proprietary power cable so the iPower wouldn't work with it.
Mark_M I'm not talking about feedback (hum/hiss/etc) when I turn off my music and crank my 02 all the way up there is no sound it's good and black. I'm talking about distortion in the music sound stage specifically in busy bass percussion (as in hitting a bass drum) or in reverb added to the music intentionally during mixing.
I've tested it quite a bit with tracks that have reverb/bass and those without. It's all neutral and crisp until one of those two things happen. I'm not convinced yet it's the dac itself doing it but hopefully I'll know more next week.
I'm not sure what you mean by the "Aune" I have the stand alone O2 amp it's just a standard 9v wart and the O2+SDAC says it's a standard 12v wart. The standard and balanced Grace DAC's are USB powered. I'm unfamiliar with any budget friendly amp that has a "proprietary" cable in the sub $300 range that would take to much engineering and add overhead.
Mark_M
236
Oct 8, 2018
Brad.ClarkstonHmm okay. But yes the Aune amps have a proprietary power cable. I don't think I could find a third party cable for it.
Mark_MO I get it now. Your talking about something completely different that the Grace. Something like the Aune X74S which is a balanced amp.
That's not a wall wart just a xlr power cable in ether 4 or 6 pin's. You can get 3rd party cables on amazon. But yes the iPower is a low volt wall wart replacement so it wouldn't work with the Aune products.
Mark_M
236
Oct 8, 2018
Brad.ClarkstonThe Aune power cable is a five pin connector. Just looked at the picture on this website.
verifonix
1181
Oct 17, 2018
Mark_MDon't buy into the jitterbug and stuff. Like you said you don't have any noise such as hiss, hum, or static... don't buy silly things (imo).
Brad.Clarkston
142
Oct 17, 2018
verifonixYour confusing multiple issues. I never had hiss/hum/static that's just a basic faulty cable issue that's easily fixed. I had a sound stage reverb issue that the jitterbug did in fact fix.
Please do not spout rubbish about a product you've obviously never tried. The Jitterbug does what it is supposed to do. Way to many independent audio industry people have verified and tested it for it to be a conspiracy hoax.
verifonix
1181
Oct 18, 2018
Brad.ClarkstonYou are absolutely deluding yourself. Independent audio industry people, you mean paid reviewers? Let me sum it up for you.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/digital-audio-jitter-fundamentals.1922/#post-50607
" I have tested the Jitterbug it does absolutely nothing. "
" Stereophile made their measurements with the same results (no difference to speak of). "
As you say, the Jitterbug does what it is supposed to do: make you spend unnecessary money to fool yourself into imaginary improvements. Congratulations, you got played.
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