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Paulng
78
May 10, 2018
Beware, this version doesn't have Pre-amp function like the new one, UD-503
Xannen
63
May 10, 2018
PaulngIndeed. I use the 501 with a seperate headphone amp (Lake People G-109) and its an amazing combo.
I paid 1k for this DAC a couple years back and its been an absolute treat.. take my word on it. This DAC sounds and performs absolutely amazing for the price. I have it on my desktop running it with my PC and outputs to the headphone amp, which I use ZMF Atticus and IMR R1 IEMs, as well to Audioengine HD6. Shit sounds GOOD @ PCM 384 and DSD128.
silverbot01
124
May 10, 2018
PaulngThis is actually a better performing standalone DAC than the 503 or 505. The listed minimal SNR on the outputs (equating to 16/44.1 performance) is highest on the 501 compared to the 301, 503, and even the upcoming 505 that is only in Japan right now. It doesn't help that because the rest have pre outs the XLR line outs only achieve 4V on the other units with a certain amount of gain. This purely fixed situation on the 501 is much better for someone who needs a balanced dac that outputs 4V without problems on the most sensitive of tube amps.
Besides, for the money you have to pay for the 503 you could get this plus a dedicated preamp like the Schiit Saga, run RCA to that for your speaker amp and run XLR to your balanced headphone amp.
-Austin
Fayne
2575
May 10, 2018
PaulngCorrect. This is a DAC with a Monitor out port. No matter how Massdrop labels it.
The monitor out does sound very nice with easy to drive low impedance cans. But really, you're going to want to run this thing to an external amp of some sort (headphone or speaker).
ericlerouge
12
May 29, 2018
silverbot01Hey Austin, thanks for all your feedbacks about the 501. I drove 4hours last weekend to get a used one. absolutely love it. Much richer, and deeper than my 301. Got it for 400$ Canadian.
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Xannen
63
May 30, 2018
ericlerougeI originally paid $900.. for $400 that is a lot of high quality kit. Enjoy it!
ericlerouge
12
May 30, 2018
XannenThanks. Now I'm in a dilemma of keeping the ud301 or not.... If I keep it, I might be on the hunt for a ai-301da, or simply a used vintage amplifier. to put in my office.
silverbot01
124
May 30, 2018
XannenHah, yeah and the 501 is still awesome. Also I found something very important for UD-301/501/503 owners. Google ud-505 drivers, even if you don't have it the Japanese drivers for the teac dac lineup are much further ahead than the American site. This includes win 10 compatibility.
ericlerouge
12
May 30, 2018
silverbot01thanks will check it out
silverbot01
124
May 30, 2018
ericlerougehttps://teac.jp/int/product/ud-501/download <-The place to get the right drivers for this unit. Linked to 501 page instead of 505 to make everyone more comfortable about using it. Same drivers between all the TEAC dac products though. (All the dac products listed in the driver's PDF manual anyway.)
ericlerouge
12
May 30, 2018
silverbot01Thanks man... already did both upgrades 2 hours ago. I’m using the Teac player a lot. My version was from 2016 from the North American website . It’s nice to upgrade to a new version.
silverbot01
124
May 31, 2018
ericlerougeOh ya, the new HR player version is on there too. Enjoy.
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