I Think I'm sure I'm Finished...or Zeppelin to Sinatra & Back

[struth]

Jerry,(jandel) offered me a loan of his dac/pre/headphone amp and i gratefully accepted.
It arrived promptly today and i eagerly opened it. Initially tried it with my pc rig on usb via jriver and spotify to the oppos... there was a distinct lowering of sound quality in comparison to the smsl m6 i use.switched to the dynamic driver AT phones and it was indeed very good.

So, now to where i intended to use it; in main system. On coax and optical( think i marginally prefer optical) the sound from the cd player is very nice on both headphones yay! Plenty power on tap for my cans. Impressed with it. Think i will get one

[brian2957]

Nice one Grant This seems to be a very nice DAC . Jerry usually says it how it is , if it's good he'll tell you so

[struth]

Nice one Grant This seems to be a very nice DAC . Jerry usually says it how it is , if it's good he'll tell you so

got Nina on cd and its very nice indeed. both sets of phones work well out of the optical. no so impressed with the usb though so far. still i dont intend using usb with it. might just be a bad mix with the planar cans. lost the soundstage

[brian2957]

Mmm.. Doesn't Jerry use it via USB ? Why not ask him if he has had any problems in that area .

[struth]

Mmm.. Doesn't Jerry use it via USB ? Why not ask him if he has had any problems in that area .

no idea. it was ok on the dynamic phones. as I say might just be a bad mix with the planar ones. quite nice bass, maybe too much for the planar

i like it

[jandl100]

Mmm.. Doesn't Jerry use it via USB ? Why not ask him if he has had any problems in that area .

I agree the USB is sonically the weakest of the inputs - I used a Halide Bridge USB->RCA converter with it to excellent effect. Sounds fab that way.

[struth]

I agree the USB is sonically the weakest of the inputs - I used a Halide Bridge USB->RCA converter with it to excellent effect. Sounds fab that way.

maybe a bit rich those.. last one i saw was dearer than the whole unit by a margin. TBh I quite like the 2 other connections, and the usb was quite good with the A Technica cans. Not tried running the main system through it as an analogue signal as of yet. Seems to have choice of ss or valve so thats very flexible

[jandl100]

Not tried running the main system through it as an analogue signal as of yet.

Ah right - I was going to ask about that!

Yes, those Halide Bridge widgets usually sell for around £170 used, so substantially more than one of those DACs new.
I'd rate the Xiang Sheng as better than a £grands worth of DAC sonically, so in that context the Halide Bridge is sensible value!

[struth]

Ah right - I was going to ask about that!

Yes, those Halide Bridge widgets usually sell for around £170 used, so substantially more than one of those DACs new.
I'd rate the Xiang Sheng as better than a £grands worth of DAC sonically, so in that context the Halide Bridge is sensible value!

I like its flexability Jerry. can take several inputs so now I have tried it and if I still continue to like it I will get one. they seem to have come down in price a little as I see there is a new one out. Think this model will do me for my needs though. Suits my other gear physically too. The usb on the smsl is very good if your ever looking for one although forgot youve got a fancy French one now.

[Macca]

I like its flexability Jerry. can take several inputs so now I have tried it and if I still continue to like it I will get one. they seem to have come down in price a little as I see there is a new one out. Think this model will do me for my needs though. Suits my other gear physically too. The usb on the smsl is very good if your ever looking for one although forgot youve got a fancy French one now.

I thought this was the new one?