Hardware, nice professionally done video. Lighting is good , audio is good, production value high. 90% of TH-cam videos should be burned. Thanks for the good example.
+HardwareCanucks ~~ Hey, I have some questions that I hoped you might have answers for. I have Sennheiser 280 HD Pro headphones, they're rated at 32 ohms. I've had these things since 2008 and I still love them. I was taking an Electronic Music class at community college and they had Behringer "Eurorack" MX 602A Mixers at each of the mixing stations. I was blown away from the first time I plugged my headphones into this thing because the bass had actual sound pressure. I could feel kicks. When I'd go back home after class and plug into my PC, it was weak and boring. Annnnyway, I read online that in order to drive my Sennies to their full potential, I need a DAC or an AMP. What's the cheapest one of these that I can get and still be able to get the sound I want out of my headphones? I don't want or need anything crazy with vaccume tubes, just a decent usb powered headphone amp or DAC that will power my headphones and also hopefully not have any interference noise. (One thing about the Euroracks at school that I didn't like, you could totally hear hiss coming through when you weren't playing anything). ALSO.... I recently replaced my old fraying pleather earcups with velvet / cloth ear pads. Got a set for a decent price off Ebay. Which do you think is better.... cloth cups, or the pleather cups? I notice that with the cloth cups, my ears don't get so... sweaty and I don't feel like the bones around my ears hurt after hours of wearing my Sennies (the old pads were also starting to go flat from age).
+HardwareCanucks Excuse me Canucks, I have considered using a portable headphone amp, or DAC for using my Sennheiser HD 598's with my laptop. What would you recommend or what should I get? Betweens DACs and amps.
just a slight bit of extra info you skipped over: Connecting the D1 via USB will produce 24bit/96khz as you mentioned, however connecting the D1 via optical will produce 24bit/192khz. Buying your own optical cable (assuming you have a mobo which supports it) is the key to getting the most out of your investment, even with low impedance headphones. Also, from my personal experience, turning the knob on the D1 to its maximum will produce a bit of static hiss with some headphones, so make sure you keep the knob somewhere around the middle point and increase the sound in your music player / OS if needed instead :)
oh, I've owned a Audioengine D1 for a couple of years now, and it's paired with a pair of Audio Technica ATH-A700X's (closed-back version, for a tiny bit extra bass at the cost of some soundstage) Great review!
proxactual Thanks for pointing out the 192KHz when using optical! I dont think there's any real world advantage of using optical (192khz) over usb (96khz), at least I cant tell any difference in 1to1 listening tests. How about you?
help me guys ive been struggling on how to record my mic to my laptop. my mic use 6.3mm i think but its a big ass plug. what do i need to buy to record between mic and laptop? amp? dac? im confuse!
is this what you mean by clip mic? www.amazon.com/Sony-ECMCS3-Omnidirectional-Stereo-Microphone/dp/B0058MJX4O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462093883&sr=8-1&keywords=lav+mic
I'm pretty satisfied with my entry-level audiophile setup. I have a Creative Labs USB X-Fi HD DAC and an Audio-Technica ATH-M50 for headphones. The X-Fi HD DAC is perfect for my needs seeing as it has 1/4" headphone and mic ports while also having RCA line out and line in for a reasonable price of $90 on amazon as of this writing.
I've used a creative x-fi hd usb dac/amp combo for the last year or so. It has been quite a good little unit and provides a substantial inprovement over integrated audio for its $89 price tag. It has rca input and output, optical in and out and also 1/4 in and out on the front. It also has very clean input preamps so it works well as a budget recording interface. I'd highly recommend it for someone looking to drive upper end headphone and an interface for speakers.
Explananing audio quality is like explaining how magic works. Expect alot of nonsense. Also to point out audio equipment is often overpriced to make you think it sounds better. Common tactic i would say. And as with pc hardware you will never find best equipment.
you are absolutely right,All I knew is my mobo also convert digital to analog output for my speakers.The best option to get good sound quality is to buy receiver and good pairs of speakers with a subwoofer..this is a money making practice for big companies..
@@mlhazan1 What? This is total bullshit, a dedicated DAC is going to sound way better than your laptop or phone audio input. Why did you even bring up a AV receiver? That is for home theater, this is a little DAC meant for desktop/bookshelf speakers and and efficient headphones under 200 ohm. I suggest you to do some research before spouting nonsense in the future.
I got one of these in early Jan. and have been loving it. When i got it i switched between the port from my motherboard and then the d1 and the difference was night and day. For music you can hear a lot more of the background sound (some i didn't even know was there for some songs). I have them paired with ath m50 headphones and can hear very faint footsteps or enemy reload's in games now. At 170$ its not something i would recommend over other upgrades to your computer(if you game) but it will most likely be a better audio experience than what you are currently using. 10 out of 10 would recommend.
You guys are good with the prices of stuff in America. A Fucking Sennheiser HD700 is arround R$4.699,00 here in Brazil, where the minimum salary is R$788,00. Everything is REALLY expensive here in Brazil. You guys from America-Europe are in heaven with those prices.
I have a question for you guys: What are the pros and cons of an external (brand-made) amplifier versus a DAC? Which one is more suited for headphones usage?
I recently upgraded my desktop audio, ended up with a dac/ amp combo (audio-gd 11.32) and a pair of beyerdynamics dt880 250 ohm. All I can say is that I wish I had done it earlier! The enjoyment of watching movies and listening to music or podcasts have been increased immensely. The downside is that I now can hear all the bad recordings, for instance on some youtube videos with low production value.
I recently bought a set of the new Audioengine 5+ to replace harman kardon Soundsticks II, which were great but had lost quality with long use. They sound great but i new nothing of the need for a DAC. I now understand their importance!
Plugged mine in yesterday routing the output to my amp/receiver. I probably won't use the headphone function much. I have quickly found that if you have good, non-coloring speakers, this provides more depth, clarity and overall presence. I did A/B comparisons to several CDs versus itunes files (all Apple Lossless or AIFF) and the D1 provides either parity to a CD or improved sound, depth and presence versus CDs. It dramatically "warms" the overall presentation versus the slight shrill delivery of the CD. Streaming with Spotify and Pandora are equally improved. It sounds great and is supposed to improve with time...40 to 50 hours. I'm already impressed and for me, worth every cent, particularly when the next major option from Cambridge Sound is $300.
Fiio E17 Alpen is what i'm using now with L7 LOD. You couldn't ask for more. Amp/Dac plus built-in li-ion rechargeable batt. for portability and music on the go.
Hello mate. I just switched to the A5+ , coming from Edifiers Luna Eclipse. I was kinda disappointed because I didn't notice and difference in sound quality etc.. If I buy that thing you have there , the D1, you think I will notice any difference in sound quality?
i have this dac connected to my xbobx one to power my Sennheiser HD 558 for gaming and surprisingly it even does a decent job at powering my Sennheiser HD 650. Thhis little unit woke up the details and the field of sound in game play making footsteps and directional cues easier to be heard. It has plenty of headroom to power the HD 558. the HD 650 on the other hand get pretty loud but its still comfortable at full power (yea yea i know this unit is not supposed to have enough power to push the hd650) but it does a good job unit my objective 2 arrives.. Its definitely a good starting point for those wondering what the big deal is about how dacs, amps affect sound quality..
Its not clear that the audio is being fed by the USB (the video just says the DAC is powered by the usb) - so isnt there latency issues like those you would get with a USB mic?
Awesome video and I enjoy AE's dac also, only I bought the (B1)Bluetooth vs. with the upscaler feature. Great sending audio from my phone to any powered speaker or any audio system with rca in's. Enjoy an thanks! 🙌🏽
Dimitri, I see the Audioengine speakers in the shot, you did give us a teaser vid for the review of these speakers but I havent seen it yet. Any plans for this vid?
Thanks for another great review :-) I am in no way an audiophile. However, I do appreciate great sound. I have used the FiiO Olympus E10 with a pair of AKG K550 for a while now. The E10 is superior to the onboard sound (Asus Z87-Pro & Z87 Gryphon) in every way. Punchy bass, better mids and highs and clean vocals. Just love this thing! I think the E10 is a better first time choice. The price is about half of the Audioengine D1 and the sound quality of the FiiO is great, really great.
when you the e10 is superior in multiple way to the onboard sound, can you make the difference in a blind test, having a friend plugging/unplugging it without telling you which is which ? thanks
I run a Schiit Bifrost /w Uber Upgrade + Lyr setup with my HE-400/Q701 and its quite a good combination. With the bifrost and lyr as preout hooked to my Canton speakers though, is another story as it sounds rather amazing.
I am running late 2012 iMac. I bought a pair of Sennheiser Hd D600s last month. I already had a headphone amp, so I bought a DAC to pair it with (why not?). After spending a couple of hours doing the A/B thing, the only difference I can hear between running the headphones directly from the headphone jack and running them from the DAC/Amp combo is that the USB output that connects the DAC to the computer is a little bit higher than the output from the headphone jack. That is it. That is all. I've had the amplifier too long to return it, so I can only return the DAC. But, hell, I don't think that is worth the hassle. I'll keep it for the increased output. If you have a decent computer and headphones that aren't insane when it comes to resistance you don't need and amp or an external DAC.
Dmitry, would it be worth using this product on a desktop PC that does not have a dedicated sound card? Or would it be better to put that kind of money into a dedicated sound card instead of a DAC?
Thx for a great review but I got to ask you something off topic .... Which software are you using to edit ur professional looking videos? Thank you once again. Liked and sub
Which would you suggest: the Audioengine D1 or the Asus Xonar U7, ive seen you guys review both but never make a comparison in any way, help would be much appreciated
I have a question. In my setup, I have a dac (this exact one), a set of speaker, a set of headphones, a pc, two console, and twin monitors (if that helps). Often times, I have a console on one monitor and the pc on the other. I switch a lot between my headphones and speakers. Also, I switch between using the two on all three systems. How could I use all of those things harmoniously without messing with cords and cable and still sustaining a clean look to my setup? Real solid review btw, I enjoyed it a lot.
you guys should grab some better cables for use with that D1, especially if you are going to do more audio products in the future, a audio grade usb and rca cable might be a good addition
I think the supplied USB and RCA cables would be totally fine. IMO, difference in sound quality between these and specific audio cables would be unnoticeable.
Hi there, I need your advice. I'd like to improve my listening experience, but I have no experience in DAC and high quality headphones. I have a limited budget ($350) and I don't know if is better to: A) buy the best headphones I can (for example the Bowers & Wilkins P7); B) divide my budget between headphone and a dac. The use is principally PC but occasionally also smartphone and music player. What do you think?
Hey +HardwareCanucks Just loved your reviews, production quality is just flawless btw, made it quite simpler to decide for me, I have M-Audio AV42 and Audio-Technica M50X, I was curious if this would be perfect fit for my desire to achieve true FLAC for my ears to be pleased
Is this DAC still worth buying in 2020 for the Sennheiser pc37x (which I recently ordered from drop.com) after watching your review on it :) Looking for something easy to use, since I'm not really that experienced with DAC's .. Plug & play is preferred!
Does the audio go through the optical port or USB? If it the latter, isn't the on-board DAC already processing the sound file before it reaches the D1, rendering D1's DAC function useless and simply making it a very expensive amplifier? Edit: Just wanted to add that I hope you continue to do more reviews of sub-$200 DAC/amp combos.
Hoping this question gets to you, as I haven't been able to find an answer anywhere else. I'm in the process of upgrading my setup to have an ultimate play/work station that include my Macbook Pro, Xbox One, and Desktop. My question is...What interface/tech could I use/purchase that would allow me to use all these devices with just one set of PC Speakers.?
I definetely consider a DAC as I am an... audiophyle, listening to music through my Stereo system from my computer. In fact, it works reasonably well without a DAC, so I am looking forward to the same thing with a Dac in-between. I have a very good Vintage amplifier with dicrete transistor logic, a big transformer connected to two small Minimus 7 speakers via a passive B&O Cona Subwoofer. The Minimus perform as well as the Audioengine 2 speakers - to my opninion.
Walter Waes I have a luxman l410 integrated, and a Crown dc300 poweramp, Boston acoustics and PSB speakers, all vintage. I'm using a Behringer 202 as an interface for now. I listen to mostly classical, and it sounds good, but not as good as CD in. The Behringer is a very cheapo DAC but it's good to start with, I'm looking for an upgrade.
Thx for reviewing the Audioengine but I am not going to invest in a dac ATM. I am content with the motherboard output, considering it is Asus ROG motherboard. I will be getting the Func HS260 that HardwareCanucks have reviewed as a start, and later-on upgrade to the ATH-M50X. And as always thank you for your Quality Reviews @ HardwareCanucks.
Would you recommend those audioengine a5+ speakers? As I'm setting up a new audio setup and really like the bamboo finish, is it as good as it looks in the video ?
Is this worth a buy? I'm using the AudioEngine 5+ with an iMac atm. I will connect them to my TV later through 3.5mm headphone jack (since I dont have RCA output) worth a buy?
I believe it boils down to the chipset, researching each model's chipset and what it is capable of, can really give you an idea of the type of quality you will be given. Everything else is just build quality, ergonomic controls, ease of use, features, appearance etc.
People need to know that not all headphones take advantage of the DAC/amp. Some headphones (usually) with lower impedance won't notice a difference at all, like the ATH-M50 for example.
At the moment, I have three sources (HDTV, AppleTV and Bluray player) I want to hook up to an old Pioneer Amp. If the Bluray is connected to the TV via HDMI and passes through the TVs USB output (if my TV has a USB out) will the 5.1 channel signal be converted to 2.1?
I have my macbook pro 2014 connected to my Focusrite Scarlett Solo interface. From there the interface is connected to the aux connection on my stereo receiver. Would a DAC be beneficial to my set up? If so, would I place the DAC before or after my audio interface? I'm looking to achieve quality sound but am by no account a true audiophile. I'm new to the whole shebang. Thanks for your help.
This may be a dumb question, so forgive me. Does the volume knob only adjust the head phone amp on the D1 and not the signal you run to your Amp/Active speakers?
clear answer everyone like true sound of music needs a dedicated DAC and amplifier, if you don't need it that only means you already have a better DAC in your computer or hifi system. I assume the DAC in this video is headphone/pre amplifier DAC, it can't directly drive a passive speaker but a powered speaker.
Weird, I actually just received my own D1 earlier today. I'm also pretty happy with the boost it gave for music, movies and gaming on my PC. Now I have a question, I was also trying to use it with my PS3 to watch blurays and game while using my better quality stereo headphones by connecting the optical cable; the thing is that while navigating through the menu I can hear the click noise effects, however when I go to play a game or play a video or bluray the sound stops. Could you guys have any idea on to how could a fix that? Good video tho. I'm happy that more people are getting into better audio.
So I was thinking of buying a pair of JBL LSR305 or Yamaha HS5 but was going to just use the audio coming from my onboard. I was then told it'll still sound good but not as good with a audio interface. Then I was ran into this DAC. What is the difference between a DAC and Audio interface? They both seem to be produce a better sound than onboard. Is one better for monitoring? is one more flat?
if you have audio engine a5+ speakers plugged into the D1 does the D1 volume knob control the volume of the speakers or do you still have to control the volume with the knob on the speaker itself?
How do you think it magically cleans the sound? People don't prefer analog because it's cleaner but the total opposite because it adds warmth and color.
So, I'm considering buying the DT990 Pros (250 Ohm) and I'm wondering if I need to buy an amplifier or a DAC in order to power them properly. I don't have a sound card and i don't work with audio professionally; strictly gaming. Would it be worthwhile to pick up a DAC or amplifier?
I currently own a Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 USB soundcard to bypass my laptop's onboard audio solution. Would upgrading to the Audioengine D1 make much of a difference? Saving up to get the A5+ in the future!
How much of an difference would this make to the sound quality of a pair of ADG1's from audio technica? also probably going to upgrade my music experience with a pair of either dt770 pro 32ohm edt. or a pair of m50x's ... will this be worth it or should I look for just a DAC at a lower price point? as far as I remember the adg1 are around 32ohm and I'll be using my new pair with my phone so I can't get anything with a really high impedence...
Great review mate and shed some light on how to remove noise from headphones connected to laptop i have a dell inspiron 17 7000 series and headphones is sony mdr xb70ap
would you shoot another video about how to get best (you think the best) audio experience, for around $200, $500, and $1,000? I totally have no idea why we need a tube amplifier, a DAC,---totally have no idea. Just think they are cool. And how to connect these devices. Afterall, sound test is hard to show via videos, just want to know what are these devices and how audio through these devices sounds so different? Another question, a good set of headphones, earbuds, and DAC, which worth the money?
Are there any DAC's that can utilise drive bays in a computer case? I usually only use my headphones and my desk is quite cluttered so an internal DAC (not a soundcard as I have no available slots for one) would be preferable.
Hey Dimitri I would like to ask if this amp/dac would be enough for Sennheiser HD650(HD6xx) or if I should get something better. What dac/amp you used in your recent video about HD6xx?
My Bedroom I have this DAC with the A5 Speakers and a 12in Sub using a Zantec Mini PC for online music ... WOW and using I may get another one for my PC which has the A2 Speakers and the Audioengine S8 Sub
hi i have sennheiser pc363d headphones with usb sound card enabling 7.1 surround sound as well as swan m10 speakers. will the DAC make them both sound better? does the usb sound card do completely different things than the DAC? will they work together?
Everything will alter the signal, detecting and measuring the signal will alter the signal. The effect may be noticeably positive, noticeably negative, or unnoticeable.
An external DAC is just an upgrade for a computer that will likely play MP3 and MP4? Does this reduced quality audio really need a DAC? if you were playing soundcloud or a CD it would be a different story I imagine? Will this DAC make my CD Player at home sound better (generic Sony DVD/CD HD recorder)? My player goes straight into the preamp of my tube stereo, will this improve my audio? Does a DAC basically do what the BBE sonic stomp does? Cheers, sorry for carpet bombing you with questions.
Brian Cullen It depends on how loose the audio is. Audio compression can greatly reduce audio quality. So i recommend you buy a DAC with high quality looseless audio "Flac or Wav".
I don't understand why someone would spend $170 on just a DAC when you can pick up an audio interface for recording that does the same thing but also allows you to record so it has added features and most decent ones are around the same price...but I do a lot of recording on my computer so...maybe thats only for me? I dunno.
I am quite interested in this, but having no experience and just recently learning about this, $169 is a huge price to drop on something I'm not familiar with yet. I'm currently working with the steelseries siberia v2 USB sound card, & thinking of picking up a cheap FiiO DAC on Amazon just to see how they compare. Maybe in the future, upgrade to this and the Audio-Technica ATH-M50 combo if the DAC truly makes a differences.
I actually have the FiiO DAC from Amazon. Ive had it for many years. Reason i bought was because i wanted to hook up some computer speakers to my TV and it only had a digital audio out. So i bought that and hooked it up. It works great and it has never failed me. Just make sure the source is 2 channel and not 5.1 or some sort of surround sound because you will get horrible noise. But Ive yet to try out for music from a computer. Im curious now.
Bigger doesn't mean smaller, that's for sure
+Melchi Zedeq
>Mad Magazine avatar
>Dick Jokes
We've got another preteen on the loose!
uTukan Jealous because you cant meme? I'll have you know that my katana's are sharpened to the point where I can cut very cold old cheddar cheese.
Milk Is Good your waifu is shit
Melchi Zedeq What waifu?
+uTukan you are getting installed into a computer just to make memes?
"Bigger doesn't necessarily mean smaller"-ign.
I bought the audioengine A5+ with this DAC and can give a resounding recommendation for those products. Sound is so crisp, music just comes alive.
this looks like a super good option but I don't own any powered speakers so i'll probably go with the FiiO E10 when the time comes
Hardware, nice professionally done video. Lighting is good , audio is good, production value high.
90% of TH-cam videos should be burned. Thanks for the good example.
allenslansky Thanks so much :D
+HardwareCanucks ~~ Hey, I have some questions that I hoped you might have answers for. I have Sennheiser 280 HD Pro headphones, they're rated at 32 ohms. I've had these things since 2008 and I still love them. I was taking an Electronic Music class at community college and they had Behringer "Eurorack" MX 602A Mixers at each of the mixing stations. I was blown away from the first time I plugged my headphones into this thing because the bass had actual sound pressure. I could feel kicks. When I'd go back home after class and plug into my PC, it was weak and boring.
Annnnyway, I read online that in order to drive my Sennies to their full potential, I need a DAC or an AMP. What's the cheapest one of these that I can get and still be able to get the sound I want out of my headphones? I don't want or need anything crazy with vaccume tubes, just a decent usb powered headphone amp or DAC that will power my headphones and also hopefully not have any interference noise. (One thing about the Euroracks at school that I didn't like, you could totally hear hiss coming through when you weren't playing anything).
ALSO.... I recently replaced my old fraying pleather earcups with velvet / cloth ear pads. Got a set for a decent price off Ebay. Which do you think is better.... cloth cups, or the pleather cups? I notice that with the cloth cups, my ears don't get so... sweaty and I don't feel like the bones around my ears hurt after hours of wearing my Sennies (the old pads were also starting to go flat from age).
+HardwareCanucks Excuse me Canucks, I have considered using a portable headphone amp, or DAC for using my Sennheiser HD 598's with my laptop. What would you recommend or what should I get? Betweens DACs and amps.
just a slight bit of extra info you skipped over:
Connecting the D1 via USB will produce 24bit/96khz as you mentioned, however connecting the D1 via optical will produce 24bit/192khz. Buying your own optical cable (assuming you have a mobo which supports it) is the key to getting the most out of your investment, even with low impedance headphones.
Also, from my personal experience, turning the knob on the D1 to its maximum will produce a bit of static hiss with some headphones, so make sure you keep the knob somewhere around the middle point and increase the sound in your music player / OS if needed instead :)
oh, I've owned a Audioengine D1 for a couple of years now, and it's paired with a pair of Audio Technica ATH-A700X's (closed-back version, for a tiny bit extra bass at the cost of some soundstage)
Great review!
proxactual Thanks for pointing out the 192KHz when using optical! I dont think there's any real world advantage of using optical (192khz) over usb (96khz), at least I cant tell any difference in 1to1 listening tests. How about you?
USB 2 or USB 3 guys and is SPIDF or whatever it is optical out
@Knight1788, you are saying that usb 2 and 3 have the same sound quality as an optical cord?
I have one of these hooked up to my A5+ speakers and it really did make a big difference vs my onboard audio on an ASUS Maximus VI Hero.
Wow! That was more specific to my needs than I could ever have expected. I got that MB and an Audio Technica M50. :)
This is so wierd for me too. Exact MB and speakers lool
so a amp or dac has some bebefits for active spekers?
help me guys ive been struggling on how to record my mic to my laptop. my mic use 6.3mm i think but its a big ass plug. what do i need to buy to record between mic and laptop? amp? dac? im confuse!
Need pictures
+Ahren W i have an imac and a mic. its a clip mic. how to use it man
Fazli Halim Ok first things "first amp? dac? "
amp/dacs are for for output
Computer--->Dac
Not:Dac--->computer
is this what you mean by clip mic?
www.amazon.com/Sony-ECMCS3-Omnidirectional-Stereo-Microphone/dp/B0058MJX4O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462093883&sr=8-1&keywords=lav+mic
+Ahren W yes and its not using 3.5mm jack. its bigger
I'm pretty satisfied with my entry-level audiophile setup. I have a Creative Labs USB X-Fi HD DAC and an Audio-Technica ATH-M50 for headphones. The X-Fi HD DAC is perfect for my needs seeing as it has 1/4" headphone and mic ports while also having RCA line out and line in for a reasonable price of $90 on amazon as of this writing.
Production values for your vids are top notch! Bought a pair of the Beyerdynamic Custom One Pros based on your review. Thanks!
I think that you guys have the best tech reviews and filming on youtube...
is it necessary to get this, or any DAC in general for my ATH AD900x's? Will I hear any difference from my on board sound?
This was probably the MOST interesting video from you since the 250d case overview/review
I've used a creative x-fi hd usb dac/amp combo for the last year or so. It has been quite a good little unit and provides a substantial inprovement over integrated audio for its $89 price tag. It has rca input and output, optical in and out and also 1/4 in and out on the front. It also has very clean input preamps so it works well as a budget recording interface. I'd highly recommend it for someone looking to drive upper end headphone and an interface for speakers.
Explananing audio quality is like explaining how magic works. Expect alot of nonsense. Also to point out audio equipment is often overpriced to make you think it sounds better. Common tactic i would say. And as with pc hardware you will never find best equipment.
you are absolutely right,All I knew is my mobo also convert digital to analog output for my speakers.The best option to get good sound quality is to buy receiver and good pairs of speakers with a subwoofer..this is a money making practice for big companies..
@@mlhazan1 What? This is total bullshit, a dedicated DAC is going to sound way better than your laptop or phone audio input. Why did you even bring up a AV receiver? That is for home theater, this is a little DAC meant for desktop/bookshelf speakers and and efficient headphones under 200 ohm. I suggest you to do some research before spouting nonsense in the future.
Best DAC review. Short and simple.
Man, what a professional review. Subscribed!
Cobus Greyling Welcome :D make sure to check out the rest of our reviews!
HardwareCanucks Thanks! I will do so undoubtedly, keep up the great content!
I got one of these in early Jan. and have been loving it. When i got it i switched between the port from my motherboard and then the d1 and the difference was night and day. For music you can hear a lot more of the background sound (some i didn't even know was there for some songs). I have them paired with ath m50 headphones and can hear very faint footsteps or enemy reload's in games now. At 170$ its not something i would recommend over other upgrades to your computer(if you game) but it will most likely be a better audio experience than what you are currently using. 10 out of 10 would recommend.
Good ass content even 3 years ago. 10/10.
It's 6 years now...
Definitely looking into one. Sitting in my cart for a week; will give in my thoughts when I get it to supplement my A2's and HD558's
2:33 Why do you have to bring the Jews into this?
he said Juice not Jews..!!
!!!!!!!
google auto subtittles
InfestedScapegoat
Mmh
Jews
DT 990 250Ohm
"More JEWS left for impedance"
Beyerdynamic is German so... Do you get the reference?
I'm a jew and find this offensive
Got a D1 and totally pleased. Use mostly for streaming music through an Apple TV and it works wonders. Well worth the price.
You guys are good with the prices of stuff in America. A Fucking Sennheiser HD700 is arround R$4.699,00 here in Brazil, where the minimum salary is R$788,00.
Everything is REALLY expensive here in Brazil. You guys from America-Europe are in heaven with those prices.
This is the video that I needed to see! Thank you very much.
I have a question for you guys: What are the pros and cons of an external (brand-made) amplifier versus a DAC?
Which one is more suited for headphones usage?
criss4000 a DAC just cleans the signal, an AMP amplifies the signal to be driven through high OMHS headphones.
I recently upgraded my desktop audio, ended up with a dac/ amp combo (audio-gd 11.32) and a pair of beyerdynamics dt880 250 ohm. All I can say is that I wish I had done it earlier! The enjoyment of watching movies and listening to music or podcasts have been increased immensely. The downside is that I now can hear all the bad recordings, for instance on some youtube videos with low production value.
I recently bought a set of the new Audioengine 5+ to replace harman kardon Soundsticks II, which were great but had lost quality with long use. They sound great but i new nothing of the need for a DAC. I now understand their importance!
Plugged mine in yesterday routing the output to my amp/receiver. I probably won't use the headphone function much. I have quickly found that if you have good, non-coloring speakers, this provides more depth, clarity and overall presence. I did A/B comparisons to several CDs versus itunes files (all Apple Lossless or AIFF) and the D1 provides either parity to a CD or improved sound, depth and presence versus CDs. It dramatically "warms" the overall presentation versus the slight shrill delivery of the CD. Streaming with Spotify and Pandora are equally improved. It sounds great and is supposed to improve with time...40 to 50 hours. I'm already impressed and for me, worth every cent, particularly when the next major option from Cambridge Sound is $300.
Very pleased with the D1!
This was a great review.
Could you ask Shiit for a Magni and a Modi, they together cost 200$, people say that this combo is amazing.
hey ! m gona buy scarlett 2i2 ,, will it be comatible with my ath m20x ?????????????
Fiio E17 Alpen is what i'm using now with L7 LOD. You couldn't ask for more. Amp/Dac plus built-in li-ion rechargeable batt. for portability and music on the go.
DACs are great, you should make another another review
Hello mate. I just switched to the A5+ , coming from Edifiers Luna Eclipse. I was kinda disappointed because I didn't notice and difference in sound quality etc.. If I buy that thing you have there , the D1, you think I will notice any difference in sound quality?
i have this dac connected to my xbobx one to power my Sennheiser HD 558 for gaming and surprisingly it even does a decent job at powering my Sennheiser HD 650. Thhis little unit woke up the details and the field of sound in game play making footsteps and directional cues easier to be heard. It has plenty of headroom to power the HD 558. the HD 650 on the other hand get pretty loud but its still comfortable at full power (yea yea i know this unit is not supposed to have enough power to push the hd650) but it does a good job unit my objective 2 arrives.. Its definitely a good starting point for those wondering what the big deal is about how dacs, amps affect sound quality..
Its not clear that the audio is being fed by the USB (the video just says the DAC is powered by the usb) - so isnt there latency issues like those you would get with a USB mic?
I have an audioengine D1 and an audio technica ATH M50.. The DAC makes these headphones sound amazing!
Very good video, well explained. Great!
Awesome video and I enjoy AE's dac also, only I bought the (B1)Bluetooth vs. with the upscaler feature. Great sending audio from my phone to any powered speaker or any audio system with rca in's. Enjoy an thanks! 🙌🏽
This reminds me that you haven't done a review of the Audioengine A5+, just a teaser :(
Dimitri, I see the Audioengine speakers in the shot, you did give us a teaser vid for the review of these speakers but I havent seen it yet. Any plans for this vid?
Thanks for another great review :-)
I am in no way an audiophile. However, I do appreciate great sound. I have used the FiiO Olympus E10 with a pair of AKG K550 for a while now. The E10 is superior to the onboard sound (Asus Z87-Pro & Z87 Gryphon) in every way. Punchy bass, better mids and highs and clean vocals. Just love this thing!
I think the E10 is a better first time choice. The price is about half of the Audioengine D1 and the sound quality of the FiiO is great, really great.
when you the e10 is superior in multiple way to the onboard sound, can you make the difference in a blind test, having a friend plugging/unplugging it without telling you which is which ? thanks
comprehensive review. Good job.
Have a Xonar Essence One with an HD700 from Sennheiser and the Sound of it is just awesome.
I run a Schiit Bifrost /w Uber Upgrade + Lyr setup with my HE-400/Q701 and its quite a good combination. With the bifrost and lyr as preout hooked to my Canton speakers though, is another story as it sounds rather amazing.
I am running late 2012 iMac. I bought a pair of Sennheiser Hd
D600s last month. I already had a headphone amp, so I bought a DAC to pair it with (why not?). After spending a couple of hours doing the A/B thing, the only difference I can hear between running the headphones directly from the headphone jack and running them from the DAC/Amp combo is that the USB output that connects the DAC to the computer is a little bit higher than the output from the headphone jack. That is it. That is all. I've had the amplifier too long to return it, so I can only return the DAC. But, hell, I don't think that is worth the hassle. I'll keep it for the increased output. If you have a decent computer and headphones that aren't insane when it comes to resistance you don't need and amp or an external DAC.
Dmitry, would it be worth using this product on a desktop PC that does not have a dedicated sound card? Or would it be better to put that kind of money into a dedicated sound card instead of a DAC?
Dimitri, could you do a review about the Audioengine S8 subwoofer?
Thx for a great review but I got to ask you something off topic .... Which software are you using to edit ur professional looking videos?
Thank you once again. Liked and sub
Which would you suggest: the Audioengine D1 or the Asus Xonar U7, ive seen you guys review both but never make a comparison in any way, help would be much appreciated
I have a question. In my setup, I have a dac (this exact one), a set of speaker, a set of headphones, a pc, two console, and twin monitors (if that helps). Often times, I have a console on one monitor and the pc on the other. I switch a lot between my headphones and speakers. Also, I switch between using the two on all three systems. How could I use all of those things harmoniously without messing with cords and cable and still sustaining a clean look to my setup? Real solid review btw, I enjoyed it a lot.
you guys should grab some better cables for use with that D1, especially if you are going to do more audio products in the future, a audio grade usb and rca cable might be a good addition
I think the supplied USB and RCA cables would be totally fine. IMO, difference in sound quality between these and specific audio cables would be unnoticeable.
Hi there, I need your advice.
I'd like to improve my listening experience, but I have no experience in DAC and high quality headphones. I have a limited budget ($350) and I don't know if is better to:
A) buy the best headphones I can (for example the Bowers & Wilkins P7);
B) divide my budget between headphone and a dac.
The use is principally PC but occasionally also smartphone and music player.
What do you think?
Cables to my reciever + headset. Would I be able to switch back and fourth easy without having to remove cables?
Hey +HardwareCanucks
Just loved your reviews, production quality is just flawless btw, made it quite simpler to decide for me, I have M-Audio AV42 and Audio-Technica M50X, I was curious if this would be perfect fit for my desire to achieve true FLAC for my ears to be pleased
Is this DAC still worth buying in 2020 for the Sennheiser pc37x (which I recently ordered from drop.com) after watching your review on it :)
Looking for something easy to use, since I'm not really that experienced with DAC's .. Plug & play is preferred!
Awesome review, this will be my next investment.
Does the audio go through the optical port or USB? If it the latter, isn't the on-board DAC already processing the sound file before it reaches the D1, rendering D1's DAC function useless and simply making it a very expensive amplifier?
Edit: Just wanted to add that I hope you continue to do more reviews of sub-$200 DAC/amp combos.
Thanks for the clarification.
Hoping this question gets to you, as I haven't been able to find an answer anywhere else. I'm in the process of upgrading my setup to have an ultimate play/work station that include my Macbook Pro, Xbox One, and Desktop.
My question is...What interface/tech could I use/purchase that would allow me to use all these devices with just one set of PC Speakers.?
I definetely consider a DAC as I am an... audiophyle, listening to music through my Stereo system from my computer. In fact, it works reasonably well without a DAC, so I am looking forward to the same thing with a Dac in-between. I have a very good Vintage amplifier with dicrete transistor logic, a big transformer connected to two small Minimus 7 speakers via a passive B&O Cona Subwoofer. The Minimus perform as well as the Audioengine 2 speakers - to my opninion.
Walter Waes I have a luxman l410 integrated, and a Crown dc300 poweramp, Boston acoustics and PSB speakers, all vintage. I'm using a Behringer 202 as an interface for now. I listen to mostly classical, and it sounds good, but not as good as CD in. The Behringer is a very cheapo DAC but it's good to start with, I'm looking for an upgrade.
Thx for reviewing the Audioengine but I am not going to invest in a dac ATM. I am content with the motherboard output, considering it is Asus ROG motherboard. I will be getting the Func HS260 that HardwareCanucks have reviewed as a start, and later-on upgrade to the ATH-M50X.
And as always thank you for your Quality Reviews @ HardwareCanucks.
Would you recommend those audioengine a5+ speakers? As I'm setting up a new audio setup and really like the bamboo finish, is it as good as it looks in the video ?
Is this worth a buy? I'm using the AudioEngine 5+ with an iMac atm. I will connect them to my TV later through 3.5mm headphone jack (since I dont have RCA output)
worth a buy?
Could you do a review of the Fiio E10 and contrast it to this?
No need. This is better. ;D
Nerdy Broski I don't know, the E10 gets pretty good reviews, and I really like mine.
I believe it boils down to the chipset, researching each model's chipset and what it is capable of, can really give you an idea of the type of quality you will be given. Everything else is just build quality, ergonomic controls, ease of use, features, appearance etc.
People need to know that not all headphones take advantage of the DAC/amp. Some headphones (usually) with lower impedance won't notice a difference at all, like the ATH-M50 for example.
True! but a quality amp will generally produce tighter bass with lower impedance headphones.
At the moment, I have three sources (HDTV, AppleTV and Bluray player) I want to hook up to an old Pioneer Amp. If the Bluray is connected to the TV via HDMI and passes through the TVs USB output (if my TV has a USB out) will the 5.1 channel signal be converted to 2.1?
I have my macbook pro 2014 connected to my Focusrite Scarlett Solo interface. From there the interface is connected to the aux connection on my stereo receiver. Would a DAC be beneficial to my set up? If so, would I place the DAC before or after my audio interface? I'm looking to achieve quality sound but am by no account a true audiophile. I'm new to the whole shebang. Thanks for your help.
This may be a dumb question, so forgive me. Does the volume knob only adjust the head phone amp on the D1 and not the signal you run to your Amp/Active speakers?
clear answer everyone like true sound of music needs a dedicated DAC and amplifier, if you don't need it that only means you already have a better DAC in your computer or hifi system. I assume the DAC in this video is headphone/pre amplifier DAC, it can't directly drive a passive speaker but a powered speaker.
Weird, I actually just received my own D1 earlier today. I'm also pretty happy with the boost it gave for music, movies and gaming on my PC.
Now I have a question, I was also trying to use it with my PS3 to watch blurays and game while using my better quality stereo headphones by connecting the optical cable; the thing is that while navigating through the menu I can hear the click noise effects, however when I go to play a game or play a video or bluray the sound stops. Could you guys have any idea on to how could a fix that?
Good video tho. I'm happy that more people are getting into better audio.
good :D i just discovered them!! extremely good dacs and upgradable!
question:
why are we converting digital to analog, shouldn't we be going digital to digital or what ever the future has instore?
Anything cheap ones to start of ?? Sounds interesting
Many popular headphones use 3,5mm input jacks. I don't think it's a con at all.
So I was thinking of buying a pair of JBL LSR305 or Yamaha HS5 but was going to just use the audio coming from my onboard. I was then told it'll still sound good but not as good with a audio interface. Then I was ran into this DAC. What is the difference between a DAC and Audio interface? They both seem to be produce a better sound than onboard. Is one better for monitoring? is one more flat?
if you have audio engine a5+ speakers plugged into the D1 does the D1 volume knob control the volume of the speakers or do you still have to control the volume with the knob on the speaker itself?
How do you think it magically cleans the sound? People don't prefer analog because it's cleaner but the total opposite because it adds warmth and color.
audio equipment should be neutral: if there's warmth and color in the music it should reproduce that, if there isn't, it shouldn't add it.
So, I'm considering buying the DT990 Pros (250 Ohm) and I'm wondering if I need to buy an amplifier or a DAC in order to power them properly. I don't have a sound card and i don't work with audio professionally; strictly gaming. Would it be worthwhile to pick up a DAC or amplifier?
I currently own a Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 USB soundcard to bypass my laptop's onboard audio solution. Would upgrading to the Audioengine D1 make much of a difference?
Saving up to get the A5+ in the future!
Is a DAC only useful for improving your Headphones sound or can you also it to give your speakers a better sound?
How much of an difference would this make to the sound quality of a pair of ADG1's from audio technica? also probably going to upgrade my music experience with a pair of either dt770 pro 32ohm edt. or a pair of m50x's ... will this be worth it or should I look for just a DAC at a lower price point? as far as I remember the adg1 are around 32ohm and I'll be using my new pair with my phone so I can't get anything with a really high impedence...
Great review mate and shed some light on how to remove noise from headphones connected to laptop i have a dell inspiron 17 7000 series and headphones is sony mdr xb70ap
would you shoot another video about how to get best (you think the best) audio experience, for around $200, $500, and $1,000? I totally have no idea why we need a tube amplifier, a DAC,---totally have no idea. Just think they are cool. And how to connect these devices. Afterall, sound test is hard to show via videos, just want to know what are these devices and how audio through these devices sounds so different? Another question, a good set of headphones, earbuds, and DAC, which worth the money?
Are there any DAC's that can utilise drive bays in a computer case? I usually only use my headphones and my desk is quite cluttered so an internal DAC (not a soundcard as I have no available slots for one) would be preferable.
Hey Dimitri I would like to ask if this amp/dac would be enough for Sennheiser HD650(HD6xx) or if I should get something better. What dac/amp you used in your recent video about HD6xx?
Did you end up getting the D1 dac for your hd650s? If so did they work for you?
Instead of getting a DAC, first thing which should happen , at least to those A5s... if them being raised off of the desk.
Off-topic : Which mic do you have plugged on your sweater?
Great review! Liked and Subscribed.
Captions say the Artist for the song “Angel” you mentioned is Meza 9. I don’t think that’s right. What is the name of the artist?
My Bedroom I have this DAC with the A5 Speakers and a 12in Sub using a Zantec Mini PC for online music ... WOW and using I may get another one for my PC which has the A2 Speakers and the Audioengine S8 Sub
hi i have sennheiser pc363d headphones with usb sound card enabling 7.1 surround sound as well as swan m10 speakers. will the DAC make them both sound better?
does the usb sound card do completely different things than the DAC? will they work together?
Headphone 7.1 "surround sound" is a complete gimmick and this if you don't already have a DAC it will make it sound WAY better
which is better creative blaster or this ?
DACs don't have a "sound". They will either work properly and not alter the signal or they will not, in which case they will sound different.
Everything will alter the signal, detecting and measuring the signal will alter the signal. The effect may be noticeably positive, noticeably negative, or unnoticeable.
An external DAC is just an upgrade for a computer that will likely play MP3 and MP4? Does this reduced quality audio really need a DAC? if you were playing soundcloud or a CD it would be a different story I imagine?
Will this DAC make my CD Player at home sound better (generic Sony DVD/CD HD recorder)?
My player goes straight into the preamp of my tube stereo, will this improve my audio?
Does a DAC basically do what the BBE sonic stomp does?
Cheers, sorry for carpet bombing you with questions.
Brian Cullen It depends on how loose the audio is. Audio compression can greatly reduce audio quality. So i recommend you buy a DAC with high quality looseless audio "Flac or Wav".
pum
Raman Sandhu What's pum?
look guys i have hyper cloud 2 headphones, should i buy dac? would i benefit from it at all with these headphones?
I don't understand why someone would spend $170 on just a DAC when you can pick up an audio interface for recording that does the same thing but also allows you to record so it has added features and most decent ones are around the same price...but I do a lot of recording on my computer so...maybe thats only for me? I dunno.
I am quite interested in this, but having no experience and just recently learning about this, $169 is a huge price to drop on something I'm not familiar with yet. I'm currently working with the steelseries siberia v2 USB sound card, & thinking of picking up a cheap FiiO DAC on Amazon just to see how they compare. Maybe in the future, upgrade to this and the Audio-Technica ATH-M50 combo if the DAC truly makes a differences.
I actually have the FiiO DAC from Amazon. Ive had it for many years. Reason i bought was because i wanted to hook up some computer speakers to my TV and it only had a digital audio out. So i bought that and hooked it up. It works great and it has never failed me. Just make sure the source is 2 channel and not 5.1 or some sort of surround sound because you will get horrible noise. But Ive yet to try out for music from a computer. Im curious now.
Question, if my speakers have a DAC built in that isn't as good as the D1 should I get a D1? Would it be compatible? The speakers are A2+ BTW.
Where did you get that sweater??? i want it, just in Florida can wear like for one month outta the year
Dear Hardware, Can you connect a DAC to a Logitech 2.1 Z623 speakers? Thanks.
Sherloid Bai tryed but nope
How about edifier r1280db?
I did & it sounded better than the onboard on my ASUS RVE10