I've just read a pretty glowing review by Andrew Everard of the Marantz HD-DAC1 in Gramophone. I jusr wondered if anybody had tried it as a DAC or as headphone amplifier or as pre-amp.
Chris
Chris
Marantz HD-DAC1
- Thread starter Covenanter
- Start date
Only briefly in store. I liked it, but didn't really listen for long so it was hard to compare it to my current DAC/HPA/Pre-amp.
A shame that the "wooden" sides are actually plastic. Lovely looking piece of kit. Sounded good. Very much like the higher end Marantz CD players. I read a Japanese review where they thought it was a bit better than the SA-14S1 through the CD player's headphone output. I couldn't comment. It's a product niche I'm very interested in because I plan to use one to run a pair of active speakers, as well as for headphone listening.
Also briefly checked out the Pioneer U-05, which has a more analytical sound. I'm leaning towards the U-05 because I'm a sucker for detail and it has balanced outputs. The Marantz had a nice open feel to the sound and plenty of detail, but typical Marantz smoothness. Not as full bodied and smooth as Luxman kit like the DA-200, but I ruled out the Luxman because it has no remote (and the balanced output is only fixed level). I still think the Marantz would look better in my living room, but I guess I need to audition more thoroughly. No chance of a home audition, so I think the best I can hope for is taking my headphones the the store and comparing the two pieces of equipment there and comparing them to my Icon HDP.
A shame that the "wooden" sides are actually plastic. Lovely looking piece of kit. Sounded good. Very much like the higher end Marantz CD players. I read a Japanese review where they thought it was a bit better than the SA-14S1 through the CD player's headphone output. I couldn't comment. It's a product niche I'm very interested in because I plan to use one to run a pair of active speakers, as well as for headphone listening.
Also briefly checked out the Pioneer U-05, which has a more analytical sound. I'm leaning towards the U-05 because I'm a sucker for detail and it has balanced outputs. The Marantz had a nice open feel to the sound and plenty of detail, but typical Marantz smoothness. Not as full bodied and smooth as Luxman kit like the DA-200, but I ruled out the Luxman because it has no remote (and the balanced output is only fixed level). I still think the Marantz would look better in my living room, but I guess I need to audition more thoroughly. No chance of a home audition, so I think the best I can hope for is taking my headphones the the store and comparing the two pieces of equipment there and comparing them to my Icon HDP.
muljao
Well-known member
2 years on, has anybody any experience with these. Any alternatives in the similar sub 600 pound range
muljao said:
but I'd consider looking around for this. Maybe available a little closer to budget.
http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/pioneer-u-05-s-headphone-amplifier-usb-dac.html
available under budget. 4 stars review on here but personally I take ****** all notice of what hifi reviews as a rule.
but perhaps worth saving the extra... and I know you had one eye on this.
http://www.itemaudio.co.uk/20_emotiva
UK supplier, strange, well at least hard to come by anyway.
Edit; Under budget, a little limited with outputs but can still be used as a basic pre-amp. I love the looks though. The active bug still biting then? ;-) Anyway... oh yes, class A.
http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/audeze-deckard-class-a-headphone-amplifier-usb-dac.html
http://www.itemaudio.co.uk/20_emotiva
UK supplier, strange, well at least hard to come by anyway.
Edit; Under budget, a little limited with outputs but can still be used as a basic pre-amp. I love the looks though. The active bug still biting then? ;-) Anyway... oh yes, class A.
http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/audeze-deckard-class-a-headphone-amplifier-usb-dac.html
muljao
Well-known member
luckylion100 said:
Active speakers, who would want them
. I bought a set of Mackie Mr6 mk3s today. I helped a buddy set up a pair of presonus Eris e5s the other day and i couldn't resistmuljao
Well-known member
The Emotiva is number one on my list but it will be a while so thought I'd research the options prior the purchase
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