My demo set-up
My demo set-up. A Mac mini streaming audio over the Ethernet using SlimServer. The music itself is encoded with the Apple lossless codec and stored on an external hard drive connected via a WiebeTech Firewire DriveDock. The Squeezebox 2 receives the stream and transfers it over on optical digital connection to a Headroom Overture DAC connected to a Headroom Coda amplifier, to which Sennheiser HD650 headphones are hooked up (with the stock cable, I don’t believe in cable snake oil).
My demo set-up
My demo set-up. A Mac mini streaming audio over the Ethernet using SlimServer. The music itself is encoded with the Apple lossless codec and stored on an external hard drive connected via a WiebeTech Firewire DriveDock. The Squeezebox 2 receives the stream and transfers it over on optical digital connection to a Headroom Overture DAC connected to a Headroom Coda amplifier, to which Sennheiser HD650 headphones are hooked up (with the stock cable, I don’t believe in cable snake oil).
Ray Samuels
Ray Samuels, making an emphatic point.
Ray Samuels
Ray Samuels, making an emphatic point.
Paolo’s Channel Islands DAC and a Woo Audio tube amplifier
Paolo’s Channel Islands DAC and a Woo Audio tube amplifier
Dan Gardner’s homebrew Gilmore amps. Dan is now wondering how to take his home-built ethos to the next level.
Dan Gardner’s homebrew Gilmore amps. Dan is now wondering how to take his home-built ethos to the next level.
Paolo, a.k.a. calaf, with the smaller of his two Woo Audio tube amps.
Paolo, a.k.a. calaf, with the smaller of his two Woo Audio tube amps.
For a change, I connected the Squeezebox 2 to Daniel Gardner’s Benchmark DAC1. A very impressive piece of gear, with an excellent headphone amplifier section in its own right but shown here with Daniel’s DIY amps based on Kevin Gilmore’s designs. Left: Dynahi. Right: Dynalo.
For a change, I connected the Squeezebox 2 to Daniel Gardner’s Benchmark DAC1. A very impressive piece of gear, with an excellent headphone amplifier section in its own right but shown here with Daniel’s DIY amps based on Kevin Gilmore’s designs. Left: Dynahi. Right: Dynalo.
Clarke reflecting deeply while performing A/B testing of the Benchmark DAC1 against the new Headroom Portable Desktop DAC+amp combo.
Next to those two amps are a Channel Islands VDA-1 DAC, VHP-1 amp and VAC-1power supply (only one, though, it’s like Sophie’s choice whether to power the DAC or the amp). Next is a Musical Fidelity X-DAC V3, X-CAN V3 and X-PSU V3. In the foreground, a Singlepower Maestro ZR. The consensus of A/B testers was that the Channel Islands stack is nearly undistinguishable from the Musical Fidelity, and thus offers better value. The Benchmark DAC1 was higher rated than the VDA-1 when used as a pure DAC. When comparing the DAC1’s built-in amplifier against the CI stack, the results were more mixed.
Clarke reflecting deeply while performing A/B testing of the Benchmark DAC1 against the new Headroom Portable Desktop DAC+amp combo.
Next to those two amps are a Channel Islands VDA-1 DAC, VHP-1 amp and VAC-1power supply (only one, though, it’s like Sophie’s choice whether to power the DAC or the amp). Next is a Musical Fidelity X-DAC V3, X-CAN V3 and X-PSU V3. In the foreground, a Singlepower Maestro ZR. The consensus of A/B testers was that the Channel Islands stack is nearly undistinguishable from the Musical Fidelity, and thus offers better value. The Benchmark DAC1 was higher rated than the VDA-1 when used as a pure DAC. When comparing the DAC1’s built-in amplifier against the CI stack, the results were more mixed.
Karsten, a.k.a bubbagump, sitting behind a Headroom Max balanced amp.
Karsten, a.k.a bubbagump, sitting behind a Headroom Max balanced amp.
Leeav, a.k.a. NeilPeart, relaxing in the high-end room
Leeav, a.k.a. NeilPeart, relaxing in the high-end room