pchong

Didn't you sell the LDM+ already?

It was on hold...but the buyer backed out last minute.

BTW, folks, even though the Black Emperor seems kind of expensive for this amp...it really goes well. The LDM+ is a little lean sounding, and the Black Emperor nicely brings and restores balance to the combo. I have edited the WTS to the LDM+ and Black Emperor as a set.

Up for Christmas!

For sale:

Alessandro MS-1 with MS-2 foam cup plus Sennheiser HD-414 yellow comfies. Purchased from Jaben about 3 months go. With box and original packaging. Asking S$140. Reduced.

Little Dot Micro +. Black, normal gain. Box and charger. Perfect condition with less than 30 hours use, still on original charge. Purchased with one of the Clemo's MO. I paid $53 from MO, plus $10 delivery. Black Emperor with the new smaller plugs. Purchased about same time as MS-1 from Stereo Electronics. Paid $59. Asking for $85 as a set of both amp and IC.

All in as new condition cosmetically as well in use. All prices negotiable, and package deal will be entertained. Please email chongp @ gmail.com (delete spaces) or sms to 98624280.

Hardly used because I bought a Stax SR-001 soon after.

Stax is easily found in Japan. BIC Camera, Yobadoshi, and many of the large stores in Akhhabara. I had one of my colleagues buy a SR-001 for me from BIC - convenience rather than price, and its about half of what Kingsley wants for one.

The site to look for places, if you can read Japanese, or find someone who can is www.kakaku.com. Here is the link for the O2:

http://kakaku.com/item/20467010452/

I think from what I read, two best amps for the O2 would be the KGBH or the SinglePower ES-1.

Nicely put, pchong. I do not think that any consumer DAP's today have a true line-out. They all implement some kind of "audio out" rather than a true line-out signal. They merely blast out the audio and disable the volume adjustment on the DAP, forcing you to adjust the volume via the connected amp, or powered speakers.

I am begining to think you are correct.

Strictly speaking, a true line-out is an un-amped signal, bypassing any amplification ciruitry that may induce distortion. The fact that you can hear very loud music from the Creative "AV Out" jack would imply some kind of amplification has taken place.

 

Now, whether this signal is any "cleaner" than from the headphone out is a matter of conjecture. Due to the max volume, I personally found it too hard to listen to it without using some fairly inefficient phones, like the 250ohm Beyer DT990 for example - which incidentally, sounded pretty good

 

Regarding the Red Wine mod, if you look at their site, it involves soldering a bypass of some sort on the PCB itself, presumably directly from the DAC circuitry. A fairly major hack, if you ask me

Actually, you are right...it says right here at the Red Wine ipod site http://www.redwineaudio.com/iMod.html that they take the analog signal directly at the analog output of the DA chips. Wonder if it is possible to do the same on the Zen?

Alsolutely nothing. When you plug in your earphone jack into line out socket you should hear somthing (usualy the volume will be lower then at you normal setting of your headphone out). If the EQ settings and volume control do no affect what you hear when your earphone is plugged into the line out then the chances are it's a true line out (ie doesnt go thru the final amplification and volume pot). Hope this helps.

Hmm, sounds right, if I may extrapolate from regular hifi, you want the DAP to do the voltage amplification (like a preamp), but want to bypass the headphone poweramp. Logical. But isn't EQ and volume control typically applied to the voltage gain preamp?

Can we totally eliminate the preamp stage within the DAP?

For the purist, a true line out would be one where the line out is tapped directly from the outputs of the DA chips. Does this kind of player exist? In a typical hifi CD player, is this how it is implemented? Or is there a voltage gain stage within the CD player?

Without opening up the DAP (and even if one opens it up), how to tell if the socket marked line out is true line out, or what?

In my 30G Zen Vision (not the V, but the larger player with 640x480 screen), there is a video line out socket, for plugging the device to a TV's line in. I know the socket is meant for L+R+video, but plugging in a regular 1/8" plug will allow connection to just the audio part. If I plug my headphones in, there is no volume control or EQ, and the sound I get is about max of the volume via the headphone socket. Also, this may be psycological, but I think I hear more instrument separation via the line out. So is the Zen Vision's line out a true one or fake?

My understanding of the Red Wine mods on the ipod, is that they tap the analog outputs directly from the DAC...anyone can verify? If this is true, it will explain why this is probably the best sound possible from a DAP, especially in lossless mode.

how do you know if it is a true line out or a faux one?

nobody willing to share?

I am very tempted to get the Dark Voice, currently on MO....the amp looks fantastic! I am wondering which phones do you guys intend to use with the amp?

Also, do they have a website? Do they have other amps?

BTW, Dark Voice got website or not ah?

a quick way I used when I was running tube amps was to use a variac. In fact, for the amps I used which had tubed power supply as well, I powered up at 100V, and over a period of half an hour to warm up the tubes moved the voltage up to 220V. I used a digital voltmeter connected to the variac. This schema will work, but may be too expensive for a $300 amp.

still in ChaoYang District? Hmmm...getting excited and impatient...:-)

LDM+

3) zenotic (black) normal gain paid

4) kai (black) normal gain paid (90109063)

5) Tristram (black) normal gain paid (97439826)

6) inxo (black) normal gain paid (93621018)

7) zonalbiltz audio (black) normal gain paid (96879210, SMS only, might not be convenient to pick calls)

8) proton (black) normal gain paid (96178984)

9) shane (black) normal gain paid (96798026)

10) pchong (black) normal gain paid (98624280)

LD2+

2) neon (black) normal gain paid

3) sicknature (black) normal gain paid (90089837)

Thanks man!

ho say liao. Maybe we can get the amp next week...:-)

quick question, guys...why are good new ones so hard to find? What about portable DVD players?

Does anyone know if there is an audiophile manufacturer who does a portable CD setup?

Hi Clemo, money transferred to your POSB acct. Sent you PM and sms.

new only $170 la from Jeben. I have one, but not looking at selling.

ya, the Vision which is a PMP...I use it mainly for audio...rippind DVDs are a chore! I also use the convenient CF slot for photos directly from my Canon gear.

Thanks Scanfield.

The Vision does have a dedicated line out, which dongles into 3 x RCA - for video. This was provided to connect the Vision to a TV to playback video etc.

I think the Vision is a higher end model than the Vision:M...given both ate 30GB, and the Vision is more expensive, so I am hopeful...now S$499 vs S$625. How can I find out if it is a true line out or just a headphone out at full blast.

wah, nobody use Zen Vision meh?

oh, good...thanks.

Please sign me up for one, black normal gain...for MS1 and UM1.

thanks, i just signed up for the LDM+ MO.

But would still appreciate if anyone has comments on line out vs headphone out. Also, for the LDM+, when i get it, I guess I should try both modes to see what I prefer...but anybody have any guidance now?

um...is it too late to sign up for an LDM+?

Hi all,

am new here...just bought an MS-1 from Jaben...and using with Zen Vision. Am wondering if I should get an amp...but would require a portable one. Of course, looking and reading would seem PA2V2 or a Super Micro would be a good choice...but don't have opportunity to audition. What do you guys recommend?

Also, the Vision has a line out via a plug at the side...think this would be better sound rather than headphone output into amp?

Thanks, and cheers.