seamammal

Ok, here's my take after doing homework... In a desktop environment I feel that sound card is more appropriate... more versatile, suitable for music, movie, and gaming....and less overhead on CPU utilization. DAC now i know only specialized in music... more apt for music appreciation and not much else.... Anyway the bottle neck is the multimedia speakers.... being multimedia speakers, even for the upper range ones, there's only so much they can achieve.... but this is not necessary a down side in itself, since the context we're talking about is PC environment, not audiophile Hi-Fi.... In the end I bought the Asus Xonar DX at $125 today. Now my sound card is fully supported in Win7 and Vista, unlike the old Sound Blaster 5.1, where Creative stopped its driver support for Vista and above( I started using Win7 RC recently). Tks for all the helpful comments and input.

Based on your line of logic then there would be no place for those $200-$300 sound cards in a multimedia setup.... i.e. XONAR D2x / Essence STX, Xi-Fi titanium Pro / Champ, Auzen Prelude / Forte / Xplosion... The Z4 actually is not that bad.... with something like a Xonar DX also means got headroom for an upgrade to a better speakers i.e. Gigawork T3.... not forgetting that sound cards are not just for speakers only.. also for my headphones/IEM... which i believe is good enuf to utilize the enhanced sound quality.... I am more interested to know whether it'll be better to go the DAC way at the given budget...

Hi all, Currently planning to upgrade my PC sound from Sound Blaster 5.1. Mainly listen to music and movies. Infrequent gaming. Speakers: Logitech Z-4i Budget = $150 Options: 1. Asus Xonar DX = $139 2.Creative Xi-Fi Titanium = $138 3. Budget DAC = $?? My question is would a $150 DAC be better than the 2 mentioned sound cards? Is there a worthy DAC at $150 in the local market? What's the Pro and Con of a DAC compared to a sound card? Can suggest some DACs that's inexpensive and work reasonably well? If DAC is way over budget I'll drop the idea and stick to a sound card, cause multimedia speakers wouldn't do justice to a hefty investment in DAC. Thank you.

Ya, got the black one..... because it looks better with yellow comply tips...

My impression after 2 days of UM2 listening sessions : 1) The vocal part is really good. I used a CD album by Keiko Lee, recorded in 1999 Tokyo Sony. It is a very well recorded CD. Compared to my Grado SR80, the vocal sounded much fuller, and warmer, and the distance is pulled nearer, as if I am next to the singer. I can "feel" her singing. Yes, "Feel" is the word, and I was ecstatic, that for the first time I am "involved" in the rendition. If you were there, you would've observed a smile just cracked across my face. Headphone performs differently from IEM, it is coming from outside the head instead of inside the head. Even with this taken into consideration, I still think UM2 has better emotional pull on me. 2) I can now better tell the difference in CD recording quality. CDs are not created equal, some are better recorded, some wanting in the sound quality department. With the new earphones, this fact has become even more glaring. Take for example the comparison of the aforementioned Keiko Lee album with a few of Jay Chou's. Zhou Jie Lun just cannot make it. I couldn't fathom, until I remembered that Jay's album were bought at Bugis Street at basement price, those are original however, just parallel imported, and published by PRC recording company under Sony BMG banner. Could that have something to do with the recording quality? 3) Bass compared to UM1 is good. But that is just to be expected. UM1 is a good entry IEM, but with a single driver, it has to compromise heavily on the bass department. UM2 bass on the other hand, has a free hand to exploit the second driver without taking away from the mid. Luckily the bass is not any lower than it is, otherwise it may encroach on the mid and high. 4 )Design wise, I sure hope the Y-cable is longer than it is, like the W3. I think it is more convenient to let the cable be in front, instead of behind run down along the spine. Microphonic is not a problem with UM1/2, I don't feel it when it is in front, except that the Y-cable is so short that if I were to do that the end of the Y comes up to my chin.... Could Westone come up with a revision series for UM1/2 with longer Y-cable?? So that at least we have an option of where to lay the Y? The above are just some of the my observations on the newly acquired UM2. At the end of the day, my pronouncement is : a fantastic buy Setup: Panasonic SL-CT720 PCDP, C&C box Portable Amp, UM2 IEM. Grado SR80, CrossRoad Mylar X3, UM1 (given away as gift)

Thank you . Ya, it was a tough choice between the 2 Westone earphones. Westone 3 was tempting nonetheless, but in the end my resistance was even stronger. Glad the buying part is over. Now is the time to enjoy what I've bought.

Was at SE auditioning shortly after work. Westone 3, UM2, IE8..... in the end, too hungry, went makan, and at the same time digest what I'd listened during the audition. IE8 is out of the race right from the beginning cos not to my taste... so it's just left with UM2 and Westone 3. After dinner, I returned to buy UM2. Why? Because the pursuit of a better sound is infinite(there will always be something better), but budget is finite(income got ceiling). It all boils down to what I am comfortable with in term of sound quality and price at the point of making a purchase. I know what I want and UM2 fits the need, it is easy to listen with. Westone 3 should be better, but is not mind blowing kind of good. Being better is not the sole factor in the final decision making process(unless oozing with goodness all over the place compared to the next best option). There's also cost to consider. UM2 can get the job done and still save me some $. I am not an audiophile nor a collector. But I'm aware of the gap to overcome in order to continue enjoying my music. UM2 serves in bridging that gap. I'm pretty happy with the purchase....

What about Westone 3? I know it is more than $400, but still dun know the actual selling price at SE. if the difference is not too much, would it be worth the extra $ to get this over the UM2?

Hi to all the Gurus, i am looking into upgrading my current IEM(low-end stuff), please recommend some of the plausible candidates out in the market now, budget range is $250 - $400, anything above $400 is too much and will probably be taken off the list.... Points to note: 1)Good value for money 2)Sound signature is quite personal, but don't worry, just throw in the possible candidates and I'll sort it out myself 3)Using with portable Amp 4) Music type = General a.k.a. pop, rock, classical, jazz, BUT no techno, heavy metal, mind disturbing kind Asking so that I can narrow down to the possible few and start doing the research.... Btw what's the best price that one can get for Westone UM2? Can PM me if it's not appropriate to post the prices here. Thank you very much.

Yes it is..... many many yerars back i tried one of these sony discman from a friend, about the same exterior design, all metal casing, looked and felt like a piece of hardware rather than some plastic-ky toy....But since it is made in the late 80's/early 90's era doubt it's able to play CDR/CDRW....

... Just to add to the above... if u guys intend to look for CT720 or CT820 at the above mentioned Sim Lim Tower shop... don't bother, cos they also dun have.....

I know... Was there last sunday, went to the same shop, it is the only one in that building with ample discman stock......BUT i don't trust the shop cause got the feeling they are out to chop people. CT800 quote me $250, CT710 $230, another old sony model display set quote $240, quite laughable lah... esp for the sony model... that kind of price is only 4-5yrs ago when that model just came out, some more a display set at that price?? Also the attitude of the shop keeper turned me off... On that same sunday i was also at Mustafa and People's Park. Mustafa don't have. People's Park also dun have. Darling Photo said the last CT720 set they sold was like ard $120. So a CT710 which is supposed to be less than CT720 was quoted by the Sim Lim Tower shop as $230... how to trust them?? Of course if some people desperate enuf may willingly let them chop carrot head... but definitely not me. Anyway already asked friend to look out for a discman in Japan since they will be there for a while during job station.

Hi to all, Pardon me if this question has been raised before, but has anyone spotted a good portable CD player on sale? I am looking for something similar to the Panasonic SL-CT720 / CT-820. Combing thru the forums the latest sighting of such device was Aug this year, but 4mths is a long time & they may not be available anymore. Went hunting for one yesterday, all i can find were those crappy ones without line-out. As to the better ones, Harvey Norman, Courts, Best Denki confirm don't have. Jade Gift shop(Tampines) also dun have. Clementi Electronics Centre replied the panasonics are already discontinued.... so no future stock coming in. Only left Mustafa haven't go down to take a look yet...