A fine little DAC

Rest of the replay system is a PC running XP, with iTunes and the music ripped from about 520 CDs in ALAC. The old Soundcard was from Creative.

The headphones are Sennheiser HD 415s. Very comfortable and with a nice amount of detail and good balance of musical lines - no exageration of the toplines or the bass lines and the middle voices very lucid ...

ATB from George

One thing that does come through in listening is the sense of energy and inciseness [where appropriate] in performance. Something Frank F described to me [in another context describing different cartridges]: It gives the sense of the Rosin on the [stringed instrument] bows. I recognise the timbral correctness of this. Even double basses have this though a lot of replay, expensive or otherwise, misses this aspect.

ATB from George

Hi George.

This looks just the thing for late night laptop listening. The H/P output on mine is awful. I'd be very interested in your thoughts regarding the amp/dac after a couple of days familiarity with it. Hope it suits you. Cheers, Paul.

Dear Paul,

Is yours the same make? Apparently some of the Muse products are the same design as those of the better known [see Headfi Forum] Aune products though I imagine that there is a reason for the Muse being less money, but if the actual individual unit is fine, even if luck is involved, I am more than content.

Mine is top-draw, and surprising indeed. I thought it would be worth a punt, and lady luck has shone on me.

Next thing is to find a replacement for the Sennheisers, as they have had a lot of use! I will stick with Senns though!

ATB from George

Hi George. Sorry, I seem to have misspoke myself. I don't have a one. I'm looking for a headphone amp and thought it might be useful to get one with a dac for the laptop too. Hence my interest in your Muse. It sounds very inexpensive and therefore good for my present unemployed status.

Dear Paul,

Sorry to read that you are not in work. I have been there and I can sympathise from experience. When you get back to work, it seems to me that you have learned a lot from wanting to work when no one seems to want you to.

To be honest nowadays, I try to keep spending on replay to the minimum, as I am accutely aware that any job/work is not guaranteed to be as permanent as one might hope, and therefore housing may once again be a single room in a shared house however unpleasant that potentially might be. Having anything of value is to put temptation in the way of potential tealeaves! So best travel light in my experience ...

Best of luck with your hunt, and don't just take the first job you are offered, but stick out for a job that you know you will be good at and enjoy!

Best wishes from George

George,

Do you have a website/email address to order these from as I have been looking for a modest DAC to partner with my AppleTV?

Thanks,

Jono

Dear Jono,

Plug USB DAC into eBay search, or even Aune or Muse Audio into it, and results will come up.

There is no way to buy these in UK, otherwise, as far as I know, and there is a risk element of course, but accepting that it can go wrong, the result has pleased me. I put this in the Cell, because compaired to buying in the UK from reputable people, the process might be thought a little mad!

ATB from George

George,

Thanks for the pointers. I look forward to trying one.

Jono

PS is there snow at yours?

Jono,

Pop over to Worcester and try mine. You're only ten miles away!

No snow here!

ATB from George

George,

Got it.

Jono

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:
Dear Paul,

Sorry to read that you are not in work. I have been there and I can sympathise from experience. When you get back to work, it seems to me that you have learned a lot from wanting to work when no one seems to want you to.

To be honest nowadays, I try to keep spending on replay to the minimum, as I am accutely aware that any job/work is not guaranteed to be as permanent as one might hope, and therefore housing may once again be a single room in a shared house however unpleasant that potentially might be. Having anything of value is to put temptation in the way of potential tealeaves! So best travel light in my experience ...

Best of luck with your hunt, and don't just take the first job you are offered, but stick out for a job that you know you will be good at and enjoy!

Best wishes from George

Hi George. Thanks for the empathy, you are a gentleman indeed.

Paul.

Little update.

After five days:- There seems next to no sign of "running-in" as such, though the sound certainly became better organised in the first day, but this could be put down to initial warming-up.

It has not resulted in me hunting out exceptionally fine recordings, "to test" it, as its gains over the PC sound card apply just as nicely to any sort of recording. Interstingly it does reveal the different characteristics of different recordings, which is something I have found in the best replay. But it is exquisitely fine at filling in the details "in musical performance" such as the micro-dynamics of the musical phrase, shading of instrumental colour, and fine rhythmic nuances, so that it is remarkably pleasing as "musical" replay device, quite as much as one that has an immediately impressive sound.

It is anything but a dull performer of its task. Very pleasing.

ATB from George

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:
Dear Paul,

Is yours the same make? Apparently some of the Muse products are the same design as those of the better known [see Headfi Forum] Aune products though I imagine that there is a reason for the Muse being less money, but if the actual individual unit is fine, even if luck is involved, I am more than content.

Mine is top-draw, and surprising indeed. I thought it would be worth a punt, and lady luck has shone on me.

Next thing is to find a replacement for the Sennheisers, as they have had a lot of use! I will stick with Senns though!

ATB from George

It's the older version. The current Aune has these upgrades.
Power switch
Nichicon & MUSE capacitors
WIMA capacitors
ALPS Type 27 volume control
TO-92 BC550/560 upgraded to TO-220 TIP41C/TIP42C (headphone out)
new board and layout
Lacks TOS.
I think it can be ordered with a linear supply.

I'm really not into these USB recievers that use standard windows USB 1.1 code but that's me. The digital input DR9001 is not special compared to the cirrus chips. CS8412/4/6 are still preferred by most, cost twice as much(no coincidence) and the DR9001 will not do 192k(not a big deal for most) and you're not using this input so no biggy. None of this matters one iota if it meets your needs and rings your bell. Glad it's doing that for you. I just get a kick out of some of the techno propaganda.

Dear John,

At about the came cost [without postage] as a Naim SNAIC, the thing is easily the best VHM that I have ever found in replay, so that being one step behind the latest designs does not strike me as being very sugnificant! Many respectable and respected designs are not of the first generation of the latest ideas, though people hadly seem to notice in those cases.

As connected [via USB] to my iTunes based PC it has not one single replay flaw that grabs attention and spoils the effect. I can think of massively more expensive things that are "obviously" flawed in one way or another in their replay - items I would not give house room to ...

I have already described what is fine about it, but I'll add that I can see no reason why anyone who requires to drive headphones would actually need anything more expensive or complex, and I do care that the music I love is adequately reproduced!

ATB from George

quote:

I can see no reason why anyone who requires to drive headphones would actually need anything more expensive or complex

That's an easy one as there is only one manufacturer that makes headphones that I find OK to listen too - I just can't get on with any other headphones I've heard - I always get a headache - those I refer to are



no headache - just music.

Dear ROTF,

Well done you, but I have been a settled Sennheiser headphone user since the mid '80s!

No reason to change, and this new little amp powers them nicely.

I suspect my Sennheiser HD 415s probably cost less than the connecting cable on the Stax-type shown in your post, so I am well off as I am! I have never been completely happy spending exhorbitant sums of money on luxury items for myself. It robs me of any potential pleasure afterwards - the feeling that the money should have been better spent, or saved for a rainy day.

ATB from George

Dear George

Stax make some headphones for an iPod for a lot less than you might think - cheaper than most headphone amps + moving coil headphones and they have that magic electrostatic quality.

iPod + Stax earspeakers makes for a very nice little system - for less than a computer + amp + phones; not suggesting it's for you, but it does provide a great entry level system for well under £500 including the iPod.

The phones pictured above are the latest version of the best earspeakers I've heard, but even the humblest Stax seems to have a magic that phones costing much more (e.g. Grado) - and the Grado need a headphone amp too.

They have all the best qualities of electrostatic speakers - I think there is a perception that they cost far more than they do. I always think electrostatics suit classical music particularly well - especially some of the operas in English series where it becomes like a Radio 4 play set to music (not a great description I know, but it can make very enjoyable listening).

ATB Rotf

not suggesting it's for you, but it does provide a great entry level system for well under £500 including the iPod.

Dear ROTF.

The reality is that is slightly more than five times what my entire replay set cost me, though the hours of my own time that was spent ripping my CDs [520, in time terms at 70 minutes per disc, though representing quite few more because I only ripped items of true continuing interest for me], and correcting titling details to make things easily found must count for something.

I suppose that it might almost sound something approaching churlish to say it, but the arrangement is fine enough for me to not even consider upgrading the headphones! It might sound even more nearly churlish to say that by now - even if I won the Lottery - I would think of many things to improve before changing it! It would be true to say that unless I could afford to buy a detached house, then the set would remain as it is!

That is how pleased I am with it!

If I ever went back into loudspeaker replay, I would go as far as either a Nait XS, or 72/Hi/140 onto SBLs. I could never bring myself to spend more than that in fairness, though I can fully comprehend why others might, but it is a frustration of mine with this Forum that many here are not satisfied till they have suggested spending more of someone else's money than that the recipient of the advice would countenance.

This is something that has always had me shaking my head, because good enough is just that - good enough.

If the set is good enough [and that for me is a long step short of the best approach to perfection that is possible], then the music shines through and grips the listener in an ecstatic fashion!

I simply wonder what else matters on the subject!

Best wishes from George

George,

Looks well built. Sounds like a great box.

Do you know it supports ASIO by any chance?

Cheers!
-p

Dear Patrick,

I do not know, but if I am bypassing the soundcard with USB is ASIO of any significance?

In any case there are no clicks in the sound or digital nasties.

The sound itself is not exagerated in any way. Very clear and wideband, but not with too much bass or over-emphasised treble lines.

The middle lines are superbly lucid so that the voice of solo singers is beautifully almost tangible!

Nothing to wish being different!

ATB from George

George,

If bit perfection is important to you, which I highly doubt, then yes ASIO is significant.

If you are using iTunes as a player it is a moot point though.

I was just curious. I couldn't find specs online.

-p

Dear Patrick,

What concerns me is firstly, does it work as replay from a musical stance?

If the answer is yes [and it is good VFM] then I don't tend to ask any more questions!

ATB from George

PS: For my idea of what constitutes successful replay, please follow the link. It is clearly layed out here, and this little set manages as well as the best I have heard - Frank F's CDS3[555PS], 552, twin 300s actively driving SL2s:

http://forums.naim-audio.com/e...722935827#2722935827

You will need to follow the links to understand how I can easily compair the two!

ATB from George

Just an upgate, and a link to what has proved to be a splendid little cheap upgrade.

http://forums.naim-audio.com/e...8019385/m/9202927827

A Maplins 12 volt regulated [non-switching] power supply, has really given the little machine the kind of sonic authority which makes the aspect of apparent replay infelicity [associated with all replay to some degree, even the most expensive] that much less obvious.

I could not be more pleased.

Best wishes from George