DAP to SMSL SU-8 to V220 via SE
Volume matching is Very close.
I have a test list of 44 songs, including Dave Matthews, Adele, Led Zeppelin, Head of the Herd, Counting Crows, etc. All songs I know very, very well.
I was led to believe that I would be “blown away” with the upgrade to BF2. My initial reaction is that I hear little to no difference between the two. Using my V220 remote and synching the sources I can go between the two devices in real time as the music is playing. I don’t hear any new depth or texture or anything else when switching to the BF2.
My landed cost on a BF2 in Canada was $1,135.00. Would I do it again? Nope!
Hopefully I will come to appreciate it more over time.
I should also mention that I do not consider myself an audiophile, do not have golden ears and am 60 years old.
Just my first thoughts. I will keep the DAC’s side by side for at least a week or two to do a full comparison.
I am not shocked. I am also the guy that thinks the HD600’s/HD650’s suck, so I obviously march to the sound of my own drummer.
When you get a chance after you finish what you doing now. Pair that Bf2 up with your LP - Those 2 dance very well.
The Bf2 is awesome, but may not necessarily be the most optimal dance partner for the vio. You may want to invoke @M0N for input. He has been helping me with sorting out my sources - specifically in regard to DAC pairings for my vio (v281).
One I knew was coming was lack of volume control (using DAP as a transport). BF2 to LP means the volume knob has a range of 7:30 to 8:00. Workable, but annoying.
I am not sure if the unit is defective or not but you can NOT pause the music or the signal stops transmitting through the S/PDIF cable. Then you have to unplug and re-insert the USB plug to get a signal flowing again. You can hear the DAC click when it is again receiving a signal. Finicky and probably won’t last with this “feature”.
I find the laptop interface beside my lazy boy annoying, but also kind of cool.
It takes up way too much space, but also limits my need to run into the office to enjoy the large monitor. And of course it offers volume control for the BF2.
I went out and bought a very nice laptop two and a half years for a project that quickly fizzled out and I never use it. I also like having iTunes next to me VS Sony’s less than ideal version of music management.
The BF2 has caused me to re-assess my current set-up so that’s probably a good thing.
Edit I just realized that perhaps I took two subjects, DAP and laptop, and made them one issue. If it is the DAP connecting via USB to the converter then most of this below (2nd half) is N/A. My bad. - I won’t delete just in case there is any value.
Are you running xlr out of the Bf2 into the LP? If so and if you are able can you run the SE out of the Bf2 into the SE of the LP. It may not help much but the lesser gain on the SE may improve the gain control on the LP some. And you can still use the balanced hp connection for your phones. With very little if any perceivable difference to SQ - just a thought.
For S/PDIF cable I assume you mean coaxial ? Or are you using the Toslink (optical) ? I have not experienced any pause/resume issues using the Toslink - I have not tried coaxial because I don’t have it available, so can’t say. But I tend to think the issue may be rooted in the converter - It does not appear to have an external power source - leading me to wonder if it is a low voltage quirk or related to power conservation.
Thanks for the response. My only laptop problem is a space one.
You are probably right on the converter thing, since it has no power. I am indeed using TOSlink out from the converter.
I had initially thought that SE would be a type of volume control since the difference is stark on the Violectric. The difference was barely noticeably on the LP? Of course the volume is barely on.
Cool - Yeah I did not find SE into the LP from the BF2 to make much difference either but, it was worth a try. The LP is known of the hot gain from that pot - just is what it is.
This is usually a PC or laptop thing but make sure there is no sleep or usb signal interupt when its not used. Windows power saving does this so the dap may have a similar option.
I paid a few extra dollars on amazon and it shipped prime and fast. I think thye fulfill those orders first because there is an up charge for them but mine came in fast.
No idea why it would not be any longer, i purchased mine a few months ago…
Edit: justccked their home page on Amazon, a bunch of items are currently unavailable. I assume they are having a bit of trouble keeping up w/ the demand for their products…
Yeah Jason implied that in a thread over on head-fi - I would have to go back and look again too and verify who was talking but I think they had an equipment failure on something - something about hydraulic leaks. IDR exactly. In any case yeah they are busting their butts over there to keep up w/demand.
Don’t forget that AKM had a fire and I’m sure that has had an impact on them. I think someone on here mentioned that they planned to change one of their DAC chips and delayed it due to the fire.
