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@@bradhuskers I don't have the set to re-do it. Those were loaned to me. Also you can get access to the old demos if you are patron. Its just audio only.
Hello!!!!!!!! Please, can you compare Fiio KA3 vs Zen Dac ? (In term of SOUND quality) I have HarmonicDyne Zeus... And I trying to find fair AMP/DAC (small good one without TON of nuclear power and additional features) P.S. I use an Onkyo Receiver NR-TX676E It have chip AK9977 (or something) and headphone output.... I don't understand.. it's good enough ? Thank YOU! I bought Zeus because of your review :D
Agreed. This combo but balanced DAC with 4.4mm output into a balanced version of the amp with a 4.4mm pre-out I can feed to my MT604 is something I'd buy instantly.
I ordered this AMP & DAC combo from shenzenaudio after i saw you review. It just came in today and delivery took approximately 2 weeks. It pair perfect with my Hifiman Sundara's which i bought earlier after watching you review :) My previous setup was AKG K7XX paired with a S.M.S.L M3 Big thanks !
Sorry to hear you got the Covid. Take care of yourself. Thanks for a great year of great reviews and laugh out loud entertainment. Oh, and the artwork, indeed. I moved to Japan in 2021, you would literally go insane here just walking down the street. Beautiful.
I've been away from my home set up for almost 2 months and strangely I don't miss them. I only have the Nanna v2 and GO blue with me. Didn't expect that!
@@drewbocop once you get past the $400 mark all headphones have high quality sound merely depends what type you prefer high bass, low treble, etc.; your ears cannot differentiate the infinitesimal adjustments that make a headphone have superior audio quality after a certain point which if you cannot hear it what is the point? knowing it is superior and understanding the experience, yet unable to properly partake in it via human ear limits must be insufferable
I'd like to see a company make an R2R dac that isn't $900+...something that's accessible for more people at $400 or below. Although I'm still not sure if dacs actually matter for sound quality, but this is why I'd like an affordable R2R dac to compare to my DS dacs
@@tenveri ya, other than schiit multibit. I’m not sure if that’s technically the same or not. Even if it was just a few other brands that tried to implement it in some way, competition would help us know more
Just keep listening to different DACs. You’ll learn only from your own experience if they matter for sound quality. Try the Chord MOJO. I think it’s about $500 . It’s not R2R DAC but a FPGA type DAC. Try before you buy if you can.
They should add a small OLED screen to both dacs and amps so that we can program it with gifs for when audio is playing or paused, or when different inputs are selected. Of course this is for waifus.
i have this stack now too great set up, thanks very much for a good review. ended up getting sent a silver amp & a black dac. surprisingly looks awesome
Honey tea for the win! Also, ginger tea works a treat. Great review, glad to hear you're over the covid. I can see that ground thing being a real turn off... turns ME off. I would like SMSL to have more colour options then black or silver... Purple?
I love your channel, you really got me into listening to my music in a totally different way. I have a question I have the loxjie d30, I was wondering if you would recommend anything extra to give it some extra punch .
If you want to review more combo dac/amps you should really take a look at the sound blaster g6. It's a gaming amp so I didnt expect much when I ordered it for my laptop but I was very surprised. Features aside, the sound is great, definitely my favorite amp I've tried out of about 10 or 11 sub $200 combo units. Its bus powered but has loads of power for even hard to drive headphones. It uses seperate amps for right and left channel, has a great dac and even has a mic input that sounds considerably better than a motherboard mic input. You turn off all the gaming audio coloration that it offers and it's a legitimate audiophile headphone amp/dac. I was surprised when I realized you havent reviewed it yet.
Based on your love of the Zendac v2, I’ve set on getting that to use with my iems. How does this compare to that? Also, I assume powered speakers would work fine with this smsl setup?
Not a flagship replacement by any means, but I am successfully driving my new Hifiman 400se with the 7.99 cents, for a pair, dac 3.5mm adapter which I nearly threw out for being horrible (noise floor) for my Tin T2s, shp 9500s, and sensitive closed back headphones. Bojuren USB to headphones jack is the product on Amazon. At max volume the headphones are a bit too loud so they are driven well enough for ANYONE with the Hifiman 400se to just buy it. I seriously canceled my ifi go blu order until I know if the price will decrease. When I pair it with my old fiio kilimanjaro OG portable amp it really makes me think I might wait for the ifi go blu to decrease in price before I purchase as I have a bunch of Bluetooth receivers all over the house. Basically, 8 dollars for 2.
Z i've just received my hd600. They are paired with an smsl su8 v2 dac for pc music. Does it wort to bother investing in a balanced 2 xlr cable? Will there be a big improvement? Thanks for the potential answer
I don't know if this is a crazy idea or not, but I want dacs to be able to all link up to each other so you can have one master dac communicating with several slave dacs. Also just VU meters on everything.
Bruh, I'm one of the few that have the AQ Nighthawk. Got this stack 2 weeks ago, for shits and giggles. I know you have the AQ headphones, as well. Those + this stack (FL3, DP1) + anything vocal (Chris Cornell, anyone?). Thank me never
soo smsl su6 and topping e50 are quite similar in terms of sound signature and kick& slam factor? Because if rise in price of e50 are because xlr or trs outputs...smsl su6 is a bargain and a winner in case you dont needed that.
Hello!!!!!!!! Please, can you compare Fiio KA3 vs Zen Dac ? (In term of SOUND quality) I have HarmonicDyne Zeus... And I trying to find fair AMP/DAC (small good one without TON of nuclear power and additional features) P.S. I use an Onkyo Receiver NR-TX676E It have chip AK9977 (or something) and headphone output.... I don't understand.. it's good enough ? Thank YOU! I bought Zeus because of your review :D
What weird stuff do we wanna see? Ok, so we have Bluetooth on these for when yo don't want to bother bringing your entire computer next to the stack.... Now what if we had a type-c to type-c connection so an android phone could directly use the DAC?
Trying to start my audiophile journey has been exhausting. I was originally looking at the ifi Zen Dac V2 after seeing the Schiit stack but now I have this to consider! I was originally digging through closedbacks & looking at the Aeon Noire or Fostex TH610 but I'm starting to think of open backs during the day & use my v moda m-100s at night. This has been one hell of a rabbit hole to jump down & research. Thank you for all the information you provide!
@Z Reviews I got it for under cost new. would it still be good for paying under $ cost about whats they going on drop website with a 2 year warrenty or should I go a different route. And Thanks for the replying . Hope u doing better and stay safe and healthy.
I still have the SMSL panda stack and I love them for my powered desktop speakers, but I have the Topping D90SE/Topping A90 for my IEMs an Headphones hehe
I'd rather get a magni at $99. I don't see how the amp competes with Schiit. The magni's power seems to stay fairly stable, 2.4w at 32ohm instead of 1.3 for example. And the magni is about as clean you're going to get for the money. And it's a headphone dac\amp, it's not like I'm sitting across the from from it with a 20 ft headphone cable :p and need a remote that badly. I have the SMSL sp200 as well, I prefer my magni all things considered.
Do you realize you'll blow up your eardrums with a couple of milliwatts with nearly all modern headphones? The power war between amp manufacturers is silly unless you have some ridiculous hard to drive headphone and then you do not shop for amps in the 120$ range.
@@Jaml321 And yet your argument really doesn't make any sense. If you can get the extra power, be just as clean or cleaner in it's delivery, why would you pay more for an inferior product? And pay less while doing it... Don't quite see your point. Also I'll take schiit quality over smsl any day.
@@kendil22 Most modern headphones have a sensitivity of about 90 db/mw and a lot of them over 100 db/mw which if listened at those levels for prolonged periods of time will damage your hearing. So if you take a 100% headroom a 2 milliwatt amp could drive most headphones cleanly at safe listening levels. Having an amp with more than a Watt is more than ridiculous, quality of components is far more important than output power.
@@Jaml321 And I'd stack schiit against smsl for quality any day of the week and twice on friday. There's this neat device on amps... it's called a volume knob. If it's too loud turn it down.
Smsl reminds me of samsung… plenty of models, several price levels covered, with similar products… and new products launched every six months… please, stop…
![VICTOR Denmark Open 2024 | An Se Young (KOR) [1] vs. Gregoria Mariska Tunjung (INA) [5] | SF](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Y3QEyCih85s/mqdefault.jpg)
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Want to see these Reviews Early, Get in on Monthly Yard Sales, Hear Sound Demos? Check out...
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Z.
Can you please post another sound demo for the klipsch fives. It appears that RUclips took down your original sound demo.
@@bradhuskers I don't have the set to re-do it. Those were loaned to me. Also you can get access to the old demos if you are patron. Its just audio only.
@@ZReviews Hope you feel better Zeos, I recently got covid and it's not fun. At least it usually passes in like 10 days.
Hello!!!!!!!! Please, can you compare Fiio KA3 vs Zen Dac ? (In term of SOUND quality)
I have HarmonicDyne Zeus... And I trying to find fair AMP/DAC (small good one without TON of nuclear power and additional features)
P.S. I use an Onkyo Receiver NR-TX676E
It have chip AK9977 (or something) and headphone output.... I don't understand.. it's good enough ?
Thank YOU! I bought Zeus because of your review :D
SMSL needs to do an amp like that but with a 4.4 connection too
Agreed. This combo but balanced DAC with 4.4mm output into a balanced version of the amp with a 4.4mm pre-out I can feed to my MT604 is something I'd buy instantly.
I ordered this AMP & DAC combo from shenzenaudio after i saw you review.
It just came in today and delivery took approximately 2 weeks.
It pair perfect with my Hifiman Sundara's which i bought earlier after watching you review :)
My previous setup was AKG K7XX paired with a S.M.S.L M3
Big thanks !
Glad you had a good recovery Z. Onward and upward!
Searches for DPLL for the DAC:
-"Is it mentioned in the manual?" (Stares at the AMP manual for one minute without noticing).
That was funny. Poor guy is definitely ill.
Nice attention.
Sorry to hear you got the Covid. Take care of yourself. Thanks for a great year of great reviews and laugh out loud entertainment. Oh, and the artwork, indeed. I moved to Japan in 2021, you would literally go insane here just walking down the street. Beautiful.
I've been away from my home set up for almost 2 months and strangely I don't miss them. I only have the Nanna v2 and GO blue with me. Didn't expect that!
Congratulations on realizing audiophilia is a disorder, not a fact. :)
@@drewbocop once you get past the $400 mark all headphones have high quality sound merely depends what type you prefer high bass, low treble, etc.; your ears cannot differentiate the infinitesimal adjustments that make a headphone have superior audio quality after a certain point which if you cannot hear it what is the point? knowing it is superior and understanding the experience, yet unable to properly partake in it via human ear limits must be insufferable
I'd like to see a company make an R2R dac that isn't $900+...something that's accessible for more people at $400 or below. Although I'm still not sure if dacs actually matter for sound quality, but this is why I'd like an affordable R2R dac to compare to my DS dacs
cayin ru6 sounds like the product you're looking for
affordable R2R DAC, modi multibit?
@@tenveri ya, other than schiit multibit. I’m not sure if that’s technically the same or not. Even if it was just a few other brands that tried to implement it in some way, competition would help us know more
Cayin RU6
Just keep listening to different DACs. You’ll learn only from your own experience if they matter for sound quality. Try the Chord MOJO. I think it’s about $500 . It’s not R2R DAC but a FPGA type DAC. Try before you buy if you can.
They should add a small OLED screen to both dacs and amps so that we can program it with gifs for when audio is playing or paused, or when different inputs are selected. Of course this is for waifus.
i have this stack now too great set up, thanks very much for a good review. ended up getting sent a silver amp & a black dac. surprisingly looks awesome
Honey tea for the win!
Also, ginger tea works a treat.
Great review, glad to hear you're over the covid.
I can see that ground thing being a real turn off... turns ME off.
I would like SMSL to have more colour options then black or silver... Purple?
it makes me happy Z is still enjoying his Grado’s
Get well soon Z.
Im good now. My 10 days ended on the 4th. I just have to get back to making regular content.
@@ZReviews If you need a few days then take them. We will still be here. Fook the algorithm. :0)
The killing time is such a banger, thanks for the track ID :)
A warm/cold switch/knob 🤘🌈
Amazing review! i will build my first system. thanks a lot!
I love your channel, you really got me into listening to my music in a totally different way. I have a question I have the loxjie d30, I was wondering if you would recommend anything extra to give it some extra punch .
If you want to review more combo dac/amps you should really take a look at the sound blaster g6. It's a gaming amp so I didnt expect much when I ordered it for my laptop but I was very surprised. Features aside, the sound is great, definitely my favorite amp I've tried out of about 10 or 11 sub $200 combo units. Its bus powered but has loads of power for even hard to drive headphones. It uses seperate amps for right and left channel, has a great dac and even has a mic input that sounds considerably better than a motherboard mic input. You turn off all the gaming audio coloration that it offers and it's a legitimate audiophile headphone amp/dac. I was surprised when I realized you havent reviewed it yet.
He did the G7 I think.
Based on your love of the Zendac v2, I’ve set on getting that to use with my iems. How does this compare to that? Also, I assume powered speakers would work fine with this smsl setup?
The up/down/left/right don't work?
Have you tried up up down down left right left right B A Start?
A clone of the IFI xbase and 3d options on the amp would be amazing.
Another awesome review Zeos 😎
Get well soon bud.
happiness? not there yet. even if in garden of Eden. I'll miss your voice.
You praised the Burson Audio soloist - keen to see what the Playmate 2 provides for sub $600 - Class A, 2.5w @ 32ohm SE
Not a flagship replacement by any means, but I am successfully driving my new Hifiman 400se with the 7.99 cents, for a pair, dac 3.5mm adapter which I nearly threw out for being horrible (noise floor) for my Tin T2s, shp 9500s, and sensitive closed back headphones. Bojuren USB to headphones jack is the product on Amazon. At max volume the headphones are a bit too loud so they are driven well enough for ANYONE with the Hifiman 400se to just buy it. I seriously canceled my ifi go blu order until I know if the price will decrease. When I pair it with my old fiio kilimanjaro OG portable amp it really makes me think I might wait for the ifi go blu to decrease in price before I purchase as I have a bunch of Bluetooth receivers all over the house. Basically, 8 dollars for 2.
Z i've just received my hd600. They are paired with an smsl su8 v2 dac for pc music. Does it wort to bother investing in a balanced 2 xlr cable? Will there be a big improvement? Thanks for the potential answer
I think an spdif out from amps would be hilarious!
Echo & The Bunnymen ✨🤙🏻
The Ensemble is now $289 with the cables included.
I don't know if this is a crazy idea or not, but I want dacs to be able to all link up to each other so you can have one master dac communicating with several slave dacs. Also just VU meters on everything.
Bruh, I'm one of the few that have the AQ Nighthawk. Got this stack 2 weeks ago, for shits and giggles. I know you have the AQ headphones, as well. Those + this stack (FL3, DP1) + anything vocal (Chris Cornell, anyone?). Thank me never
Any chance you're going to post a video about those dekoni pads for Grado????
I hate people drinking fucking tea, because then I have to go and make me one myself. UGH.
Hey, what is the music app you're using on your computer?
This or schitt stack. Which would be better soundwise.
I actually prefer the old remote with its abc buttons, so I can use c for the DAC and switch to a or b for my flirc.
soo smsl su6 and topping e50 are quite similar in terms of sound signature and kick& slam factor? Because if rise in price of e50 are because xlr or trs outputs...smsl su6 is a bargain and a winner in case you dont needed that.
IS the asgard 3 w/ es9028 worth $50 more? Man I just want a dang preout and everything looks awsome.
Hello!!!!!!!! Please, can you compare Fiio KA3 vs Zen Dac ? (In term of SOUND quality)
I have HarmonicDyne Zeus... And I trying to find fair AMP/DAC (small good one without TON of nuclear power and additional features)
P.S. I use an Onkyo Receiver NR-TX676E
It have chip AK9977 (or something) and headphone output.... I don't understand.. it's good enough ?
Thank YOU! I bought Zeus because of your review :D
Zeos, what pads are those on your Hemps?
We need VU meters
"I love the knob" Zeos
Is the amp better than the schiit magni heresy?
Could this be the NEW Panda Stack?!? Just missing a linear power supply... Love my Panda Stack still
compared to Topping d50s?
Damn! I wonder if I commited a mistake by ordering Topping DX3 Pro + a few days ago 🤔 SMSL's dac is about $20 cheaper.
Dont sweat it, you've got a great dac for a great price.
I'm torn between the 2 right now. The fact the DX3 pro + has the built in headphone/ preamp is what's drawing me to it.
Very nice. Great review. Now they need to keep all these features and make a balanced stack.
But what would be best for a pair of 80 Ohms Concerto TE-1050 four knuckle Japanese cans? 😁
What weird stuff do we wanna see? Ok, so we have Bluetooth on these for when yo don't want to bother bringing your entire computer next to the stack.... Now what if we had a type-c to type-c connection so an android phone could directly use the DAC?
My D10s still hasn't found a rival and my wallet is extremely happy
Tin T3 Plus. Glorious
Trying to start my audiophile journey has been exhausting. I was originally looking at the ifi Zen Dac V2 after seeing the Schiit stack but now I have this to consider! I was originally digging through closedbacks & looking at the Aeon Noire or Fostex TH610 but I'm starting to think of open backs during the day & use my v moda m-100s at night.
This has been one hell of a rabbit hole to jump down & research. Thank you for all the information you provide!
I have both and have posted my shiit stack on Craigslist
Just start with the zen dac - I've since added the zen can for the extra power but honestly the dac is a phenomenal starting point.
I'd also recommend the Topping EX5, switched from a Heresy+D30 for convenience and its been great
i love zeos but dont ever buy anything because he recommended it
@@talibinhassan5987 why?
So how does it compare to Topping L30 for example? Big difference?
Yeah exactly E30/L30 did this like 2 years ago... What's the difference
Price
is the knob digital or analog?
hm...seems like schiit have to step up their game a tad. SMSL is coming for their Modi+Magni throne.
I want the led to fade depending on the volume. Red for low and then go though all colors and end up at white after blue.
Some IFI things do this.
I would like to see airplay 2 capability included with ldac Bluetooth in an awesome dac...😁
We want impedance switches!
Fluid fx80
Most sublime!
That unit has covid now
Are you gonna review the fiio k9pro?
Tiny led light on the nob :)
Where are those Grado ear pads from Mr. Z ? Or anyone ?
Topping dx3pro+ will be?)
I would have bought these...still might.
W berserk reference
Has anyone had covid with shortness of breath when doing some physical activity?
Do you need a streamer with that dac?
It's not a streamer, it needs an audio source. But it does have Bluetooth.
Dose the system run with 220V?
What is that tube monstrosity in frame at 7:13?
The Audiovalve Solaris?
@@ZReviews Yep, thats what I was referring to. I will assume you've already got a video on it that i need to go watch. Thanks!
Grado Sr325x when.
why is the silver in different tones AM I GOING INSANE
who knew bee vomit could taste so sweet?
You oughta be sippin on something every review. No better way to cap off a hot take than a long slurp
Joe Jackson, not Dirty Vegas :)
easy mistake ;)
Get better soon dude
Already Done.
I won’t buy schiit until I see power switch on the front… Are you on Rumble?
Never heard of berserk.
Now u did, look into it.
What is that speakers. Sounds great.
Fluid FX80
Why do you move the camera so much? Do you think to be cool?
Its on my head. And I am Italian.
@@ZReviews i'm glad you are italian, but the way you move your videocamera gives me a headache, even though I appreciate your work.
You said any price 5 years ago? oh deer. Mytek Manhatten not the brooklyn would have pissed all over your litte sub $300 stack back in 2017.
If you need it short, make some RUclips shorts in your shorts.
2022 speaker wall please
Would the sp200 would be better then the this i just order the sp200
Ehhhh. SP200 is sort of bleeh at this point.
@Z Reviews I got it for under cost new. would it still be good for paying under $ cost about whats they going on drop website with a 2 year warrenty or should I go a different route. And Thanks for the replying . Hope u doing better and stay safe and healthy.
I still have the SMSL panda stack and I love them for my powered desktop speakers, but I have the Topping D90SE/Topping A90 for my IEMs an Headphones hehe
amp so hot, it keeps your honey tea mug warm
Get better Z!
This vs Drop THX AAA vs schitt magnuis
Pro X?
When its back in stock.
Vs JDS Atom Stack 🧐
So you want to make quick easy content. Just make a honey tea ASMR video.
FH9 video soon ? Plz
Bleach OST?
I still like the SU-9 better
I'd rather get a magni at $99. I don't see how the amp competes with Schiit. The magni's power seems to stay fairly stable, 2.4w at 32ohm instead of 1.3 for example. And the magni is about as clean you're going to get for the money. And it's a headphone dac\amp, it's not like I'm sitting across the from from it with a 20 ft headphone cable :p and need a remote that badly. I have the SMSL sp200 as well, I prefer my magni all things considered.
Do you realize you'll blow up your eardrums with a couple of milliwatts with nearly all modern headphones? The power war between amp manufacturers is silly unless you have some ridiculous hard to drive headphone and then you do not shop for amps in the 120$ range.
@@Jaml321 And yet your argument really doesn't make any sense. If you can get the extra power, be just as clean or cleaner in it's delivery, why would you pay more for an inferior product? And pay less while doing it... Don't quite see your point. Also I'll take schiit quality over smsl any day.
@@kendil22 Most modern headphones have a sensitivity of about 90 db/mw and a lot of them over 100 db/mw which if listened at those levels for prolonged periods of time will damage your hearing. So if you take a 100% headroom a 2 milliwatt amp could drive most headphones cleanly at safe listening levels. Having an amp with more than a Watt is more than ridiculous, quality of components is far more important than output power.
@@Jaml321 And I'd stack schiit against smsl for quality any day of the week and twice on friday. There's this neat device on amps... it's called a volume knob. If it's too loud turn it down.
@@kendil22 Whatever floats your boat. Just don't say something can't compete because it doesn't have ridiculously high output power.
But does she appreciate it small.
we are truely in a dark age...
Darkest Timeline?
Smsl reminds me of samsung… plenty of models, several price levels covered, with similar products… and new products launched every six months… please, stop…
hi REEEEEEEE
fart