mechtech

The Zero amp is a great little thing. Here's the thread on Head-fi about it (788 pages long )
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/rev...re-amp-269458/


I've heard it in person with my DT880 '03s and my friends dt770s, and it sounds really nice, heads and shoulders over my D2X sound card.

It seemed to run my friends huge 2.1 speakers too when we plugged them in.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ZERO-24-192-DAC-...|39:1|240:1318

comes straight from a factory in china, no middleman, so you gotta get it on ebay. The build quality is top notch though, we looked inside and it's really clean. Look at the review I linked for more info though. Only took a week or 2 to get delivered.

shizdan

Well I have been looking around for basically the same thing and for some reason This keeps me coming back

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Prelude 627AU Op amps-->Little Dot MKII M1861 Tubes--> D2000

soloz2

I've told both TCA and av123 that I think the next version of either the x-head or Gizmo should have a loop out so they could be used easily with each other and a single source. not sure if my thoughts mean a whole lot to everyone else though

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Current Sound: Auzen X-Fi Prelude > Soloz Audio Reference IC > TCA Gizmo > Onix Reference 1 MKII speakers

Selling:Lots of Great Stuff!

Feedback: Heatware Ebay

cyberspyder

The Zero's a DAC (Digital to analog converter), does not amplify the source. He needs a speaker amp with a headphone stage. I know Harmon Kardon makes pretty nice receivers with good headphone outputs. If not, you can try Firestone Audio's Big Joe or Travagan's Red or Green:









Both Travagans and the Big Joe are very affordable...runs under $250 for a kick-ass headphone amp and speaker amp.

HOWEVER, I'd recommend a separate amp for the speakers. Sure, that T-amp is great, but you should venture into the DIY world. Gainclones and Chipamps offer alot more potential than the T-amp. Headphone wise, AMB's B22/24, Peter's MillettMax/SOHA/Starving student are some of the best in DIY amps.

My two cents, Brendan

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COOLING: Thermalright HR-01 PLUS, GFXChilla, 120mm/92mm/80mm San Aces, 40mm Scythe Kazes (x4), Sunbeam Rheobus
PERIPHERALS: Logitech MX518, Logitech Wave, Steelpad QCK, Samsung 20" Widescreen
AUDIO: Beyerdynamic DT770 Pros/80 (recabled), UE super.fi 3 (Westoned), Zaph ZBM4, Audiotrak HD2, DIY interconnects, JBL Power20 amp

I BLEED TOXIC GREEN
[A] ©yb3rﻜpyd3r.pantless AZN

Speakers are done...

Namrac

Cyber, the zero is a DAC/amp combo.

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Audio Setup:
PC > TCA Gizmo > Ultralink Matrix 2s > AV123 ELT525Ms
OCN Headphone Club. Because computers don't suck up enough of my money.

noname

Ok , thanks for the suggestions

I noticed word of a DIY amp. If i knew more about this kind of thing i really would invest in it , but i dont really know that much about gainclones and stuff , and from what i hear they dont run all that cheaply :/

So far i've been directed towards going seperate.

One thing i do have a question about is a DAC.

Are Dacs really all that necessary? I have an X-FI Xtrememusic , doesnt that decode the signal already?

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• spkr wrk log

• youP-PAX modded drivers

Namrac

It also amplifies the signal.

It's all about quality. A dedicated DAC is going to sound better than the X-Fi's DAC.

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Audio Setup:
PC > TCA Gizmo > Ultralink Matrix 2s > AV123 ELT525Ms
OCN Headphone Club. Because computers don't suck up enough of my money.

noname

True, what would the sequence be?

X-fi>DAC>amp>speakers?

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• spkr wrk log

• youP-PAX modded drivers

Namrac

Yup. Digital output from the X-Fi goes to the DAC, which converts it to an analog signal, which is then sent to the amp.

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Audio Setup:
PC > TCA Gizmo > Ultralink Matrix 2s > AV123 ELT525Ms
OCN Headphone Club. Because computers don't suck up enough of my money.

tUDJ

The X-Fi XtremeMusic doesn't have a digital out.

I have just bought a Marantz PM4001 Stereo Amp, its connected to my X-Fi (3.5mm -> RCA) and drives my Wharfedale Diamonds lovely. My HD555's sound great with it too.

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Sound: X-Fi Xtreme Music -> Beresford DAC -> Marantz PM4001 -> Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 / HD555
--
Upgrades soon:
Marantz CD5001
Denon ASD11R