Wee ooo Wee ooo.
(http://resonessencelabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/concero-b-f2.png)
Ive owned one of these puppies for about 2 weeks and it is a big hitter in a little package. I use it connected to my Mac via USB but you can also power it via USB and use the coax as an input.
Sound character is neutral and detailed, yet musical. Very balanced and what you feed it is what you get. So if you have crappy sounding cps you will get crap back.
Bass is not heavy, Id say its accurate. But it is not light either.
Top is smooth and not bright at all.
All this for $599 canadian or $650 for the package.
wee-ooo wee-ooo this has been a test of the big boy value alert system. If this had been a real emergency youd have crapped your pant by now. Now back to your regular scheduled shizzle. :D
I guess there's no big boys arounds here. :?
It looks kinda small twss. It's like 3" square!
For that price it should have it's own power supply. :?
It sounds awesome... don't let the size fool you. I cant believe it myself! Id say its mainly for folk who go computer out. There is some kind of Galvanic Isolation is involved. Power supplies are overrated!
I think this is better than the maxed out EE Minimax Plus.
Ressonnence is owned by the developers of the Sabre Dac chip. Perhaps they know implementation secrets.
http://resonessencelabs.com/ (http://resonessencelabs.com/)
Mike....
A little package...what about....this Schiit... (http://schiit.com/) ?
Check out their DAC's....lowest priced one is $99.00....
Most of the reviews are over on head fi. Schitt has great marketing, their site is a hoot to read. And their products get pretty good reviews.
Quote from: machinehead on February 12, 2013, 08:40:50 AM
It sounds awesome... don't let the size fool you. I cant believe it myself! Id say its mainly for folk who go computer out. There is some kind of Galvanic Isolation is involved. Power supplies are overrated!
I think this is better than the maxed out EE Minimax Plus.
Ressonnence is owned by the developers of the Sabre Dac chip. Perhaps they know implementation secrets.
Were you able to directly compare the Concero to the Minimax Plus?
No. Auditory memory.. And some LSD. :rofl:
Your right... maybe its not the best endorsement. But....
the main dude on Head Fi said it sounds like the Bryston BDA-1 at its best. Meaning it has to be power conditioned properly...
But Im not sure if that was a direct comparo either.
I had the BDA1 for 2 years and would say the Concero is more on the neutral side and has better detail retrieval and there is no upper mid grain which I felt the BDA had. Again thats just from memory.
Looks like they sell a package with remote and a little wall wart power supply for an extra $100...
I would like to see if anyone has compared it to a Schiit Bifrost, the Schiit is a little cheaper but is also a 24/192 asynch DAC....
A new look Mike.... 8)
Stay thirsty my friend.... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74Kh20Jwi1w#)
lol!!
So I ended up using the Concero as a USB to coax converter instead of as a DAC. I am feeding a Theta Chroma 396 which is what 15, 20 years old... Its old! like me... Anyways... on its own it sounds ok. A lot of smearing, probably a lot of jitter. Well the Concero takes the Theta up to a modern day level. I cant upsample, so its kind of a NOS DAC. Crisp. Clear. Great texture and really nice cymbals. Bass has always been a strong suit of the 396 and now there is a lot more detail in the bass vs the Theta alone. This combo id definitely better than the Concero alone, which has more air, is more neutral, and has more perceived treble, but isnt bright. It just wasnt my cup of tea. But in the end worked out well. Not that I wont be looking to update tomorrow.. lol
Mike, Just get the Metrum Hex. You know you want one....
I bought one last week and the reviews are all accurate. It's great!
Mike Fox
I do... Sweet Mike.. Great dual review on 6 moons! Maybe bring it to Emil's or some future rave. Not that there are many ny raves anymore. I'll be at the NY Show tomorrow. maybe see you there.
M
A Hex huh? Yes I do want one - Good job Mikef!
Other Mike - If that Resonessessessencencence dac is powered by USB then this thing is being touted as a "must have"
http://www.ifi-audio.com/en/iUSB.html (http://www.ifi-audio.com/en/iUSB.html)
Have you heard of it? S'posed to destroy sliced bread.
- Third Mike
Quote from: mikef on April 12, 2013, 03:32:02 AM
Mike, Just get the Metrum Hex. You know you want one....
I bought one last week and the reviews are all accurate. It's great!
Mike Fox
Oops, I meant to say I bought a Metrum OCTAVE last week and it's great (I can't afford to buy gear that costs 2100 Euro and expect to stay married!)
Mike McC - you should still buy the Hex, I'd love to hear one...
To threadjack Mike's thread a little, did you get the original Octave or the MKII? If original have you tried 24/192 on it?
Thanks Mikef,
- Mike S.
To veer the conversation... We are trying to get a local Neil (not a Mike, unfortunately) to carry the Metrum line so we can purchase at reduced prices :) I heard the Octave comes pretty close to the Hex.. the new version. Though I only think they added USB and didn't change the Octave that much overall.
I havent heard of the iUSB, maybe Ill check it out. Any formal reviews?
Quote from: mfsoa on April 14, 2013, 09:02:58 AM
To threadjack Mike's thread a little, did you get the original Octave or the MKII? If original have you tried 24/192 on it?
Thanks Mikef,
- Mike S.
Mike, I got the original. According to the guys at Metrum, the Mk II uses the USB implementation of the Hex, but apart from that it does not sound different from the original. Also,the Mk II is much more $$$, especially with the Mk I on special sale pricing.
I don't have any 24/192 files to try, so the answer is no.
I'm currently using SPDIF out from my Squeezebox Touch, and I think it sounds great. Very organic, great detail but smooth, not at all edgy, etc. I'm planning to try a W4S uLink USB-SPDIF convertor in the next month or two to see if it adds any improvement to the mix, which I believe it will.
Mike C.
Here's one for you:
http://www.hpsoundings.com/2013/03/2152/ (http://www.hpsoundings.com/2013/03/2152/)
There is also a bunch of info on ComputerAudiophile.com
And I hear there's this new thing called google. Not sure what it's for. :thumb:
Mike
Your right.. Im lazy. Sry. :)
The Concero is galvanically isolated at certain points on the board so Im not sure how much it would help. $200 is pretty cheap, may be worth a try.
Right now I am getting the best sound ever from my system. USB is definitely the way to go.
Other Mike hows that Octave sounding? We need a mini review from you please! versus your previous DAC!!
http://www.stereophile.com/content/ifi-audio-idac-amp-iusbpower-usb-da-processor-amp-outboard-power-supply (http://www.stereophile.com/content/ifi-audio-idac-amp-iusbpower-usb-da-processor-amp-outboard-power-supply)
it's everywhere:
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0513/ifi%20_phono_idac_iusbpower.htm (http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0513/ifi%20_phono_idac_iusbpower.htm)