Topping E70 Velvet DAC

[HAL]

I did max out the iCan volume control and used the E70 V digital control.  Sounds much better to me than the iCan volume control at the same approximate setting. 

The E70 V has 0.5dB/step settings, so would need a voltage output check to make them exactly the same.

The remote works well and sets the filter in the DAC for 6 different types.  The F-4 setting is minimum phase slow rolloff that I prefer.

Will check more tomorrow after some time.

[ejk]

ejk,
The stereo system is down due to water problems in my listening room.  It will be a long process before it is up and running.  This is what I have until then.

The E70 Velvet DAC is setup in the headphone rig.  Now to let it run-in for 24 hours for more listening.

NP sorry to hear. Maybe Rollo can help with the water issue

[HAL]

The E70 V DAC has been running for days with the iFi iCan headphone amp.

Sounds great to me with no noise background and all instruments sound natural.  That is with my preferred minimum phase filter in the AK4499 DAC F-4 selected. 

Will be testing it with other headphone amps as from past trials the Borbely Audio HPA is a better sounding setup.  Since the E70 V has a digital 0.5dB/step attenuator, I can just direct drive the HPA and use the DAC as the volume control.  Just need a good input resistor to ground for the HPA.

This should be interesting.

[HAL]

Topping had some E90 Discrete headphone amps that were refurbs available, so got one to go with the E70 Velvet DAC. 

Running them fully balanced and they sound really good in the headphone setup!  To me, much better than with the iFi iCan heaphone amp.

The AKM AK4499 DAC has finally surpassed my other favorite DAC the Wolfson Micro WM8741 in sound quality. 

It took a few hours for the E90D to fully warm up, but it is working well.  Finally get to run the planar headphones fully balanced.