Apogee Mini DAC: Connection questions

Hi Tiberian,
I was hoping you were looking at these boards because you inspired me to get this amazing unit. Thanks for the tips on sound. Let me throw out a couple of other questions for you or anybody else.

I notice the sound out of the line out and heaphone jack are a bit different. The headphone jack has a little more highs and "reverberation" feel, where as the line out seems to be a little smoother and tighter. Do you notice any difference? I think I prefer the line out sound. My Zu mobius is getting refitted for balanced output so that will be my setup.

Also, I notice the sound is a little better with batteries than the cord, although there is nothing wrong with the cord sound at all. Does anybody use a specific power cord/conditioner, or are batteries the best for sound?

I love this unit. It is really amazing.

cheers,
dshea

Hey Hugo,

Do you think it would be worth the upgrade to add the USB card connection. If there wouldn't be any major upgrade in sound quality, $195 may be a bit much to eliminate my Waveterminal U24 from the chain. It is connected to the DAC with a glass toslink.

Are you using an amp with your unit? or are you still using a balanced Zu connected directly to the XLR jacks?

I continue to be intrigued by the different sounds coming from the headphone out and line out. Some things sound a little better to me with the more "wet" sounding trebles from the headphone out, but most things seem to sound a bit better from the fuller and more detailed bass and mids from the line out. It is like having two different setups, both sound excellent.

When I get my Zu back I suspect that is what I will settle on.

cheers,
dshea

Great about USB. Maybe I will save some money for a Dynahi or a tube amp.

Hugo,

Sorry one more question. Did you ever mess with the inner unit adjustments for the XLR output, or did you use the factory default?

cheers,
dshea

Bought two last week. You are right, the difference is significant! Thanks for the advice, I remembered reading your earlier posts.

cheers,

Hey guys, I have been really loving my Mini DAC driving balanced HD650s from the XLR outputs. I keep thinking I need an amp, not because I am missing anything in the sound (it sounds incredible for classical music which is what I listen to), but because I guess I have upgraditus.

Any recommendations? What are all of you using? What price point am I looking to notice any improvement?

cheers,
dshea