First listen was Sony MDR-7506 > JLH 1969 Headphone Amp > TDA1387 x8 DAC > MacBook Pro. I was immediately disappointed the Sony MDR-7506 and MacBook Pro had a grounding hum that was bothersome.
Next tried Denon D2000 > JLH 1969 Headphone Amp > TDA1387 x8 DAC > MacBook Pro. Same issue grounding hum, believe the Denon D2000 and Sony MDR-7506 impedance is too low for the JLH 1969 Headphone Amp.
Then got Volumio working on Raspberry Pi 3. Listening directly out of the Raspberry Pi 3 was a disappointment.
Then got Audiophonics DAC ES9023 V2 TCXO > Raspberry Pi working, gone was the grounding hum. The sound quality was a large improvement, not as musical as TDA1387 but a big improvement. I miss the laid back sound of the DT770 and the TDA1387. Next will setup Digi + Pro with TDA1387.
To do:
Set-up Digi+ Pro
Assemble Ian Fifo
Assemble 9028
In Order of Sound Quality (SQ)
- WiFi > Linn Jazz > Raspberry Pi 3 > TDA1387 x8 DAC > JLH 1969 Headphone Amp > Sennheiser HD650 No grounding hum, wonderful musicality of the TDA1387. Hard to believe the ES9028 and the Ian Fifo will sound better than this !
- HD650 300ohm > JLH 1969 Headphone Amp > Audiophonics DAC ES9023 V2 TCXO > Raspberry Pi No grounding hum, not as musical as TDA1387 but grounding hum is gone
- HD650 300ohm > JLH 1969 Headphone Amp > TDA1387 x8 DAC > MacBook Pro Maybe it is the electricity in Mexico, but more grounding hum than I remember
- DT770 250 ohm > JLH 1969 Headphone Amp > TDA1387 x8 DAC > MacBook Pro. Sounds natural and easy, not the largest sound stage, not that large a range, great left / right separation, very musical.
- DT770 250 ohm > JLH 1969 Headphone Amp > iFi Nano > MacBook Pro. More digital, sharper
- DT770 250 ohm > JLH 1969 Headphone Amp > HiFiBerry DAC+ Pro > Raspberry Pi. Sounds small, not rich, compressed and confused, all the information is there, but not musical.
