That maker was JDS Labs. Once the curtain falls and various groups join in, the EL DAC holds its own against that onslaught. If any of you, dear readers, are interested in getting a tour of their shop, shoot them an email. That’s it. JDS labs does offer great support, so I guess from that standpoint it might be worth going with one of their products instead. I told him he shouldn’t be. In this article we review the JDS Labs ATOM DAC, which is selling for $99 USD. The JDS Labs EL DAC’s build is very good for the price. Otherwise, head on over to JDS Labs website and download the Savitech drivers and reboot your computer. Simple and solid seems to be the order of the day. Next up was a test of imagination as I listened to reference track “Bubbles” by Yosi Horikawa. JDS Labs's success … ” Is the Celestee driver any different to…, I never heard about ATH-AWAS headphones type, and I'm shocked by knowing how amazing it is! For better or worse, just like its outer shell, the EL DAC is mostly free of any strong sonic characteristics save its penchant for a wider and more open sound stage.This can leave listeners say wanting more bass kick, or a thicker mid range, or a more intimate performance. That actually isn’t something that should be taken for granted. The unit is seamless and universal to most applications it finds itself in. Part of me wants to keep exploring and look at a new desktop dac/amp like the Chord Hugo but I just can’t decide if the large price increase is going to net the equivalent benefits. The EL DAC would do nicely, yes. BLOG: The Fav Album Of…. We strive to be honest and transparent in everything we do. I happened to be taking a road trip with my daughters to St. Louis, which is just across the Mississippi River from the JDS labs headquarters. Well, today I’m reviewing the JDS Labs The Element and after spending some time with this Headphone Amplifier+DAC I would say that they do indeed. The circle is a touch-sensitive ‘button’ that performs many functions. The el-dac came to my awareness recently, and so to this review. I might recommend reading up on this first, as I generally agree with his impressions, and it will allow me to not have to write my own review of the Element: https://headfonia.com/review-jds-labs-element-bravado/. They were the easiest and often times most affordable way to acquire a well made product. I have yet to see someone beat them in design, aesthetic, and their fantastic customer service, who I have dealt with in years past, when I acquired an O2/ODAC as my first amp/DAC. Plus, it comes with a two year warranty, and I am speaking here as a consumer and not a critic, their customer service is without peer. That is also a good way to describe the design of the EL DAC: straight forward, no nonsense. I bet it will have the same gorgeous colorway as the Celestee. JDS Labs ODAC, Standard Output (3.5 mm). The bright highs and wider soundstage were the key sonic characteristics I found myself fond of the most. Bowei Zhao is an aspiring audio Guru with a degree in Computer Engineering on a quest to find out what the newest tech products are and how he can get his hands on them. Regards, Mike. JDS LABS ATOM REVIEW. The unit is seamless and universal to most applications it finds itself in. If, in the unlikely event, an issue were to arise, they will take care of you. After stepping into their factory, and shaking hands with their business manager, Jude, he showed me their demo room. “We designed the Element Line for precision fit and function. For some time now, the simple and dependable O2 headphone amp and OL DAC have been staples in my review process. The EL DAC works flawlessly. NWAVGUY changed headphone audio with those products and thus created a hole for a manufacturer to come in and mass produce them under the open license. The EL DAC drop kicks all that out the door and brings in something more sensible. It is built to pair with the enormously popular JDS Labs Atom Amp . BLOG: The Fav Album Of…. It’s intuitive to use and above all, sets the tone for the rest of the EL DAC’s design; it’s sleek, simple, and has the essentials. I used to be a high-end audio salesman, so I know how things are done in the audio industry. The trick is to be very direct and brute with the button. We test whether this amplifier and DAC combination is really the giant slayer it is made out to be! No specific claims to type of sound, or flowery details for me to pick apart. The bright highs and wider soundstage were the key sonic characteristics I found myself fond of the most. The casing on those is much thicker (and heavier), and could probably stop a 12-gauge round in its tracks, while the EL DAC… maybe a .38 special. We know there is more to appreciating music than benchmarks alone, and the Element Line has been our outlet to create the system we want to hear, see, feel, and use. Cons: USB input only on the DAC, pre-amp switch is on the rear of the device, not a ton of power for the price. I can vouch for this combo sounding quite good. Were I to nitpick, I could say that the build isn’t on quite the same level as, say, the similar sized and similar looking Resonessence Labs Concero line. That never goes out of style. In there, sitting on the table and hooked up to their latest gear, was the Sennhesier HD650! – Headfonia Lieven. Commit to the press and do a full push and release. The general sound signature can be characterized by a wide soundstage with natural sounding octaves, mostly transient and a penchant for delivering powerful high frequency notes. The Element, they said, was a big game changer for them. What is surprising is its intuitive buttons or should I say ‘button’. April 1, 2020. in Full Reviews. The saxophone’s piercing notes were skinnier and colder with a tinge of upper end sparkle compared to the AK4396 DAC (very warm comparatively) I was using beforehand which was fat fingered by comparison. The opening moments were enough to show the strengths of the EL DAC. That should make for a good budget combo for the HD800. A great alternative pairing is the $199 Schiit Magni 2 and Modi 2, but they are not portable and you may have to upgrade to the costlier Uber models of both (another $120 or so) to achieve compatibility with your equipment. Or any other DAC ideas? Similar strong points in fact to Lieven’s reviews. Picture Sunday: iFi Audio Gemini & Mercury, https://headfonia.com/review-jds-labs-element-bravado/. I have the El Dac and agree with your findings. It wasn’t going to sprinkle any dust here or there or magically change everything. You want someone to use your USB DAC; it only makes sense to supply them with what they need to actually use your USB DAC. How true is shaping sound by 'battery rolling', is that a thing? My favorite moment was seeing the solid blocks of aluminum that would eventually become the Element. Listening to “Parce Mihi Domine” by Jan Garbarek and Cristobal de Morales provided insight towards these properties. JDSLabs's O2+ODAC combination combines two designs by NwAvGuy with excellent build quality and a sturdy enclosure. It is built to pair with the enormously popular JDS Labs Atom Amp. Conclusion: I liked the JDS Labs EL DAC for the sheer fact that it was straight with me. ODAC alone is not enough power, NwAvGuy continue amplifier designed a pair with the O2 to this DAC and the results are really impressive, duo DAC / Amp has cost about $ 300 actually reach the level DAC1 ($ 1.600). We’ll be taking a look at their EL DAC and see what JDS Labs has to bring to the table. It is only suppose to be slightly warm. Their president, John Seaber, still seemed like he was in shock over how much things have changed. Unfortunately, I will never know the answer as Schiit won’t send me review loaners any more, after I was not blown away by the Asgard 2. I, for one, would never trust an audiophile that didn’t hold the HD650 in high regard. Overall, the JDS Labs EL DAC is a strong competitor in this price range and has good reason to be as popular as it is. As such, a $350 portable JDS Labs O2 amp and Standalone ODAC pairing will achieve 95% of the audio quality of any $5,000 or even $50,000 setup, marketing spam notwithstanding. There is just so much going on in this song with the low-end bass kicking hard while one by one, sections of the orchestra start joining together into a miasma of symphonic destruction. Find our range of JDS Labs here. The beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Headset – A Keeper in EVERY Respect. We will start with the DAC. Now, let’s move on to the task at hand. The company is most known by its successful Objective desktop DAC (or ODAC). As more and more elements were introduced, the EL DAC was able to hold its own but excelling above the pack was proving difficult. They are cheap, and still sound very musical. According to their mission statement, their intent is “To help headphone enthusiasts enjoy their music.” Do they succeed in doing this? It’s meant to be stacked with the EL Amp or any other amplifier of your choosing. Each segment can still be distinctively picked out from each other amongst the mess. JDS Labs has also manufactures their own products: C5/D Portable amplifier/DAC, Element desktop Amp/Dac along with ofcourse their Cmoy BB amp. Thanks for the review. They should both do a fine job for you, so go with the sound you are looking for. My first touches of the ‘button’ had it scrolling through inputs too fast and getting wacky. JDS Labs C5 Review: I would like to thank John for sending me this engineering sample of the C5 for me to review. I am looking forward to listening to the new model EL DAC II it is suppose to be even better than before. JDS Labs brings you headphone amplification true to sound, all made in the USA. At first, I should state that OL DAC is tiny in its aluminium housing. The JDS Labs OL DAC works very well, it is instantly recognized by Windows 10 as soon as it is connected, it allows the reproduction of audio up to 24bit 96kHZ (192kHz via Optical) and already at first listening it is immediately clear how for many setups this could be the final DAC. So it’s minimal, but how actually use-able is this thing? Bountiful tries were made at achieving this from the hills of San Francisco to the streets of Hong Kong. / PHONO STAGE – REVIEW BY ENJOY THE MUSIC.COM, SWAN SONG AUDIO CYGNET PORTABLE USB HEADPHONE AMP+UPSAMPLING DAC REVIEW, THE MAKING OF THE GRAMMY WINNING ALBUM A LOVE AFFAIR THE MUSIC OF IVAN LINS PT3, JASON MILES THE JOURNEY OF MAKING THE GRAMMY WINNING ALBUM “A LOVE AFFAIR: THE MUSIC OF IVAN LINS”, The Making Of the Grammy Winning Album A Love Affair The Music Of Ivan Lins Pt3, THE MAKING OF THE GRAMMY WINNING ALBUM A LOVE AFFAIR THE MUSIC OF IVAN LINS PT2, Dekoni Audio Bulletz for Airpod Pro Review, Meze Audio Rai Solo: Elegantly Sophisticated, Frequency Response 10Hz-20kHz (192k)+/- 0.15dB, Audio Formats (S/PDIF)16/44.1kHz thru 24/192kHz*, Audio Formats (USB)16/44.1kHz thru 32/384kHz**, USB Driver OS SupportWindows XP/7/8/10, OS X, Linux, Android, Digital InputsUSB, TOSLINK, and Coaxial S/PDIF. That JDS labs is the all-time greatest company of any kind, ever, took me only 30 seconds to figure out. I will also point out that the EL DAC does not have a screen on it, but for a simply, no-muss, no-fuss DAC like this, it isn’t really needed. Curious how the El Amp or Element would stack up against the budget king Magni3? When I was initially getting into this hobby and looking for my first standalone DAC I got a D10 because I'd read the ASR review which said it measured great. These folks have their ducks in a row and it is an American company. “I’m sorry, but I really can’t sta… I have always wanted to listen to those.”  I will have to allow myself a lot more time to look around when I find myself in the St. Louis area. And that’s the term that precisely defines the this unit; the Essentials. - JDS Element 2 Pros: All in one unit with a relatively small footprint, gorgeous volume knob (I had the Element I for awhile and really enjoyed that knob), JDS labs customer service. I should have said the a20 would be slightly warmer. Enter JDS Labs. Ok, maybe I am over selling that just a little bit, but this was clearly a good sign. I am on my phone and dont know how to edit my comments. JDS Labs seem to be favoring a sleek build for the EL series, and I like it. CAMPFIRE AUDIO CASCADE CLOSED BACKED DYNAMIC HEADPHONE, Swan Song Audio Cygnet Portable USB Headphone Amp+Upsampling DAC Review, MONOLITH BY MONOPRICE: LIQUID SPARK BY ALEX CAVALLI REVIEW, ROGUE AUDIO CRONUS MAGNUM III INT. Here, the performance can be considered ‘good’ for the price range. Very well done review. like the HD600 or even HD700? Hi......I have to ask about the part where you say that the cups are made of plastic....the cups are made of metal and leather....... every other review says the this.......???? It’s another instrumental track but this time it opens up strong before delving into a spiraling battle of instruments fighting for supremacy. – Headfonia Store aka Michael Ting! I recently picked up the Astell sp1000m for on the go and am very curious to see how it sounds in comparison. JDS Labs is an American company based in Illinois. That quote doesn’t leave me much to work with. If you don’t know a simple definition of a DAC is that it’s a Digital to Audio Convertor that take the digital information from audio files and transforms it into an analog signal so that we (as humans) can hear it. There prices are similar. Rumors took off. It’s something that escapes me until I start to watch that video an hour into my computer being on and freaking out for a few seconds as I wonder why sound isn’t coming through. Would you recommend this EL DAC for my Sennheiser HD 800 plus Bottlehead Crack & Speedball amp? Plus, it comes with a two year warranty, and I am speaking here as a consumer and not a critic, their customer service is without peer. I have used many headphones, including my HD800's, with the O2 and been extremely pleased with the overall sound quality. “ The Celestee’s drivers use the same materials and dimensions as the Elegia, yet have been retuned for a completely-new sound signature. Light touch debounces you don’t notice will cause you to fluctuate through the states so don’t hover that finger. Hopefully, next, we'll get a replacement for the sub-kilobuck open back Elear. The JDS Labs EL DAC’s build is very good for the price. This DAC was akin to removing the grain and watching the scene increase in aspect to 16:10 as the action rolled on. “Objectivity”; it was THE hype of the 2010s. A ring of light surrounding it alerts you to the mode you are in. The A20 being considered to offer a warm sound, would it make a headphone that has a bright sound more “pleasing”? Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a432e5c4fea02b916013c4f2862999fb" );document.getElementById("b14664e483").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. thanks a lot for sharing such a unique knowledge with us, have a good…, Hello Matty, hello Lieven, Beware: this DAC/AMP was manufactured by Micromega, a firm with big financial problems that was not responding anymore and has just been sold. All are welcome. This is a review and detailed measurements of the JDS Labs EL DAC II USB DAC. The first thing everyone points to was their successful Objective 2 and ODAC launches. And here are my impressions of this little DAC. It has given me all the information I needed to make a decision. THE PLUS: Clean transparent sound, natural tonality, powerful, versatile gain modes, RCA In and Out, precise volume potentiometer, small size, VALUE THE SO-SO: Light plastic construction, so-so headphones jack JDS LABS is an American audio company … To me, it quite clearly sounded like balls when compared to my phone at the time, an LG V30. ... JDS Labs C5D = C5 with DAC. I had originally intended to do an in-depth tour of their facility, complete with an in-depth write-up and pictures; but, as typical for me, I forgot my camera at home, and as the only time I could get out to their building was on our way back home, I couldn’t stay that long as my girls were already grumpy about the long car ride ahead. Sharpness in mid-range detail was also improved albeit with a reduction of warmth and weight which some find beneficial or preferable. The Atom DAC supports up to 32/384kHz PCM. The button on the front requires only the slightest touch to work. It wasn’t that long ago he was building cMoys in his garage, and now here they are, several factory buildings later, still growing and expanding. The issues always came back to finding the right mix between objective performance, price, and availability. Alas, we omitted too many details at release, like why we created another transparent DAC in the first place. Plug in the cable and turn it on with its singular touch button. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Touching it turns on the DAC. The combination of this review and the Aeon closed help me buy my first desktop setup in this space. Many thanks Dave. The EL is smack dab in the middle and it likes it there. Home Full Reviews. SOUND: 9/10 AMPING POWER: 9/10 CONSTRUCTION&DESIGN: 8/10 VALUE: 9.5/10. It is 90% smoke and mirrors. Although cables aren’t hard to come by, I still think it is something that should be included. The Meze Empyrean Flagship Headphones – You Can Have It All! Today, we are looking at JDS Labs EL series: the EL DAC and EL amp. The unit on initial startup or USB connection to the computer will default to 100% volume and muted (with Windows 10 or below without the JDS provided drivers). Sound. I’m talking about the signature circle adorned on the face of the unit. JDS Labs EL Amp II + EL DAC II. Review: JDS Labs EL DAC Posted on June 1, 2017 September 8, 2019 by Oscar Stewart Firstly I would like to thank JDS Labs for the loan unit, I will admit I am a big fan of the OL DAC which I bought after participating in the Beta test, and I wanted the added coaxial port the EL DAC has. I can see the reason for this from an audiophile point of view and safety but most devices I have used in the past do not do this. The EL DAC II costs US $299. I own the nfb11.28 witch has a sabre 9028 dac built in I just ordered the el amp how would the two pair btw I am using the focal clears. For the price and simplicity, it’s hard to recommend any other brand. Don’t be light or wishy-washy with your finger touch. I found that with the track’s high level of complexity and imaging requirements that the EL DAC is simply just ‘good’ here. If, in the unlikely event, an issue were to arise, they will take care of you. EL DAC delivers performance far beyond Objective criteria, with full USB Audio Class 2 support, transformer isolated coaxial input, and optical input.”  So saith JDS Labs, anyway. Something using tubes or a SS amp like the V200 could be used to warm up headphones a bit. Even now, a month later, I am still not used to the unit being muted on startup. It outperforms the price tag and it comes as no surprise to say that it is my personal recommendation for a neutral, balanced amplifier at a … All in all, I think that was pretty cool. It took a try or two to get used to the touch functionality but within a minute you’ll be a pro at figuring out the sensitivity. But, since you would need a DAC for the Atom, you’d end up with a pairing that costs at least 200 USD. The difference shouldnt be huge, though. In the interest of timely disclosure of its performance, I opted for the late option. For those that like this ‘feature’, simply use the device as is. The Concero HD is also $600 more expensive, so that is a more than fair trade off. A quick tap will change the input from optical (red light), USB (blue light) and coaxial (yellow light). Imagine a grainy film with a 4:3 aspect ratio. It turns out, very! JDS Labs brings you headphone amplification true to sound, all made in the USA. All thoughts and experiences with the product are naturally my own. Their supply lines reached across the globe and allowed everyone that couldn’t DIY one themselves a chance at owning an Objective unit. We go above and beyond American manufacturing. The O2+ODAC sells at just $285 which, performance considered, is a bargain. This usually leads to a goal of getting better sound on a now more modest budget. I will say that my time at JDS labs went a little longer than intended. It leans on the slightly warmer side of things (relatively) and pairs well with most amps and headphones I’ve used. From the same company that brought widespread access to the O2, we have an incredibly humble self-designed DAC. We built our in-house machine shop and production line to achieve product quality that we're proud of. It didn’t pull any side punches with what it claims to be or can do for my equipment. Disclaimer: JDS Labs sent us the Atom DAC for this review free of charge, I only covered the import taxes and fees. by Oscar. You get that circle and that’s it capiche? As we were talking in their demo room, and I was telling them I really had to go, John broke out a pair of the Audeze LCD-XC. © 2014-2021 HEADPHONE.GURU. Company asked me if I want to wait to get a unit from customers or a sample from them. From these criteria, the Objective 2 Amplifier and Objective DAC were born. Our mission has always been to help you enjoy the world’s best headphones. Learn how your comment data is processed. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The stack of EL AMP/DAC looks cool so there is that but from a practical standpoint....I dont find that to be a great value. For the few users that have driver issues, JDS Labs has you covered on their website, but the majority can just kick back and enjoy the music. The unit is made from anodized aluminum, and to correct what I said earlier, the anodizing process is actually handled across the river in St. Louis, so that is the one thing NOT handled in-house. Micro detail was separated enough to hear each individually and the whole sum was never too mushy. Plug it into your computer and you’re off to the races. The Element is a headphone amplifier and DAC all-in-one, and it looks great at it. It maintains that distinct level of clarity and simple detail in everything it does irregardless of the complexity thrown at it. Be well. The Element Line is comprised of the EL DAC, EL Amp and a combinational unit called The Element. Aesthetics and Build Quality: The original Element was always a great looking DAC/Amp with plenty of people loving it’s look and functionality. All joking aside, one of the main reasons why I reached out to JDS Labs was because I read a lot of subjective reviews on how smooth and detailed the O2+ODAC sounds. JDS Labs Atom vs Burson Play (100USD vs 200USD) – Burson Play has a DAC chip inside, and has more driving power than the Atom, but it does cost twice the price. I highly recommend you give this unit a try if you have it in consideration. Special mention is about my experience with Mr. John. The EL amp will bring the hd6xx closer to linear. JDS Labs creates exceptional listening experiences through objectivity. I’ve always placed great trust in JDS Labs customers, finding them to be knowledgeable value hunters, and OL DAC set a new bar. What I can say is that they (JDS Labs) were incredibly friendly. Just wanted to say thanks for all your reviews. The EL DAC maintains clarity in the string instruments while allowing the brass to produce a throaty kick. When was it that electronics started becoming so complex with their interface knobs, switchboard quantity of I/O, and computer GUI options. While a pro for most, one point that begged my chagrin was the initial muting which turned out to be a Windows bug. The EL DAC comes with all you need: the DAC, a power adaptor, a USB and Toslink cable. John also seemed a little surprised that the cMoys still sell as well as they do. Satisfactorily small and straightforward, the OL DAC was, as JDS Labs’ Jude Hopper and John Seaber tell me, “an accidental child.” As the company was experimenting with single-unit prototype DAC/amp combinations based on the open source amp design philosophy of acclaimed audio blogger NwAvGuy , it became apparent that the best bench tests came by way of standalone self-powered units. AMP. It can handle formats up to 32/384, unless you (like me) are using Windows 7, in which case it can only do 24/192. Everywhere you looked in headphone audio was products and manufacturers stepping up to meet that challenge. You plug in the RCA output to your amplifier of choice and hook up a USB cable or optical input and you’re done. Disclaimer: JDS Labs sent us the Atom DAC for this review free of charge, I only covered the import taxes and fees. Mr. Seaber and Mr. Hopper from JDS Labs, generously offered me to review OL DAC with full confidence on their product, in exchange of my honest opinion. The JDS EL DAC is simplistic in nature but look closer and it may surprise. Too bad really, as I have heard good things about the Magni 3, and some great things about their multibit DACs. Blue for USB, Red for Optical Toslink, and Amber for Digital COAXIAL; the later two both leverage the S/PDIF standard. It’s so simple it’s stupid to even say anything more. Glad you like the EL DAC! Last is “The Storm” from the album Violet Evergarden:Automemories by Evan Call. Today, almost 10 years since that initial craze for objective products, JDS Labs has a new line to offer; they call it the Element line. The sound of the EL DAC is excellent for the price and brings a standard to the market. Well JDS Labs are one of those companies who strive to provide products that don’t flavour the sound, they want you to have a neutral and transparent source so you can use the … JDS Labs Element II Review. There is a bit of a gap in their range right about there at the moment - let's watch this space! My tour guide Jude showed me their whole facility, and you could feel a definite sense of pride in the fact that everything, from concept to final product, is handled in-house.
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