Oak Forest Audio

A comprehensive dive into everything personal audio! Featuring both Vintage & Modern Gear in everything from reviews & impressions to sneak peaks & first looks.

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Showing posts with the label DAC/Amps

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Budget King of Value (Topping L30 Linear) - A Look at Solid State Amplification within Two Market Extremes

DAC/Amps

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Earmen TR-Amp Simply Perfectly Portable

DAC/Amps

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Tipping the Scales - Topping's Terrific E30

DAC/Amps

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Topping D90 MQA - All Around Excellence

DAC/Amps

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True Transparency for All - SMSL SP 200

DAC/Amps

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iFi iCan Special Edition

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DAC/Amps20
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HiFi Highlights

Topping D90 MQA - All Around Excellence

Launched in late 2019 Topping's extraordinary D90 made waves among the audiophile community, and now finally the D90's MQA ready counterpart is available. In terms of hardware the only change VS the base model is the upgrade to a XMOS 216 chipset on the MQA variant over the originals 208. It's likely the new chipset is present to aid in the MQA decoding the original does not support, I for one appreciate that Topping chose to utilize a more powerful XMOS USB interface to aide in the added MQA support, which is available only through USB input. Priced at $799 , the MQA Edition D90 is only an additional $100 over the base model for those who need the added MQA Support. I'd also like to thank Apos Audio for allowing me the chance to spend a week listening to this new product in exchange for my thoughts it will certainly be missed! Build ...

Tipping the Scales - Topping's Terrific E30

As a huge fan of the Topping D10 I was excited to hear about the E30, and after a few weeks of listening I'm happy to say my excitement was warranted! Priced at only $130 over at Apos Audio, E30 redefines what we should expect from DACs at this price point. Let me also give a big thank you to the Apos Team who provided me with a review sample of this DAC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinion. Build Quality & Function Similar to D10 and Schiit's own Modi 3, E30 features a modest but functionally competent metal chassis. It's construction features clean seams with no sharp edges or roughness and a seamless black front display panel. The rear panel assembly is clean and each input socket is seated firmly without any wiggle or movement when plugging in RCA and USB jacks. E30 differs from D10 functionally in that is only has analog RCA Line outputs and no Digital Coax out. It does how ever have Digital Coax input which I used for this review. I'm al...

Do Usb Cables Really Make a Difference?

Starting with the USB OTG C adapters we have three! One from iFi Audio One from Cable Creation One from Anker Pictures aside how do they sound? Well exactly the same assuming you have no data drop outs. So this review will be focused more so on usability and build over time than sound. iFi Audio Had the best balance of flexibility had the smallest physical footprint, least bulk Had no data drop outs while in my pocket Anker Cables stiff cable, little to no flexibility kinda chunky an short Had the most drop outs unless perfectly stationary on a desk... Cable Creation bulkier than iFi but not as much as Anker "Gold" plating wears off after a few months Longest and most flexible Had some data drop outs while in my pocket So all in all while there are a lot of brands and options, I do feel the iFi USB C OTG was the best of the three. Bulk It has the thinnest physical connectors so it doesn'...

Getting it Right - AKG K371

In the many years I've enjoyed in this hobby I've owned a few AKG Headphones, each was special and unique in their own way. Still they always had quirks, some of which made them truly one of a kind like the magical mids of the bass light K501 others like the original K550 were truly outstanding... when you maintained perfect posture and stillness sufficient for it to actually retain it's seal. With the sale of Harmon to Samsung many in the hobby including my self worried about what would happen to AKG. I'll admit that their most recent flagship headphones have left me with a luke warm impression... however I'm excited to say I feel with the K371 they've finally started getting it right...again! Namely, producing a product that is mostly free of those "quirks" and simply excels at it's given price point! Speaking of price, it's new in store MSRP is $149, how ever there are retailers that often have them at $129 new and there's an abundance o...

Schiit Vali 2 The Budget Buster Reinvented

Schiit Vali 2 $169 I'd like to start by thanking Jason of Schiit Audio, and his team for allowing me the chance to get to demo the Vali 2. As a fan of the original Vali, I was really excited to get to hear this the Schiit Vali 2! The budget buster hybrid tube, reintroduced and reinvented! Pros: POWER, Function, Value, Size, Tubey Goodness! Cons : Noisy, inanimate , Poor Stock Tube The BOX [5/5] I've ALWAYS been a huge fan of how Schiit Ships their products! They have this very cool and original... contraption that holds everything together, safely and securely. While the box your amp comes in is not... the most important feature. I think it speaks volumes of the company's guiding philosophy! Build [3.7/5] Solid metal chassis, hand built here in the USA. The physical design is gorgeous; the Schiit Vali 2 is even better looking than its predecessor. It still has a touch...

Earmen TR-Amp Simply Perfectly Portable

TR-Amp is a new portable Dac/Amp from Earmen priced at 249.99 via their website , for those who don't know Earmen is the portable division of Auris Audio. Based in Serbia Auris develops a wide array of tube amplifiers and digital audio products built around the idea that equipment should not only sound beautiful but look just as good! Now I've had a chance to hear and review a few products from Auris including the Euterpe which I also helped organize a US Tour for. As a fan of their products I'm happy to now have a chance to review their Earmen TR-Amp! While I did receive the unit from them at no cost, I did not receive any monetary compensation for this review. Build & Function Overall I found TR-Amp to be perfectly seamless in real world use. With my android devices I had no issues getting bit perfect playback through USB Android Player Pro with both Qobuz and Tidal. Power is built into the Volume knob with a nice bit of initial resistance to prevent accidental swit...

Aeon Flow Open X - Review for Dan Clark Audio Collaboration with Drop

Introducing the Dan Clark Audio X Drop Aeon Flow Open X , I'd like to start by thanking Drop for giving me the chance to review headphone. This is a Dan Clark Audio Aeon Flow Open tuned by the Drop Team, so it's a collaboration! Having not heard the original tho I can't say what they've changed. Price is at $499 via Drop . I did receive this just before launch on a temporary in home demo with the understanding that I share my thoughts of my own accord without any compensation. Moving forward tho I'll be shortening the Aeon Open X by Dan Clark Audio & Drop to just simply AFO-X. Build ...

Lightening Strikes Twice - Cayin N6ii T01

I want to start by thanking Andy of Cayin for giving me a chance to hear the N6ii with both it's A01 and T01 modules thru a brief in home demo. I've had a chance to hear quite a few of the Cayin Digital Audio Players over the years and they've always impressed me! Some history for my self, I am a happy owner of a Hifiman HM901 that I run exclusively line out into a Custom iBasso PB2 amp. Sound quality of this system has for years been unchallenged by all of the modern Digital Audio Players I've heard. Still this old vintage player has terrible battery life, no streaming support and the amp it self is twice as thick as the already large player. So my little tower is by no means a shining example of "portable" sound quality. Price was around $1500 when all components were available. That said, I'm really impressed with the N6ii with it's T01 module. I feel it may be the first modern all in one DAP to match the quality of my transportable tower with d...

Defining the Decade - ZMF Auteur

I got my start in this whole audiophile madness in 2012 with a SONY XB 700 and later Beyerdynamic DT 880. Over the years I've heard, reviewed, bought and sold dozens upon dozens of headphones. As time has passed I've become not only a better listener but a more critical reviewer. With so many players in this space I feel it's necessary to only reward excellence and politely express my disappointment in mediocrity candidly. That said, at the end of a decade I feel one headphone stands out above all of them. It is of course the ZMF Auteur which is priced starting at $1599 with other woods and ear-pads available! I won't drone on regarding the build quality of what's in the box as I feel there is enough coverage regarding the exceptional construction and craftsmanship of each ZMF Headphone. I'd also like to thank the ZMF team for allowing me the chance to have an extended listen of a Auteur in Cocobolo with it's stock pads, my review consists of my own...

Perfectly Musical - ES Lab ES-1A

First and foremost I want to thank the Team at ES Lab for giving my self the chance to hear this headphone! While minimal, the overall presentation in person is stunningly polished. The grain on the wood storage box has both a nice feel and look to it, there's even a pair of wood wings for the outer face of the cup which make the headphone lighter. Additionally there are two sets of pads, a "dark" pad with a fabric center and another set of pads without the fabric. For this review the Dark Pads were used as they removed some mid-range etch at the expense of just a little top end energy. Overall Sound Signature ES-1A has a slightly dark neutral sound with a rich harmonic presentation. I find it's sound stage to be cohesive with good precision, it's mid-range is rich with a little added body. High frequencies are a bit rolled off but don't sound lifeless or lacking extension. What impressed me the most was it's overall speed and impact for low frequencies, i...

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