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Gear / Technical Help => Playback Forum => Topic started by: Chilly Brioschi on August 16, 2018, 06:11:19 PM

Title: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: Chilly Brioschi on August 16, 2018, 06:11:19 PM
Massdrop is putting out the SDAC-B.   (balanced DAC)
The specs. are, to say the least, impressive:

http://dro.ps/b/73pRcOauHW99/l
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: WiFiJeff on August 19, 2018, 07:58:17 PM
The expected ship date is May 24, 2019.

They expect to bill ya for it by the end of this month.

Hmmm.
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: Chilly Brioschi on August 21, 2018, 03:14:02 AM
DSD256
24/192
Balanced
Asahi Kasei Microdevices 4452
Grace Design
...It'll kill me to wait, but I'm in.

I trust Grace Design from their history and Massdrop seems to be holding it together.
Expectation is a reference DAC that runs on USB and has great connectivity options.
I see it as a missing link in my tablet-based master system ahead of my integrated tube amp.
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: Chilly Brioschi on July 12, 2019, 08:04:01 PM
Boom!
Hear that Drop?

Now what to feed it with? I guess that Tab via USB to start.
Where to point those Balanced Outs to?

I want a soft-clip power amp where I can roll Op Amps on the Pre side.

Ideas?
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: voltronic on July 12, 2019, 09:20:18 PM
Boom!
Hear that Drop?

Now what to feed it with? I guess that Tab via USB to start.
Where to point those Balanced Outs to?

I want a soft-clip power amp where I can roll Op Amps on the Pre side.

Ideas?

This is the first I'm seeing this.  Very interested!

What I really would love is for them to do a balanced version of this combo unit:
https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-o2-sdac-dac-amp (https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-o2-sdac-dac-amp)
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: jerryfreak on July 14, 2019, 10:13:37 AM
yeah looks dope, esp at $149. hopefully they do another run
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: dactylus on July 19, 2019, 03:34:27 PM


https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-grace-design-standard-dac-balanced
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: kindms on July 19, 2019, 04:03:52 PM


https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-grace-design-standard-dac-balanced

TY. I pre-ordered. I love my sdac but the updated specs on this one will be a nice addition to the main system

SDAC-B >XLR >Outlaw monoblocks >VR2s

that should be sweet
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: voltronic on July 20, 2019, 09:29:36 PM
Well, I just pulled the trigger on an 02+SDAC.  I decided I don't really need the balanced output, and I have a set of Sennheiser 650s on the way that need more juice to drive them than my Focusrite interface can give.
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: Chilly Brioschi on July 21, 2019, 10:48:25 AM
The straight line to power amp idea is interesting
Levels and DSP at source.   Hmmm


Looking at a Cambridge 851A integrated
 (Lots of inter-channel isolation and headroom)

Did Monoprice ever license any AAA THX modules?
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: jerryfreak on July 21, 2019, 10:34:16 PM
The straight line to power amp idea is interesting

i wish it had a volume control

my benchmark remains the critical link between the music and my powered monitors
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: spyder9 on July 22, 2019, 11:09:25 AM
I use the original SDAC (rca) in my office at work.  Tremendous value.  The thing sounds great right out of the box.  Connected to a Plugable USB-C Docking Station, Windows 10 Pro recognized it with ease.  I'm sure the Balanced version will be a homerun as well.
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: IowaClint on July 24, 2019, 08:59:33 AM
I run the original SDAC with a 02 headphone amp with some ATH-M50's at the office.  It sounds great. 
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: Chilly Brioschi on July 25, 2019, 08:13:35 PM
Drop has the AAA THX 789  headamp again for $400 American  <cheap>
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: voltronic on July 26, 2019, 07:28:22 AM
A question for those who have ordered these Drop Studio products before:

Do they ship directly from China?  Mine shipped a few days ago, but the tracking continues to just say "shipping partner".
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: Chilly Brioschi on July 31, 2019, 08:26:23 PM
I don't like cardboard in the house, so I unboxed outside.
The outer pack was recycled, the inner is very USA, in printing, and smell.
I read the label, and did not think "China"... and I get a least one China Post package a month.

FWIW, my last prescription, filled at Walmart, was "list price" $4107, but I paid $73 with a GoodRx coupon !
Insurance offered to cover 1/15th of it !
Why am I off on this tangent?
The drug was made in China ...

The SDAC-B sounds like my Benchmark, super clean and clear as a mountain sky on a perfect day.
It's almost unnerving to not hear mid-bass thickening like my normal set up has.
Not like taking off sunglasses, but feels more like that little bit of haze has lifted.
More listening to do !
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: voltronic on August 01, 2019, 01:47:23 PM
I know this thread is about the SDAC-B, but I just received my 02+SDAC and am using it to feed my HD650s. 

WOW.  The 650s need the extra gain switch engaged to play loudly, but once that's done, DAMN this is a sweet-sounding combo.  Absolutely effortless sound.
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: spyder9 on September 14, 2019, 11:25:36 AM
I just setup the SDAC-B today for my home rig.  All I can say:  :o

What makes this little wonder great: 3.5mm optical-in.  I still had a couple of these toslink cables from my 'Nomad Jukebox 3' days.  Hooked it up to Ht-Omega eClaro soundcard.  Bam!  Sounds great with this setup.  USB direct sounded a little strident.  I'm gonna add a passive preamp to the chain too. 

A+ to Grace Design for another great product.    :clapping:
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: Chilly Brioschi on September 14, 2019, 07:07:50 PM
+T for new toys
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: jerryfreak on September 15, 2019, 07:36:56 PM
I just setup the SDAC-B today for my home rig.  All I can say:  :o

What makes this little wonder great: 3.5mm optical-in.  I still had a couple of these toslink cables from my 'Nomad Jukebox 3' days.  Hooked it up to Ht-Omega eClaro soundcard.  Bam!  Sounds great with this setup.  USB direct sounded a little strident.  I'm gonna add a passive preamp to the chain too. 

A+ to Grace Design for another great product.    :clapping:

you need a chromecast audio... i grabbed a grip of them for multiroom when they were closing them out, holler if you want one
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: spyder9 on September 23, 2019, 11:27:10 PM
I added a simple volume control to the chain, Nobsound NS-05P, and it does a great job for on-the-cheap. For sound card setting in Win10, I selected "Digital Output (eClaro)" instead of "Speakers (eClaro)".  When set to "Digital Output (eClaro)" the Win10 volume control slider becomes only an On/Off, does nothing to change loudness.   

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MXC9HHW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: jerryfreak on September 24, 2019, 12:24:18 AM
I have a similar looking thing called a “little bear MC2” that I got from eBay for 25 bucks. I actually bought mine to go from unbalanced to balanced connections for my monitors but it has a volume control as well just like that one
Title: Re: Grace Design SDAC-B
Post by: spyder9 on September 25, 2019, 03:13:21 PM
I have a similar looking thing called a “little bear MC2” that I got from eBay for 25 bucks. I actually bought mine to go from unbalanced to balanced connections for my monitors but it has a volume control as well just like that one

Same company, just rebranded.  Mine actually shipped in a box labeled "Little Bear MC2".    Rock solid for my needs.