Disclaimer: Resonessence Labs sent us The Concero HP (which Dave reviewed here) and the Herus for review. Samples will go back to RL after the review. We will most likely do a Concero HD review in a few weeks as well.
Resonessence Labs. Again?
Oh Yes! The Canadian based company is back on Headfonia already. I’ve been using the Herus for several weeks now and those who have been following me on twitter or on Facebook know I’ve been very impressed with it. Those of you who like negative reviews better stop reading because 95% of what I am going to tell you is going to be good.
After these few weeks with the Herus I can fully understand why Dave was so pleased with the Concero HP and why he absolutely wants to listen to the Concero HD. But first let me explain what the Herus actually is and how it works
The Herus
Basically it is a tiny hand-assembled DAC/AMP unit measuring 63.5mm (2.5in) long, by 31.7mm (1.25in) wide and 19mm (0.75in) high. It is machined from a solid block of aluminum and it is very light and basic.
On top of the unit you have the famous “R” logo with the Magenta or Red background color. On one side of the unit you have a USB type ‘B’ socket and a TRS ¼ connector on the other side. On the bottom you have the serial number and a rubber anti slip strip. That’s it. The Herus arrived in a simple yet nice cardwood box in which I found a nice silk like bag with the Herus inside. No USB cable, no manual, no cd with driver. Back to Basics. HERUS, like all Resonessence products, is Designed, Manufactured, Tested and Shipped in Canada.
I love how it looks. It’s got style and with its tiny size it’s so easy to take along with you on trips.
On the inside there is a Sabre ESS 9010-2M DAC chip (The Concero HP uses the ESS 9018-2M): Asynchronous, up to 24bit 352.8Ks/S (PCM), DXD and DSD64/128. It is a USB powered device that achieves more than 100dB of SNR, (typically 108dB) and is capable of driving 2.4V RMS into headphones from 600 Ohms to 32 Ohms. The distortion in all cases is better than 0.005% (85dB): the measured THD+N is typically 89dB for 32 Ohms and 90dB (about 0.003%) for 600 Ohms. All the technicalities can be found here. Resonessence was founded by the former Operations Director for ESS Technology and they’re very good when it comes to DAC chip implementations.
The Herus works on Windows, MAC OS, Linux, iPhone (with CCK) and Android devices (Works great with USB Audio player Pro). It contains Resonessence upgradable hardware and firmware and it can be used as a DAC or an AMP/DAC combo but more on that in a bit.
As you might have noticed I didn’t say anything about a volume control, basically cause there isn’t one: Herus takes over your volume control on your pc so you can just use your system slider.
Amp? Amp/DAC? What is it then?
Well it is both. You can either use your headphone with the internal amp or you can set the volume to 100% and connect it to your headphone amp with a ¼ to RCA cable.
In the beginning I was mostly using the Herus as a DAC only in combination with one of my full sized desktop amplifiers. When I first received the Herus I was using the Sennheiser HD650 a lot and I wasn’t too convinced with how it sounded straight from the Herus. Then later when I switched headphones I just kept using it as a DAC only until I discovered how excellent it sounds when used as an amplifier as well.
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Dave Ulrich
Nice review L. It is good to know there is someone else who can share my love.
L.
Thank you Dave. I love listening to it. Have you received the HD already? How is it?
Dave Ulrich
It is a lightning powered DAC. The polar opposite of the Neko. It’s energy is out of this world.
Rexxar
Fantastic review!
Pair a Herus with an iDevice and HF Player and you have HiRes playback on the go!
I had a great time with Herus; unfortunately my recently purchased Shure SE846 picks up unacceptable amount of hiss from it.
Since their products are great, I am now considering the Concero HP.
Do you have experience listening to Shure SE846 with the Concero HP?
L.
Thank you Rexxar. No we do not, sorry
Alex Acemyan
I recently purchased a Concero HP and own a set of Shure SE846 IEMs. Overall I find the combination to be extremely good and non fatiguing. Adding the DAC has quite a large impact on the depth / layering of music compared to directly from my iPhone 5S.
As for hiss, there is a very minor amount of hiss when volume is at ‘0’ and no music is playing. The instant music is on, you don’t notice any hiss at all. hope this helps.
L.
Thanks alex!
Rexxar
Thank you for your insight! I will definitely try it out when I have a chance.
disqus_VAcp0ievmN
Nice review, L. Have you tried it with Sennheiser HD600, I was wondering? I still can’t decide between Concero HD, HP, and Herus …
L.
Thank you. I do no longer own the HD600 as I liked the HD650 more, but based on the also 300Ohm and the fact that the 600 already sounds “brighter” than the 650, I do not think the Herus would be the best match. I would look into the HP or HD for sure
digitldlnkwnt
A couple notes on the Herus from my experience over the past few weeks:
The Herus and the HD600 don’t sound bad together, but of my SennAmperior w/Apollonian Cable, HD600 w/Cardas cable and ZMF with Zapex rewire/Bass tune – it’s my least favorite. Plugged into JDS Labs custom 02 with RCA input and getting the power it needs, the sound fills out a bit better.
In either case I would pause to label it as “bright” – “anemic” is a better term with appropriate imagery to go with it.
I have also plugged Herus into my WA7 w/SS PSU and that actually sounds nice and thick, very vinyl-like presentation with any of my headphones. If you thought the built-in DAC was maybe a touch cold – the Herus is like a warm blanket.
Herus vs DX90 – 1 vs 2 ESS DAC – the DX90 is more spacious and a bit brighter in it’s resolution. No question, across all of my ‘phone/monitors. Sometimes i prefer the sound of 1 DAC v 2 – especially with older recordings that are not the best to begin with. The dual DAC design is less forgiving v the Herus single DAC.
I hope i didn’t go to left-field on you guys but i thought some would like perspective.
Headfonia_L.
Not at all. Thank you for sharing
Dave Ulrich
If you have a good separate amp, go for the HD.
Marc
It’s always refreshing to read reviews from the different authors of Headfonia. There’s always a certain character and feel to reviews here which I don’t normally see. Great work as always, L.
You mentioned in your review that the Herus’s DAC portion is close to the Theorem DAC. Would you consider the Herus and the CLAS -dB to be comparable sonically? How would the cheaper DAC fare? By extension, how is the pairing of the Herus and the Duet?
It seems to me that the (trans)portable DAC market is stepping up their game from the AQ Dragonfly, Meridian Explorer, HRT Microstreamer, and the like into supposedly higher functioning DACs like the Herus, Geek Out, iDSD Nano, and ALO “the Key.” I’m hoping to see more reviews of the latter DACs.
Cheers,
Marc
L.
Thank you Marc.
I do feel the dac levels are close, yet the Herus sound is quite different from the Cypherlabs sound. Both are great, are at a high level and I love both. I do find the CL product easier to use on the go because they are easier to stack. Both brands have a desktop quality sound. The cheaper Herus is really good as a DAC but when compared as a DAC/AMP to the Theorem or -dB/Duet combo, it just isn’t at their level in total
I’ve been trying to get a Geek, but didn’t get a reply
Dave Ulrich
I think the Concero HP/Theorem would be the better comparison. Send your Theorem my way and I would be glad to test them 😉
L.
yes that. Ooooor….
David
Pricewise, the JDSLabs C5D seems to be a closer comparison than the Theorem. I haven’t been able to find any comparisons between the two. How would you compare the Herus with the C5D?
L.
The Dac part of the Herus is a lot better than the C5D, and you don’t need a CCK to connect it. The Herus amp is more neutral while the C5D amp is darker and warmer, has more weight and bass boost but has less detail
dalethorn
I was just measuring my Microstreamer, which is the same length and width, but the Herus is twice as thick. So basically it should have much better electronics. Would be nice to get a side-by-side comparison
L.
It is filled with awesomeness!
Send me your microstreamer and I will compare them 😉
ghost2031 S23
A lot of interesting and diverse Reviews lately.
Looking forward to the concero hd dac review which i bought this week.
Dave Ulrich
You have to let us know what you think when you get it.
ghost2031 S23
Sure, a few thoughts about it can’t hurt, i’ll try to do it.
L.
Thanks!
I’m looking forward to it too, I’m thinking it will be published around mid June
Nickjan Glas
Another candidate for my iPod 5 next to the c5d (although its 100 dollar more expensive). as I understand you dont need an external power source with this one and no cck (its Mfi certified then?)?
As the ME explorer was rated better than the microstreamer (other reviews) and this one is rated above the microstremaer also; can I assume that the level is equal to the ME explorer?
L.
No external power, you will need a cck. This DAC is way ahead of the C5D DAC; but the C5Ds amp section has a gain setting and bass boost. Don’t know about the explorer
Nickjan Glas
gain and bass is not that important to me personally. Another I hope to see/try on canjam then. Just bought the cck; unfortunately I cant test the ME either with it as they dont sell powered usb where I am at the moment (argh). thanks for the clarification.
Nickjan Glas
Reading all the reviews I might be ‘rocking the boat’ by saying this, but partly based on ‘http://www.kenrockwell.com/apple/ipod-touch-5g/audio-quality.htm’ I bought the iPod touch 5, with the golden ears app, for a portable music player. Although it isn’t a dedicated mp, I was planning on adding maybe the herus to it, as I mentioned in my previous comment. Re-reading this review and several others, I again noticed the reference to Idevices here, which I generally don’t encounter unless it is with the iPod classic or the ipod5g review. Am I totally off track with my decision, or is it a good middle way as I actually use the multiple functionalities?
thanks
digitldlnkwnt
I just pick up one of these to use with a JDS O2 Amp Custom, Power/RCA input in the back, 1/4 inch up front. I also picked up a Forza Y cable 1/8inch to RCA, their least expensive version, .5m length.
Richard Gordon
hello there, how would you compare this against the centrance dacport LX? thank you!
Headfonia_L.
I don’t have the Dacport with me here, sorry
Peter
So in order to use this with my audeze and v200 violectric I need an adapter and USB cord. Which cable would I need to connect the herus to the v200? Also I see you mentioned the lcd 2 was good enough on the herus and the new el 8 are more efficient so this shouldn’t be any problem with the herus?
Headfonia_L.
My recommendation is to use the Herus as a DAC. You would need a very simple 3.5mm to RCA cable, that’s all. To connect your laptop to the herus you need a USB A to USB B cable, not sure if its included with the Herus, I myself use this one:
http://www.effectaudio.com/interconnect/digital-cable/usb-copper-digital-cable.html
Peter
just bought the herus to match the v200. Thanks for the recommendation.looks like the herus actually takes a 1/4 not 3.5mm. Any suggestions on a 1/4 to rca cable? I’ve seen a few 1/4 to rca cables with two 1/4 cables. Will this degrade the sound? I’m just worried I’ll pick the wrong one and see there are two 1/4 cables attached to two rcas.
Headfonia_L.
It does, sorry, I always have a 6.3 to 3.5 mm inside, I forgot. Mine is actually from a local shop, check monoprice or ebay for a good cheap cable
Peter
Apologies can’t find the correct cable to connect the RCA to 1/4. Looked on amazon and monoprice. Can you please assist?
Headfonia_L.
Really??
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=6.3+to+RCA+cable&_sop=15
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRS-6-3mm-1-4-male-to-Phono-2-RCA-stereo-audio-cable-cord-5FT-1-5M-/321191034014?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac87a3c9e
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_7?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=1+4+to+rca&sprefix=1+4+to+rca%2Caps%2C611
http://www.amazon.com/Stereo-4-Inch-3-3-Feet-Return-Insert/dp/B000068O1J/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1435686275&sr=8-8&keywords=1+4+to+rca
and then there’s this: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=amazon.com+1%2F4+to+RCA+cable
😉
There are thousands of these cables on ebay and amazon, just get the one you need at the best deal
Peter
There are 1/4 to rca cables with two 1/4 cables attached to the RCA. Can I buy those and use one of the 2 1/4 plugs to attach to the herus?
Headfonia_L.
no, buy a one 1/4 to rca. Come on man 🙂
Julien
Hello,
I have a herus+ connected to a liquid carbon. Sounds great!
I have an opportunity to get a chord hugo 1, would it be a significant step up as a DAC and worth the +1000usd investment? I use a ether flow and hd800s in balanced. Thanks!!