Review: JDS Labs The Element v1.53b – Allrounder

JDS Labs The Element

Amplifier Performance:

With the rated maximum output power of 1.5 Watts, the Element seems like a very capable unit to drive even demanding headphones. The previous section has shown us, that sensitive in ear monitors play very well with it. No hissing, great channel balance even at lowest volumes (in low gain). But many of us, I’m sure, also want to use a desktop amplifier with desktop grade headphones. For my testing I’m using three pairs of over ears.

The more efficient Shinola Canfield, the wildly popular Sennheiser HD800S (rated at 300 Ohms impedance) and the vintage, and extremely difficult to drive, AKG K240. The AKG is not to be mistaken for the K240 MK2. My unit is the legendary Sextett, which was made in the early 1970’s, back when AKG was still an Austrian distinguished company, and not owned by an American or South Korean brand, taking away all that it was famous for… Yeah, my heart burned when AKG was sold to Harmann Kardon and Samsung.

Anyway, back on track.

Shinola – Canfield Over Ear

The Shinola Canfield is a closed back over ear, that oozes of luxurious design. Design though is only a little part of the story and it has to convince especially with sounding good. The Canfield Over Ears are rated at 41 Ohms impedance and have an efficiency of 115 dB SPL at one Kilohertz.
The Element of course has no problem driving these efficient headphones, they get to very good volumes at around 9-10 o’clock on the dial. It sounds organic and punchy with good transparency and resolution. Layering is very nice. The sound stage is narrower, but the Canfield is still a closed back, so that’s not surprising. The focus of this headphone lies on a bodied bass and lifted lower midrange. Treble is not very extended or forward. It misses some details and clarity.

JDS Labs The Element

JDS Labs The Element

Sennheiser – HD800S

The HD800S is a little more difficult to drive with its 300 Ohms impedance. The Sennheiser is known for a balanced tonality with class leading sound stage and layering. The Element drives it very well at high gain, with moderate listening volumes starting at 10 o’clock. Of course you can blow your ears off with higher volumes, but that’s not advised.

Bass is nicely dynamic, but could use more slam to it. Bass heavy was an adjective that the 800 series could never be described with. It’s a softer bass with good but neutral body. To me it still has a toe tapping factor, but isn’t the most suitable for all genres. I dare you to listen to some Aphex Twin with it… It’s not the same as with other more punchy head or earphones.

Midrange is nicely transparent with excellent layering and separation. I’m actually surprised how well they’re handled by the Element. I wish there would be more emotions in them, as some vocals can sound rather dry and thin. Other DAC/amps manage that better, but they also come in considerably more expensive. Keys and string instruments do have good body and weight to them.

Treble is nicely revealing and silky. Though can be too forward for some. The HD800 is well known for its treble response, which is too harsh for many. I also prefer using it with a warmer source. Some cymbals can sound a little too harsh with the Element, even for my taste.

JDS Labs The Element

JDS Labs The Element

AKG – K240 (Sextett)

The AKG is one of the hardest to drive headphones I ever came across. But if it’s driven well and right, it sounds incredible. The K240 is a semi-closed back headphone, with six passive radiators additional to the 32mm dynamic driver per side. It has an impedance of 600 Ohms and a sensitivity of 94dB per Milliwatt.

It has a very transparent sound with precise, yet not very extended, bass response, it can sound very intriguing in the mids, with great emotions and body. Treble is something I usually like to smoothen out with these headphones. Even my Hugo2 makes them sound a little shrill at times. That’s why I usually put a harmonic tube amplifier between source and headphones.

With the JDS Labs amplifier I turn the volume-turntable to close to 12 o’clock on high gain, that gives me more than enough listening volume. Bass is handled pretty well, with decent dynamics and body. It however doesn’t reach very deep and definitely could use more extension, that however is a characteristic of the headphones.

The midrange is balanced with good positioned vocals. Instruments sound nicely full but not exactly spectacular. They are well separated with good amounts of transparency and layering. Sound stage is of good dimensions, reaching out of your head with good width and depth. Vocals can sound a little thin and underdriven.

Treble is softer than on the Hugo2, but still makes me wish for them to be warmer and smoother. Some cymbals crash with harshness. Again, this is something these headphones are known for.
The AKG’s are a real bitch to drive right, and I don’t hold it against the Element that it didn’t succeed here, I am honestly surprised that it did drive them this well at all.

Conclusion:

The Element combines a smooth digital stage with a balanced amplifier, which makes this combo unit very intriguing and capable of sounding great with a lot of ear and headphones. The fact that it has a dead-silent background is very well received. It’s hard to find a desktop amplifier in this price range that offers the possibility to be used with efficient in ear monitors and hard to drive over ear headphones. The build quality is outstanding and if you can live with the limited file format support, I suggest you start taking a closer look at this one.

Overall, the Element delivers more than enough power to drive any headphone I have at home. For the price it’s going for, I think you will have a tough time finding something similarly great performing. The Element V1.53b is a recommended DAC/AMP unit so to the Buyer’s Guide it goes!

Chapeau JDS Labs!

4.7/5 - (108 votes)
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedin

A daytime code monkey with a passion for audio and his kids, Linus tends to look at gear with a technical approach, trying to understand why certain things sound the way they do. When there is no music around, Linus goes the extra mile and annoys the hell out of his colleagues with low level beatboxing.

1 Comment

  • Reply December 30, 2020

    Ken Shapiro

    My first headphone amp? Speakers are soooo 20th century. The future is headphones bubbles. The better the sound …. the better. I’d like to explore further down this road.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.