The guys at VentureCraft know how to make a good looking portable audio gear. From the first iteration of the Go-DAP, we’ve been given nothing but first class product design and build quality (check out the new VentureCraft bracket for Iphone on my Tokyo Show article). While my impression of the Go-DAP 4.0 and Go-DAP X was quite disappointing (the 4.0 especially was disappointing from a sound quality perspective I scrapped my plans to write a review on it), I see some light on the current generation Dac-only Go-DAP DD Socket 1 models.
The DD Socket 1 comes with an AKM AK4353 chip but is available with several different output stage flavors. The stock model is equipped with a standard OP275 while the upgraded models (higher price than stock) are offered in the following flavors: OPA627, Muses01, and Muses02. I happen to have all three models with the upgraded op-amps, one belonging to a customer while the other two I bought while in my Japan trip.
Between the three, the Muses01 is definitely the most impressive of the bunch. The widest and the most spacious of the three by quite a margin. Character of the Muses signature, the tonal balance is quite flat and with a good amount of air that reminds me a lot of the sound signature of the Asus Xonar Essence Muses Edition. Aside from the strength of a large soundstage the Muses01 is the grainiest and the dryest sounding of the three however, and so it’s recommended that you pair it with warm sounding amps (there’s plenty to choose from: Portaphile 627, ALO International & Continental, Leckerton Audio, Ray Samuels, etc).
The Muses02 model has a blacker background and a cleaner sound than the Muses01 though it’s narrower in soundstage. Like the Muses01 the tonal balance is quite flat though with less air than the 01 but again with the benefit of having a blacker background.
The OPA627 model sounds like *surprise surprise* an OPA627 with its forward midrange-centric sound. Obviously the most colored of the three though the coloration is quite subtle and doesn’t quite sound as warm as a typical OPA627 amplifier (well this is an amplifier after all). Being the narrowest sounding of the three may sound bad but with the right amplifier and headphone combination you can get a fairly expansive soundstage out of it and so I wouldn’t really hesitate to recommend the OPA627.
Comparisons with other brands
The VentureCrafts do have their own sound signature and together with Fostex HP-P1 are the two flattest sounding offerings in the market. Furutech’s ADL X1 seem to also belong to this camp from my brief listening session in Tokyo, but I’d rather not say too much about the X1 as I don’t have the unit here to compare to. The other camp which is the darker, warmer sounding camp represented by CypherLabs Solo (-R, dB, and the first generation Solo) and Sony’s PHA-1.
Between the VentureCraft Go-Dap DD to the Fostex HP-P1, the HP-P1 is signficantly smoother, cleaner, and more refined. Other than the Muses01 possessing a wider soundstage than the P1 (the other DD models being roughly comparable in soundstage width), the P1 excels in having a superior depth and blacker background. The Muses01, while is extremely wide, does sound a bit flat and lacking in soundstage depth. The Muses02 has roughly the same soundstage width but again not the depth of the Fostex, slightly darker background on the Muses but a bit more grain and less clear. The OPA627 is the most colored bunch of this camp, mid-centric with a noticeably less accurate timbre and soundstage space.
Obviously everyone know that CypherLabs is a site sponsor but long time readers should know by know that my preference lies in a dark sound with weighty lows and that means I easily gravitate towards the CypherLabs & Sony camp. Perhaps most surprising is the Sony PHA-1 I got from Tokyo which is markedly improved from the last unit we listened to. Still the same warm signature but this PHA-1 is extremely spacious, possessing strong depths as well as width. The bass is a bit loose and the detail retrieval a bit lacking compared to the CypherLabs/VentureCraft/Fostex devices, but the Sony is extremely enjoyable with its spacious dark and warm signature.
It’s a good thing that we have more choices these days with i-Devices DACs compared to when we only had the CypherLabs Solo and Fostex HP-P1 some two years ago. Perhaps we should start an i-Devices vs Android USB OTG DAC comparison in the near future, but from experience pairing an OTG DAC with my Samsung S4 with the USB Recorder Pro software has been a fairly buggy ordeal and definitely less reliable than a typical i-Device DAC pairing. Maybe it’ll improve in the future.
dalethorn
This review gives me a pretty clear picture of which way the Go-DAP people are aiming their product, and it looks like they’re playing it safe. I would like to read more about the convenience of handling this in actual use situations.
admiralwiem
Mike, how about the photos from the S4? *wink*
Mike
Super grainy didn’t make the quality cut. 🙂
Ryan Adiputra
got to have Full Frame man, got to have Full Frame
admiralwiem
Can’t beat the 1Dx -_-. That ‘Zeus’ full frame is awesome.
Twinster
Regarding the Android & OTG setup. If you enable the USB Debugging mode under the development option you will be able to use any of the application (not only USB Recorder Pro ). At least it’s working fine for me with my Samsung S3 with ALO PanAm.
Mike
Thank you, I will make sure that Usb debugging is on.
George Lai
An interesting product as this makes it a direct competitor to the CLAS being DAC only? As a side question, of the DAC/amps (HP-P1, PHA-1, ADL X1) which of them do not allow you to bypass the amp?
Mike
The HP-P1 and the ADL X1 (http://www.headfonia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/A94Q9887.jpg) allows you to bypass the amp. The PHA-1, I think not but I need to double check.
George Lai
Thanks Mike. I’m looking at DACs smaller than my CLAS to carry around. So far they’ve been DAC/amps so this looks interesting. The X1 looks small enough that if one is too lazy to bring along a slim-sized amp, at least it’s got one built in. Decisions decisions.
Mike
The Venture Crafts here are not smaller than the CLAS. Maybe slightly narrower but longer. The ADL X1 is looking to be the smallest i-Device DAC/Amp around.
George Lai
Nice to know. I’m looking forward to your X1 review. The Singapore distributor still can’t say when it’s coming in.
Mike
Yes I’m waiting for it to arrive as well.
George Lai
Go-DAP DD on sale in Japan http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/japanshop/item/mgs-dds627/
Mike
PRetty crazy sale!
George Lai
Was the stock opamp that bad and not worth considering? I see from their website it is USD100 cheaper.
Mike
I wouldn’t say bad but the difference is quite noticeable. I figured that if people would bother carrying a separate external DAC may as well go for the better one.
George Lai
Ha Ha, slippery slopes ahead.
rich
Referring to the Sony PHA-1, is there an improved version ? What is the serial number of the new PHA 1 that you bought from Tokyo if it is acceptable ? I was an early adopter and wonder if Sony can update my PHA-1 ? Yes the signature is dark but the stage, width and depth are mediocre. A price to pay for being the first few to buy this when the model was out.
Mike
Rich,
I didn’t take note of the serial number of the first PHA-1 I listened to. The one I have right now, I bought it in Tokyo and the sound though still dark has an excellent width and depth comparable to or maybe a tad better than the Fostex HP-P1. I don’t know what they did, if it was just a different batch. I need to look into this further but I have very limited information on it.
Steven
Quote: …Perhaps we should start an i-Devices vs Android USB OTG DAC comparison in the near future…
Sony PHA-2 announced. The train keeps on rolling
Re: ADL X1. Head-Fi thread says line-out is as computer dac only. Line-out is disabled when using with iDevice. Go figure that stupidity. Custom Cable UK shop in stock if you are desperate to get your hands on it Mike
Mike
I should be getting the ADL X1 few weeks back if not for the Indonesian customs. We’re going to sell the ADL X1s at the store, as well as the new CLAS Theorem (Lieven already got his hand on that one).
I listened to the PHA-2 in Europe. Weird. I didn’t think it was that spacious, a bit congested in the mids.
George Lai
Lieven, is the Theorem charger identical to the Solo-R/dB?
L.
Good question, I was wondering that myself last night but was too lazy to check. I’ll get back to you (but vs CLAS solo)
George Lai
Jude of Head-Fi says it’s the red cable. My Solo-R red cabled charger is Input 100-240V, 50/60 Hz, 0.55A and Output DC 9V, 2A. So Lieven if it is the same as your Solo original you have two chargers 😉
L.
it’s not the same as the Solo George. Theorem is .55A and 9V but CLAS is .3A and 5V. But it is the same as the Solo
George Lai
Ok thanks Lieven
Steven
Re: PHA-2
I am sure you will still be delivering proper sit-down non-meet / trade show impressions at some point 🙂
Re: Theorem
Theorem is interesting, seems to be going head-to-head with the HiFi M8. David told me this: http://www.head-fi.org/t/679788/cypher-labs-theorem-720-dac-a-new-portable-24-192-usb-idevice-android-dac-amp/15#post_9776646
Mike
🙂