Hey Jay, I’m planning on getting a small tube amp and a dedicated DAC to go with my computer and then switch the V90-HPA to my bedside, but I can’t really budget for the dedicated DAC until next year, so thought I’d enjoy the tube amp first. seems like I can hook up the tube amp via RCAs and that should overide the V90-HPA but still draw infomation/music through the DAC on it? As you say signal still goes through the chain when not switched on. As long as the amp and DAC sections are seperate in the V90-HPA I assume things will work out? At worst double amping I’m guessing. I thought I’d ask you for a bit of reassurance. If and when I see how the tube amp and V90-HPA goes, I’ll will sure let you know. Thanks.

Hi M.L

So, are you thinking about using the HPA purely as the USB DAC and then have another headphone amp running from it? I’m intrigued.

As the HPA allows the signal through the chain even when not switched on I would *guess* that it might work the way you’re wanting it to. It’s not something I’ve tried or tested though.

If you do give it a go I would be very interested to hear how you got along.

It’s my pleasure Michael.

Glad I could help 🙂

J

Very true about trying before you buy. I’ve found that quite hard to do though, at least when it comes to headphones. Retailers often don’t stock what I’m after, so getting a demo is difficult. At this moment in time I don’t have any gear that will really tell apart 32bit from 24bit, but in the future I’d like to utilize and get the most out of my music. I’m just taking baby steps at the moment.

I’m thinking of adding my CD player to the chain that I mentioned before, if I can convince my girlfriend to part with it as it’s lent out to her haha. So maybe the DAC would help me out there with the added inputs. My Blu-ray also has a coax, so another thing for me to think about.

Thanks again for the reply. Puts me more at ease with the added info. I suppose some of it was already in the post, but your going over parts of it again certainly sticks it in my mind.

Heya.

There are still many areas where I am still learning but I find it a rewarding process.

The DAC in the V90-HPA is 24 bit through the USB and the V90-DAC is 32 bit, as well as offering Coax, Toslink (optical) and USB digital inputs.

The V90-DAC also has a better signal/noise ratio.

Whether these differences are discernible enough for you to warrant paying out some more money… that’s where trying before you buy is a must.

If you’re looking to build a system and therefore require more inputs, then it will definitely be a useful addition.

J

Oh, okay. So if I put the V90-DAC through the V90-HPA, there will be some improvement over the in-built DAC inside the V90-HPA itself? So they can be in the same chain? Essentially I’m wondering if I can use the amp from the HPA and use the V90-DAC as, well, the DAC, doing the job that the USB on the HPA would otherwise do. Right now my V90-HPA’s inputs go to my PC, the outputs go to some speakers, although I use headphones more often, and I use USB when I want to bypass my onboard intergrated soundcard. Sorry if I sound like a beginner, as I’ve only recently started getting into this audiogear as a serious hobby this year and learning all the time, trying to get my head around things. Of course I loved reading about how these devices sound from you, but just that some of the technical aspects were a little lost on me, sorry.

I have a CD player and a Blu-ray player also, so I am interested in maybe doing something similar to what you are doing somewhere down the line to get the most out of them.

Thanks a lot for replying.

Oh, okay. So if I put the V90-DAC through the V90-HPA, there will be some improvement over the in-built DAC inside the V90-HPA itself? So they can be in the same chain? Essentially I’m wondering if I can use the amp from the HPA and use the V90-DAC as, well, the DAC, doing the job that the USB on the HPA would otherwise do. Right now my V90-HPA’s inputs go to my PC, the outputs go to some speakers, although I use headphones more often, and I use USB when I want to bypass my onboard intergrated soundcard. Sorry if I sound like a beginner, as I’ve only recently started getting into this audiogear as a serious hobby this year and learning all the time, trying to get my head around things. Of course I loved reading about how these devices sound from you, but just that some of the technical aspects were a little lost on me, sorry.

I have a CD player and a Blu-ray player also, so I am interested in maybe doing something similar to what you are doing somewhere down the line to get the most out of them.

Thanks a lot for replying.

Hi Michael. Thanks, glad you liked it.

I use the V90-DAC’s optical connections with my CD and Blu-ray player so, in that sense, it really helps. To my ears the highs are more defined when put through the DAC and then the HPA rather than using the analogue connections direct to the amp. As with most things though, if you have the opportunity to test out the different configurations before you buy then I’d really recommend doing so.

I hope that helps.

Jay