UPDATE: CEntrance DACmini CX Amp/DAC 50% off - US $439.98 Shipped + Free Upgrade @ Mass Drop

50

Go to Deal

sheepy on 27/09/2014 - 23:39 massdrop.com (328 clicks)
Last edited 02/10/2014 - 07:04 by 1 other user

I believe many OZBargainers have got multiple headphones yet have a dac/amp, here is the deal for you!

RRP from official website is US $799.99 http://centrance.com/store/#!/~/product/category=7071966&id=…
Currently Amazon has it for US $719.99, camelx3 shows the lowest price was $599.

This deal is from Massdrop and the lowest price is unlocked.

A free upgrade of 1 Ohm Output Impedance is available, which normally costs $99.
I know the description says this free upgrade is available if 75 units are sold, but in the discussion section, CEntrance has confirmed it WILL be available for all!

1 Ohm output mod - Use this mod to get the best out of low-impedance headphones/IEMs.
Variable Output mod - The Variable Output mod allows you to control the levels at the RCA jacks with the DACmini volume knob. This is how a preamp normally operates.

UPDATE:
- Price decreased for another $10 so now become US $439.98 Shipped and the drop is extended for 5 more days.
- if more than 50 units were sold, the Variable Output mod (normally $99) will be a free option too. Currently 37 joined.

UPDATE2:
- More than 50 have joined this drop, now the Variable Output mod is free as well!

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• 

  beeze on 27/09/2014 - 23:55

  +2

  I own a lovely DAC that cost me $60. I'm sure this would sound better, but there is a point where the gains become less noticeable.

  Personally, anything without a lot of feedback on Head-Fi isn't on my short-list (even at apparently 1/2 price).

  No offense or insult to OP, just my 2c.

  • 

    krisspy on 28/09/2014 - 00:53

    +5

    a lot of feedback on Head-Fi

    Like headfi was even a reliable source to begin with. A place where opinions from one person is passed along so much, that it becomes hard facts regurgitated by everyone else in arguments. With just about enough post count, your credibility is over the roof.
    If it doesn't cost 3x your headphones then it "won't do them justice" or "drive them to their potential".

    • 

      beeze on 28/09/2014 - 11:51

      There is mis-information, its a forum. There are a lot a lot of good opinions and information, as a player in the budget end (I have atleast 20 purchases under $100), I need to get info from somewhere and I've found Head-Fi to be the best place to look.

  • 

    sheepy on 28/09/2014 - 09:30

    +1

    "there is a point where the gains become less noticeable"
    I totally agree with that comment, especially with "audiophile" products, people pay big bucks (eg. a couple hundreds for a customised cable) for maybe a tiny bit of sound improvement just to make sure there's no 'weak points' in their setup. This is definitely against the OZBargain spirit :)

    I think 'value' is very subjective, like I don't understand how people are willing to pay $700-$800 for the latest mobile phones, when they can get a cheapo $200-300 one which provides maybe 80%+ of the functions?

    I post this deal simply to share what I found (thought CEntrance is a renowned brand and 50% off + free upgrade is pretty awesome), not to provide/guarantee the best value in anyway nor do I gain any benefit or profit if any of you guys made the purchase :)

    I'm tempted to buy this myself but I've already got other dac/amps (one costs much more than this) so I'm trying really hard to resist at the moment :)

• 

  51722 on 28/09/2014 - 00:13

  Amm…. Topping VX1??

  $100 and is awesome! I have one.

• 

  daver on 28/09/2014 - 04:08

  … but there is a point where the gains become less noticeable.

  absolutely, and with no apology to Hi-Fidelity marketeers;
  for myself that point was 30AU.
  what what what??: Look upU-CONTROL UCA202

  ---

  • High-resolution 48 kHz converters for high-end audio quality • Works with your PC or Mac* computer—no setup or drivers required •Ultra-Low Latency 2 In/2 Out USB/Audio Interface with Digital Output • Stereo Headphone output with dedicated Level control • Additional S/PDIF optical output • Powered via USB • 3-Year Warranty program.
  For a mere fraction of the cost of an USB audio interface from other brands, you can have state-of- the-art digital conversion, world-class recording and editing software and hassle-free connectivity between your PC or Mac Computer and any piece of audio equipment.

  ---

  positively confirm working brilliantly on my PC>backed by /Behringer/, period.

  • 

    beeze on 28/09/2014 - 12:11

    BTW, Behringer make some of the cheapest audio gear in the market. Its a starting point and is likely never used as a benchmark for quality. The standard DAC on an iphone is far superior to the UCA202, not that you need to buy an i-anything to get good audio.

  • 

    mycosys on 28/09/2014 - 14:08

    The 202 is great as a line level DAC for driving monitors or sound systems, or a headphone amp. But as a headphone amp itself, unless you are driving very efficient high Z cans it is truly awful. I use one to drive nearfield studio monitors and it sounds amazing, but i have tried to use it to drive a number of mid range cans/IEMs and the results were awful.
    http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/behringer-uca202-review.… sums it up pretty well

    • 

      beeze on 28/09/2014 - 14:29

      Good link, he's well respected.

    • 

      daver on 28/09/2014 - 17:25

      Yep purchased off that scientific assessment there. Also safe to say I will not go back to Griffin iMic DAC I had used beforehand happily; iMic was not bad just lack outputs/quality for $25.
      I mostly listen on middleish volume level anyway on regular hd595 (open) & i218 's, and result sound refined and transparent. I'm not a connoisseur but also take that point about oomph-driving factor and bought (Wolfson, entry-) e07k Andes in last ebay promo to amp up (if it proves viable)/ experiment.
      However, '202/German-Behringer at budget point would place it, remains at unheard of territory for low distortion (/Imo w/o spending up that order of magnitude for physically &inaudibly pointless 'leading 0s'). It is only a pity I'm not as technically competent, otherwise one $10- mod to opamp could have been achieved already.

      • 

        daver on 28/09/2014 - 18:58

        Oh, add more remarkable results, 202 driving/extracting the most from active n inexpensive Z623 2.1's-for what they're worth, IME.

• 

  Raspberet on 28/09/2014 - 11:43

  Could someone please explain to me what this does?

  • 

    beeze on 28/09/2014 - 11:49

    +1

    Its an audio decoder (USB, Toslink, etc) and amplifies the audio for headphones.
    Its like the headphone hardware on your computer or phone only much better quality.

• 

  beeze on 28/09/2014 - 11:47

  The UCA202 is a decent cheap DAC, I've recently been installing them into the new Google office (I work in AV).

  I had a Fiio E10 and E17, the E10 was ok, the E17 was nice.

  I'm using this; http://hifimediy.com/U2-DAC for IEM's, its a nice toy. Pairs well with my Wooduo 2's. I'm not convinced it has the grunt to power cans.

• 

  Daedalus on 28/09/2014 - 11:50

  no need to spend any more than what an odac+o2 costs ($279 USD)
  http://www.jdslabs.com/products/48/o2-odac-combo/

  google it. distortion is almost zero. if you hear a difference in other "audiophile" amps/dacs it is because those audiophiles one have audible distortion that you like

  • 

    beeze on 28/09/2014 - 11:54

    A known good combo. So is the E17 and is cheaper.
    There is no such thing as the best product, there is a nature to the sound, people like valve systems for what the impart, others want it pure, some like a little more warmth and bass.

    Personally, I like a small-form-factor amp that operates from the Windows interface and gives my bass-heavy iem's good detail.

• 

  Mumbles on 28/09/2014 - 12:29

  I read the discussion from a previous MassDrop groupbuy, CEntrance DAC mini PX Integrated Amp/DAC. A few buyers have mentioned that CEntrance is taking a long time to fulfill their orders (+2 months from payment) and concerned about quality control due to rushing the assembly.

  As I'm only a budding audiophile I don't have a headphone Amp/DAC to compare this one to. Am giving a positive vote for the discount and the price research. My headphone collection doesn't need a headphone AMP this powerful, its a lot of overkill.

  Thank you audiophiles on OzBargain for sharing alternative suggestions. Its very helpful.

  I wish I had jumped onto the $106 Fiio E17 AMP/DAC posted on OzBargain near the end of last year. It would work well with my $32 Sony MH1C IEM also recommended an OzBargain.

• 

  sheepy on 30/09/2014 - 18:53

  UPDATE:
  - Price decreased for another $10 so now become US $439.98 Shipped and the drop is extended for 5 more days.
  - if more than 50 units were sold, the Variable Output mod (normally $99) will be a free option too. Currently 37 joined.

• 

  sheepy on 02/10/2014 - 07:05

  UPDATE2:
  - More than 50 have joined this drop, now the Variable Output mod is free as well!