Audinst HUD-mx1 - Tips

煲机？

这个在 head-fi.org 上有不少正面的反馈，长时间的正确煲机对 mx1 有帮助，认真看看有不少收获。下面是节录，方便大家。我的 mx1 也正在煲机中。

Since I've mentioned having a second Audinst with me there are a few interesting conclusions I've reached with this DAC/amp.
Before writing them down I must mention that I've allowed the second Audinst to burn in over a period of 2 weeks playing nothing but the XLO/Reference Burn in CD with almost no brake.
I began critical listening and making comparisons to my original unit in various configurations (re: opamps and PSU) in three different burn in stages: out of the box, at about 100-150 hours and well after the full two weeks (~350 hrs).
 
Also, a seemingly unimportant component of my PC has been changed since my original review - I've bought a new Enermax Pro82+ power supply.
Although it never really crossed my mind my former PSU (a rather old but still very decent Chieftec) has had an influence in my original assessments.
In short - a better computer PSU does make a noticeable improvement in sound quality, especially if you use USB power.
 
 
 
Here are my updated thoughts on the Audinst after 2 months of ownership:
 
1. It does improve with burn in, so much so that it has made a few of my original findings a bit obsolete.
 
2. It does improve with a better power supply but not as much as I thought. Part of the improvements must have been attributed to the burn in process and some influenced by my old computer PSU. Going from USB power to stock wallwart power does very little to the sound, if anything.
My original findings were not so favorable for USB power as I found the sound a bit fuzzy.
With my new Enermax PSU that fuzziness was never present.
 
The TREAD PSU does clear up the sound a bit, notably so in the upper half of the spectrum. The sound signature becomes slightly cooler and more open than USB powered.
 
3. Opamps do make a difference, however it is a subtle one and my top choice has changed - it's the original LME49860.
 
 
4. The sound signature of the DAC/amp fully burned in and in stock configuration is pretty much in line with my original description when using AD797BRZ.
There is definitely a relaxed and smooth character to the sound, but no coolness. I'd actually call it politeness as the Audinst does round off the edges, both in terms of dynamics and tonality.
 
5. What I didn't pay much attention to initially was the bass response. Out of the box up till' about 100 hours it's very well behaved, flat and unobtrusive. After some 2-300 hours on it, however, Audinst's bass is a bit more present than absolute neutrality and the sound is more rounded and "bassy". It is a pleasing coloration but it can loose that ultimate drop of control and detail at times.
 
 
 
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I'll update my original review in a few days.
I need some time to synthesize all my findings into one complete revision that will be my final take on Audinst HUD-MX1.

Edited by audiofil - 6/24/10 at 1:49pm

Volume？

OK, I have an official information from Audinst / Ji-Hoon Kim about the volume pot:

We recommend that you turn the Windows up to maximum volume, and let the
analog volume be set to the direction in over 9 o'clock.
So much the better if you set to the direction in over 11-12 o'clock.

电源？

mx1 的一个特性是能直接依靠 USB 供电，无需另外外接 PSU。200多克的质量以及无需外接电源，确实方便在任何场合使用。如果 PC 本身的 PSU 不是太好，那么接上外部的PSU，音质能有不少提升。我的 mx1 是连接到一部比较久的笔记本电脑(专门做 CAS 音源的)上的，如果将USB 供电改为外置原厂 PSU (switching power supply)，立马就能感觉到更结实有力了。既然改变那么大，方便的时候还是插上外置电源吧，如果是专业的线性电源，那当然更好了。

Quote:
Originally Posted by creamsoda 

is there a difference @ work if you plug the audinst into wall socket power instead of running power off usb?

There is a difference between usb, the power adapter they provide as well as something like a steps psu however it would depend on the headphone and I found there to be a more noticable difference when dealing with headphones such as the HD600 or DT880.

pre-amp？

待续