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I'm a happy owner of an Empirical Audio Overdrive DAC Signature, and thought I would note some impressions for others as another hat in the ring to aid (and possibly complicate) DAC purchase decisions.
I've been following Steve's products since approximately his entry into computer audio. I was initially impressed by his Intel experience, and appreciated he sold his products without the expense of a distribution chain. I have purchased a few of his products over the years, the most recent being the Overdrive DAC.
For impressions I note below, my setup was this:
MacBook Pro with SSD ---> Amarra ---> Lotus USB Cable ---> Overdrive DAC ---> balanced out to Sennheiser HD800 headphones, balanced mode
All equipment was plugged into an Accuphase power conditioner, itself plugged into an Elgar conditioner for series, double whammo conditioning. : )
In my many years of playing this audio game, this DAC produces the cleanest, most musically honest sound I have heard. The first thing that struck me on first setting the unit into play---and this without proper break-in---was the DAC's crystalline resolving power. Wow, I have not heard such clear delineation from any other piece of equipment I've owned. Leading edges sound wickedly fast and clean, considerably avoiding the typical smear, fuzz, incoherence and noise I hear ubiquitously in transient playback. I suppose noise in general must be kept to very low levels in the DAC, because its sharp transient reproduction comes at no expense to low-level detail.
In addition to crystalline transparency, this DAC resolves harmonics exquisitely. I often listen to Tord Gustavsen to test a unit's harmonic rightness. With the Overdrive, the harmonic bloom I hear is as if my head is inside Tord's piano.
These qualities, among others, combine to give a sense of spaciousness and delicacy that often leave me feeling I've encountered something beautiful in a listening session. Having spent as many years in this audio game as I have, I don't say that lightly.
With the same setup using the same balanced-drive Sennheisers, I compared the Overdrive to a Playback Designs MPD-5 DAC I have in my possession. The MPD-5 is of course touted as a leader in the DAC-pack, as rightfully it should be, I suppose. It's designer is Andreas Koch, who designed the latest Emm Labs gear which has garnered respect in the audio world. I've owned Emm Labs digital gear, and from memory consider the MPD-5 the better electronics. Here are a few links for those interested:
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue39/playbackdesigns_mps5.htm
http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/hirez/messages/24/246366.html
Comparing the MPD-5 to the Overdrive, I clearly prefer the Overdrive: it's clearer, cleaner, more resolved, has a more delicate, engaging sound. I judge the difference between the two DACs to be less than that between Amarra and iTunes, though the ways in which the Overdrive betters the MPD-5 reach into those very subtle levels of musical reproduction that, to my experience at least, hold the greatest emotional power. I consider it no easy feat to gain those extra few percentage points of reproductive accuracy. In my scale of value, adding those teeny points of percent at the upper reach ain't a diminishing return.
One note: the Overdrive's bass reproduction sounded comparatively lighter, but I think this is a product of insufficient capacitance on the output capacitors for the lowish impedance my Sennheisers present, and something I will cure myself once my latest batch of liquid-fluorinated teflon capacitors is off the production line. Other user comments suggest the Overdrive's bass is actually a strong point; I don't doubt that.
Going beyond mere sonics, the Overdrive scores with its fine volume control, which is non-switching. Over at DIY Audio is a thread on the Lightspeed Attenuator, which uses a non-switched (hard soldered) LDR attenuator. The designer claims to have measured deleterious effects of switching low-level audio signals. Having built a Lightspeed myself, and considering what Herve Deletraz says on the matter, I tend to agree. I've avoided switches ever since that experience (I use Lyngdorf electronics in my speaker setup).
For the MPD-5, volume must be controlled using Amarra. Given this, all comparative listening between the DACs was performed at full volume for the Overdrive and at -6dB on Amarra for the MPD-5 for volume matching. Turning the volume up to 0dB on the MPD-5 didn't change the character of the sound, resolution, dynamics, etc. This attests to the very fine operation of Amarra.
Of note, the Overdrive uses a Superclock 4. I have a Tascam/Pace-Car/Ultraclock setup waiting to intall into this system, but Snow Leopard has prevented Amarra from recognizing the Tascam. I expect a nice sonic upgrade once this little glitch is solved. Also, most of my listening was performed with two Paul Hynes supplies replacing two of the three switchers supplied as the stock power sources. The Overdrive does well with its stock supplies (still beats the MPD-5), but performs a little more gloriously with the Hynes units supplying power.
And finally, to the extent I can compare listening through headphones versus my regular setup (Lyngdorf Millenium, Weiss AFI1, Hansen speakers, gobs of teflon capacitors, more power conditioning), the Overdrive experience wins handily. Except for dancing.
And as with all things audio, YMMV. (But I doubt it.)
Follow Ups:
I got the Pace Car working. The unit has an Ultraclock installed, which is the main operating clock in the system with the Pace Car installed. An additional benefit now having a better clock is connecting to the DAC via I2S on the Pace Car outlet, avoiding a stage of digital circuitry.
It's a little soon to give settled opinions on the Pace-Car-added sonics of this system, as I think a little more break-in (more than a single day's) is called for. That said, I hear an extra measure of clarity, particularly in tonal definition. An acoustic bass sounds just a little more like the woody, rosiny thing an acoustic bass is. Sweet.
I have a few upgrades planned for Pace Car. One is to power the clock from a 12V LiFePO4 battery, another is to separately power the remaining circuitry from a Paul Hynes supply, or possibly another battery. I expect another upgrade in sound.
I actually feel grateful for the fine product Steve has created with this DAC. Listening is just so consistently enjoyable, interesting, engaging and moving. Thanks for a great product, Steve.
Thank you for the excellent review of the Overdrive DAC. I trust you won't be bothered by those who disparage it without every having listened to one.
I am a happy owner of an Empirical Audio modded Northstar m192 DAC, driven by an Off-Ramp I2S and am also very happy with the clarity and musicality, not to mention the dynamics. I understand that the Overdrive is a significant step up from what I have.
Cheers,
Bill
Hi Bill, the Overdrive was in fact for me as you characterize it a significant step up. I've owned other of Steve's equipment, which I've consistently found to be top notch, but the Overdrive sounds to me to be in another league. This is how Steve put it to me before I purchased the unit. He wasn't exaggerating is my perception.In any event, the Overdrive is a sweet performer giving truly nice sound. As a person who appreciates well-reproduced music as one of the finer joys in life, it's a nice spot to be in to be owner of this equipment.
Edits: 10/06/09
"With the Overdrive, the harmonic bloom I hear is as if my head is inside Tord's piano."
-- You say that as if it is a good thing. Have you ever had your head inside a piano?
:)
P
He's happy with the sound of his DAC and he's making a point to say that it's not for everyone, and it's just his opinion.
He's only trying to find a good way to describe the sound. Yet, he gets dumped on for his efforts. Have you heard the product? If you have heard the product, and disagree with his assessment and his descriptions, - then you have a very good basis for expressing your own, contrary, opinion. If you haven't heard the equipment, - then how do you know that his description of it isn't pretty good?
Surely the quality of the product should be more important than a flowery word or two? Or, are you making judgments about the product on the basis of its cost?
Personally, - I was very happy that the OP made his post; I'm always interested in garnering opinions about products that I haven't heard. Sadly, it's nitpicky posts like yours that may prevent or discourage someone from posting, or noting their impressions of something. The original poster enriched this board and this forum with his post; and the more of these kinds of posts we get, the more information that we'll all have: especially folks who may disagree with his assessment. Folks can take this information, put the product on their audition list, or take it off their audition list.
There are no more humans
Finally, robotic beings rule the world
The humans are dead
Hi Sordid, thanks for your supporting word. I don't often report reviews of equipment, but the sound of this DAC was to my ear sufficiently unique---stood sufficiently out in my experience---to warrant a public nod. You will notice I compared to the unit to the MPD-5, which I find above average certainly, but not to play at the Overdrive's level. I personally so enjoy recorded music, and have so often with frustration encountered market- and other-motivated compromises in audio equipment---and am sufficiently fatigued at finding my own solutions---that finding a piece of gear that conveys this level of subtlety is something I can get excited about.
OP - I meant no offense. Hopefully you actually have a sense of humor, but just in case, here, have another...
:)
P
I stopped reading at "crystalline resolution."
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