JDS Labs Element Upgrade Advice

[Samwise.Gamgee]

Afternoon,

I currently have a JDS Labs Element III, I love it to bits, really happy with the power and sound the DAC produces.

I have been eying up the Element IV, as I love the idea of having an onboard EQ!

Has anyone had any experience upgrading, and would they recommend the upgrade? Just not sure I can justify the upgrade costs for an onboard EQ.

Second Question:

I'm also after a second hand pair of Audeze LCD-X, looking at paying between £400 - £550 ideally. Does anyone have any good recommendations for where to hunt for good second hand audio gear?

 

[hornetstinger]

PEQ can improve sound quality though as it's more custom than EQ, I've used it for my system, I don't correct higher than 300hz though.

I use PEQ for subwoofers- that's the biggest improvement, and used Wiim Ultra room correction with UMIK1 . However a good idea to find out if your system needs PEQ, do you have UMIK1 mic/REW?

Does that Element IV come with mic?

 

[Samwise.Gamgee]

PEQ can improve sound quality though as it's more custom than EQ, I've used it for my system, I don't correct higher than 300hz though.

I use PEQ for subwoofers- that's the biggest improvement, and used Wiim Ultra room correction with UMIK1 . However a good idea to find out if your system needs PEQ, do you have UMIK1 mic/REW?

Does that Element IV come with mic?

I'm going to be fully transparent I have just had to google half these acronyms!

But I think after a quick google and sticking your response through ChatGPT I understand what you're asking.

So in answer to your question I normally just use custom sound profiles for EQ created by someone else far more musically talented than me, so for example for the Audeze LCD-X I usually just copy the values from Oratory 1990 Profile: https://www.dropbox.com/s/sloaf7ptogjmjkx/Audeze LCD-X (2021 revision).pdf?dl=0

The room correction with use of an external mic is super intriguing, I don't think this is supported by the Element IV looking at the product page, but not 100% sure. https://jdslabs.com/product/element...ndkMaNUBMQ5tmhCHAtlDNAwPFB13IcAslvtem2tzD6hcR

 

[hornetstinger]

You can't just use anyone elses sound profile, as every room and speaker is different. If I measure my speakers, bring them into your home/room, measure them, it'll be totally different, so my profile would be incorrect for yours

However you could use corrections for headphones.

 

[IanAG]

You can't just use anyone elses sound profile, as every room and speaker is different. If I measure my speakers, bring them into your home/room, measure them, it'll be totally different, so my profile would be incorrect for yours

However you could use corrections for headphones.

The JDS Labs Element range are headphone amps, for headphones.

Afternoon,

I currently have a JDS Labs Element III, I love it to bits, really happy with the power and sound the DAC produces.

I have been eying up the Element IV, as I love the idea of having an onboard EQ!

Has anyone had any experience upgrading, and would they recommend the upgrade? Just not sure I can justify the upgrade costs for an onboard EQ.

Second Question:

I'm also after a second hand pair of Audeze LCD-X, looking at paying between £400 - £550 ideally. Does anyone have any good recommendations for where to hunt for good second hand audio gear?

What is your source?

I have the Element II, and have a few times considered jumping to the IV, but realised I don't think it would be a sufficient upgrade given I am already using PEQ in front of it. Initially I was using a Raspberry Pi with Moode/CamillaDSP which was great but more faff than I liked, I justified splashing out on Roon lifetime (and converting the Pi to an endpoint) and sticking with the Element II.

I would certainly still like a newer headphone amp, but the PEQ capabilities of the IV onwards wouldn't be the main selling point. I am hoping I can hold out a few more generations from JDS Labs!

To clarify, the PEQ is using an Oratory (or similar) profile for my HD650 headphones.

 

[hornetstinger]

ah that's ok then, if you have rtings results of your headphones you can then import corrections

Another option is to use a streamer with PEQ, like Wiim Pro Plus, or Ultra, which I use. That way keep existing DAC/headphone amp and you get a decent streamer and PEQ function built in

 

[Samwise.Gamgee]

ah that's ok then, if you have rtings results of your headphones you can then import corrections

Another option is to use a streamer with PEQ, like Wiim Pro Plus, or Ultra, which I use. That way keep existing DAC/headphone amp and you get a decent streamer and PEQ function built in

Ooooh, I like that idea, I get a fancy new device and I can keep my existing DAC.

How does the setup work with my existing DAC, just trying to work out what plugs into where!

 

[hornetstinger]

Ooooh, I like that idea, I get a fancy new device and I can keep my existing DAC.

How does the setup work with my existing DAC, just trying to work out what plugs into where!

You'd just connect the Wiim to your DAC via coaxial or optical. Install Wiim home app, set to suitable digital output.

Once you get a UMIK1 remote plug that into your phone copy the calibration mic file for that umik1 to your phone, open wiim app, point it to the calibration file, then do the wiim room correction setup.

I have one used with a Raspberry Pi5, Picoreplayer installed so using LMS.

Wiim home app is ok, but I only use it for initial device setup, room correction measurement and choosing preset. It's not great for music navigation. Since you are using digitial out, a Wiim Pro will be good enough, unless you want the screen of the ultra (and the HDMI input and USB port to connect a USB stick or USB HDD)

 

[IanAG]

You'd just connect the Wiim to your DAC via coaxial or optical. Install Wiim home app, set to suitable digital output.

Once you get a UMIK1 remote plug that into your phone copy the calibration mic file for that umik1 to your phone, open wiim app, point it to the calibration file, then do the wiim room correction setup.

I have one used with a Raspberry Pi5, Picoreplayer installed so using LMS.

Wiim home app is ok, but I only use it for initial device setup, room correction measurement and choosing preset. It's not great for music navigation. Since you are using digitial out, a Wiim Pro will be good enough, unless you want the screen of the ultra (and the HDMI input and USB port to connect a USB stick or USB HDD)

You are suggesting using a room calibration microphone for headphones?

 

[hornetstinger]

You are suggesting using a room calibration microphone for headphones?

oh sorry forget your're using headphones, ignore that you don't need microphone. no you don't need umik

But you can manually enter in PEQ values.

 

[IanAG]

oh sorry forget your're using headphones, ignore that you don't need microphone. no you don't need umik

But you can manually enter in PEQ values.

I’m not the OP…

I agree with doing something with the source, although we don’t know what is currently used.

 

[Samwise.Gamgee]

You'd just connect the Wiim to your DAC via coaxial or optical. Install Wiim home app, set to suitable digital output.

Once you get a UMIK1 remote plug that into your phone copy the calibration mic file for that umik1 to your phone, open wiim app, point it to the calibration file, then do the wiim room correction setup.

I have one used with a Raspberry Pi5, Picoreplayer installed so using LMS.

Wiim home app is ok, but I only use it for initial device setup, room correction measurement and choosing preset. It's not great for music navigation. Since you are using digitial out, a Wiim Pro will be good enough, unless you want the screen of the ultra (and the HDMI input and USB port to connect a USB stick or USB HDD)

Thanks for the setup guide, however I'm still a little confused about the deployment.

Currently my DAC is plugged directly into my PC via USB, and then my HD600 are plugged into the DAC via 1/4 jack.

If I plug in my JDS labs DAC via optical to the wiim, and leave my headphones plugged into my JDS labs DAC, how does the PEQ take effect if I'm not plugged directly into the wiim?

The room correction setup is something I'm very intrigued about, and would definitely play around with, but I'm happy with predefined EQ profiles for now.

 

[hornetstinger]

Wiim to your DAC then can configure PEQ for the wiim device itself, and per input

if you want PEQ your computer you'd need to send audio from your pc to the Wiim Ultra ideally digitally, then that would be sent to your DAC.

Another method would be to use foobar plugin PEQ or something like that. that way PC---DAC and still get PEQ, and then you have PEQ for the Wiim (per device PEQ not stacking PEQ)

 

[Samwise.Gamgee]

Wiim to your DAC then can configure PEQ for the wiim device itself, and per input

if you want PEQ your computer you'd need to send audio from your pc to the Wiim Ultra ideally digitally, then that would be sent to your DAC.

Another method would be to use foobar plugin PEQ or something like that. that way PC---DAC and still get PEQ, and then you have PEQ for the Wiim (per device PEQ not stacking PEQ)

Ah understood, looking further into the specs of the wiim ultra, I don't think it accepts a USB input from PC, so I would have to stream music via the wiim app.

So If I want hardware level PEQ and want to play music via my PC, I'm guessing my best bet might be to upgrade to the JDS Labs Element IV still?

I have used programs like Foobar and Equaliser APO in the past, they are great, however as I daily a work laptop and a gaming PC, it's a pain having software setup on each device.

 

[hornetstinger]

correct USB port is for HDD, it's not USB input for a DAC, and yes use wiim app or LMS on nas for streaming

If your PC has optical out, you can connect PC->Ultra via optical that way you could apply PEQ to the optical input in the wiim

 

[sHo0sH]

Have you tried the equalizer apo app for windows? @Samwise.Gamgee

I recently got a Fosi audio dac/headphone amp and that has built in hardware eq in the form of profiles or bass and table adjustments only though