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Topic: JDS Labs Element (Read 2532 times) previous topic - next topic
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JDS Labs Element

The JDS Labs Element looks really cool to me but I do not think I can justify buying it since I already have the ODAC/O2. I have two questions about the Element. One, is it possible that having more power than you need can improve the sound, or is this just nonsense? Two, I noticed that the Element has worse crosstalk than the O2 even though it has a larger headphone output and I was wondering if a crosstalk of -67 dB could sound worse than a crosstalk of -90 dB. I am guessing that a crosstalk of -80 dB or lower would be best because 80 dB is the highest volume you can listen to music without damaging your hearing.

https://www.jdslabs.com/products/151/the-element/
FLAC -> JDS Labs ODAC/O2 -> Sennheiser HD 650 (equalized)

Re: JDS Labs Element

Reply #1 –
Quote from: Satellite_6 on
The JDS Labs Element looks really cool to me but I do not think I can justify buying it since I already have the ODAC/O2

Obviously, you're trying to illustrate that old saw about the early separation of unwise people and their tangible resources.

Just to review, you've already overspent on the O2 without learning anything at all about the philosophy of its designer.  Just to review, the philosophy of NWAVGUY is pretty much the same as anybody who understands audio, headphones more specifically, and how to make them sound their best. The short answer is: not a heck of a lot beyond simple competence, and nothing that costs a ton of money.

The following questions are typical of people who are too easily distracted by audio sales hype, which is usually liberally dosed with majoring in minors.

Quote
I have two questions about the Element. One, is it possible that having more power than you need can improve the sound, or is this just nonsense?

It is nonsense.

Quote
Two, I noticed that the Element has worse crosstalk than the O2 even though it has a larger headphone output and I was wondering if a crosstalk of -67 dB could sound worse than a crosstalk of -90 dB. I am guessing that a crosstalk of -80 dB or lower would be best because 80 dB is the highest volume you can listen to music without damaging your hearing.

Wrong again.   One day decades ago I devised a system for creating variable amounts of crosstalk. and did some DBTs related to detecting the difference that I heard when I varied the crosstalk. Depending on the music and how I listened to it, my ability to hear further improvements in crosstalk pretty much went away around 30 dB with headphones, and at much lower points with speakers.

This is highly dependent on the technical nature of the music, because most recordings don't have a lot of separation between the channels. This is true of live recordings because the sound field does not change that dramatically across a stage. and its true for the diametrically opposite multitrack studio recordings made by different artists playing different parts at different times and all pan-potted together at mix down, because only the extreme left and right settings of the pan pots actually introduce much separation. The intermediate positions have a lot less separation, and when centered a pan pot introduces zero separation (It is mono).

Re: JDS Labs Element

Reply #2 –
about crosstalk, first I agree with Arny, having myself one hell of a time noticing crosstalk below -40db on my headphone even with instant toggle. 

second, crosstalk values will logically get worst when the amp is connected to a smaller load, so you have to check devices into the same load for the numbers to even start meaning anything. 

Re: JDS Labs Element

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Satellite_6 on
is it possible that having more power than you need can improve the sound, or is this just nonsense?
Nonsense.

Quote from: Satellite_6 on
80 dB is the highest volume you can listen to music without damaging your hearing.
If this wasn't so vague and overly simplistic to the point that it is meaningless, I'd also call it nonsense.