Thanks for reviewing the JDS stack. Been looking at their products since quite some time, and am torn between this and the Element III. However, the hefty shipping fees have held me back from pulling the trigger so far. Will probably save bit longer and go all the way for the Element series.
I hope that regardless which you'll go with, you'll have lots of fun! I personally like the new one a bit more thanks to its sturdier design. Element III Mk2 is in an other class of resolution, clarity and detail, so if you can go for it, I recommend doing so.
Hmm my Fiio K3 needs more power so I have been thinking about buying one of these to use with the K3's line out and maybe one day buy a dedicated DAC. However a dac/amp like a K7 or DX3 Pro can be had for almost the same price as this when on sale and then I could use my K3 for whatever I wanted. What would you do?
K7 is still a great option too. JDS Labs as a warmer sound though, many find it pleasing too, I would likely consider the JDS Stack if I wanted lower noise and a warmer sound, plus Atom AMP 2 can drive both IEMs and Headphones
If we only buy the Amp Atom 2 (without the DAC) will it be able to work with a MacBook Air M2 ? How do you place the sound quality level of the Atom 2 stack compared to the new version of the iFi Audio Zen Dac 3 ? Version 2 of the Zen Dac had received a lot of awards in the professional audio community.
iFi alays receives awards, but it is a lowest cost solution, I reviewed the Zen DAC 3, it is a good device, but has a lot of background noise with IEMS and even with some headphones. JDS Stack has no background noise and sounds more detailed, more controlled and punchier. I woudl not use the AMP without the DAC, or a different DAC at least
@@AudiophileHeaven OK I see. But I can confirm that the Zen DAC creates absolutely NO background noise in my Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro 250 Ohms headphones. If someone has this problem, it may be related to their headphone model. He can buy also the iFi SilentPower iPower2 from iFi Audio which is supposed to clean any background noise 10 times more than a simple basic adapter.
@@paulwoaert That is true, I noticed noise with most IEMs and some headphones. DT990 250 OHMs will not have noise with anything, 250 OHMs would filter noise like a sponge. iPower2 is a good recommendation, but a bit pricey for Zen DAC 3, yet I would get it to use in general.
@@AudiophileHeaven But the Zen dac 3 is not more expensive than the Atom2 amp since the Atom requires you to buy in addition the dac if I understood correctly. The ifi Zen dac has a volume button and a gain button, so you can buy the dac only. While the JDS labs Atom dac has no volume or gain button, which means that you have to buy the Atom Amp in addition. The stach Atom amp + dac costs $300. The ifi zen dac 3 costs about $257
@@paulwoaert Yes, that is about right, and generally the JDS Stack would sound a bit better, but be less conevnient since it needs two power sockets, more cables, and has two devices running instead of one. So Zen DAc v3 would be a simpler, more convenient solution, while JDS Stack Atom would be a better sounding, but less convenient solution
If Aune S9c PRO was this cheap, i would pick it. Even at it's current price, it is above the stack, and above Element III Mk2 Boosted, in clarity and resolution!
@@AudiophileHeaven Thanks for the asnwer! I'm rocking HD 650 with K5 Pro atm and I'm considering different options :D AUNE sounds like a great upgrade path but I also wonder if some tube amp wouldn't be a better pair for this can. Anyway.. your content is very nice! Nice reviews, camera shots and quality of your videos in general... I hope you will get even more viewers in the near future :) You 100% deserve it!
Thank you so much for all your kind words! Tube devices are in a class of their own, I recommend checking out some videos and info about them, they have increased distortion but most people enjoy their sound a lot. I personally like S9C a loit, but this one stack kills it for the price paid
I wish more reviewers would take a look at the Aune M1p dap. It has phenomenal sound at an inexpensive price. It has some quirks and is just a basic player but it's still pretty great. I can't understand why it gets so little attention paid to it.
I tried contacting Aune about getting one, M1p is a limited product, they made only a few and it is generally intended for a Chinese market, they said that they don't really want to push it to the other markets.
Great review again, the only real issue I have is the requirement for two power sockets as I constantly struggling to find available power socket. I would have much preferred the two units could be linked by a short cable so as to provide power to both units via one power socket. Btw, I had no issue understanding your accent this time, I think it may relate to expectation of words. For example I understand when you're talking about features as I can anticipate them but when you mention brands and product names I'm not expecting such as ifi or recognise, then my brain finds it more difficult to translate your accent.
Thank you for your input! Jds labs makes the element iii MK2 for those who want to use just one power socket . As for the accent, I think I generally never heard the names of most products spoken in English so I pronounce them in Romanian which sounds unnatural
It has a lower noise floor than most dongles, but also lower driving power. While you could argue most IEMs don't need that much power, it helps with giving them a fuller , deeper sound. This being said, I generally would comapre it to 100 USD dongles, because for around 250 USD, you can get a dongle which is similar in sound and resolution, if you don't have headphones. Let's say Shanling UA5, Lotoo PAW S2, iFi Go Bar or Aune Yuki,
@@AudiophileHeaven so for iems exclusively the cheapest dongle dac you mentionned (yuki at $160) is very close in sound quality to this $260 jds lab stack except for this fuller/deeper sound ? is this fullness coming from the bass or the mids or the placebo from big black stack visual aspect vs tiny tinny dongly dongle ? can you set it appart from any dongle you mentionned in a blind test to rule out placebo ?
Absolutely can tell them apart, each one of those dongles has a signature of its own, and Yuki arguably sounds the most polarizing, extremely wide but also very loud, dynamically compressed. Try a few of them for yourself if you believe they are even similar, you'll be amazed. The tuning and sonic signature differences can be huge.
@@thegreatfisher Well, they all do in practice so it's better to know , there are some reference sounding ones like fiio k9pro ess , but most of them have a specific tuning and sound
Has anyone ever done the comparison test BY EAR (so not based on technical specifications and graphics but rather on personal impression by ear) BETWEEN 1: an headset 250 ohms plugged into the 3.5 mm headphone jack of a RECENT MacBook Air or Pro (equipped therefore, not with the Intel chip, but with the Apple chip, at least M2) and 2: the same headset plugged into the Atom 2 stack ?
Hm... Good question. For the most part, atom2 stack is cheaper, and a bit more ergonomic. It has slihgtly less function, but sonically it is a bit better, so I would get the stack and enjoy it, lower background noise.
I just got the Atom 2 amplifier, it delivers (and exceeds) all the hype.
Super nice! Have fun out there!
Thank you for the review. The metal build for just extra $30 each is worth it! The stack looks great! Perfect for desktop use.
Happy to help, and I hope tyhe sound will be up your your taste!
Thanks for reviewing the JDS stack. Been looking at their products since quite some time, and am torn between this and the Element III. However, the hefty shipping fees have held me back from pulling the trigger so far. Will probably save bit longer and go all the way for the Element series.
I hope that regardless which you'll go with, you'll have lots of fun! I personally like the new one a bit more thanks to its sturdier design. Element III Mk2 is in an other class of resolution, clarity and detail, so if you can go for it, I recommend doing so.
Hmm my Fiio K3 needs more power so I have been thinking about buying one of these to use with the K3's line out and maybe one day buy a dedicated DAC. However a dac/amp like a K7 or DX3 Pro can be had for almost the same price as this when on sale and then I could use my K3 for whatever I wanted. What would you do?
K7 is still a great option too. JDS Labs as a warmer sound though, many find it pleasing too, I would likely consider the JDS Stack if I wanted lower noise and a warmer sound, plus Atom AMP 2 can drive both IEMs and Headphones
If we only buy the Amp Atom 2 (without the DAC) will it be able to work with a MacBook Air M2 ? How do you place the sound quality level of the Atom 2 stack compared to the new version of the iFi Audio Zen Dac 3 ? Version 2 of the Zen Dac had received a lot of awards in the professional audio community.
iFi alays receives awards, but it is a lowest cost solution, I reviewed the Zen DAC 3, it is a good device, but has a lot of background noise with IEMS and even with some headphones. JDS Stack has no background noise and sounds more detailed, more controlled and punchier. I woudl not use the AMP without the DAC, or a different DAC at least
@@AudiophileHeaven OK I see. But I can confirm that the Zen DAC creates absolutely NO background noise in my Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro 250 Ohms headphones. If someone has this problem, it may be related to their headphone model. He can buy also the iFi SilentPower iPower2 from iFi Audio which is supposed to clean any background noise 10 times more than a simple basic adapter.
@@paulwoaert That is true, I noticed noise with most IEMs and some headphones. DT990 250 OHMs will not have noise with anything, 250 OHMs would filter noise like a sponge. iPower2 is a good recommendation, but a bit pricey for Zen DAC 3, yet I would get it to use in general.
@@AudiophileHeaven But the Zen dac 3 is not more expensive than the Atom2 amp since the Atom requires you to buy in addition the dac if I understood correctly. The ifi Zen dac has a volume button and a gain button, so you can buy the dac only. While the JDS labs Atom dac has no volume or gain button, which means that you have to buy the Atom Amp in addition. The stach Atom amp + dac costs $300. The ifi zen dac 3 costs about $257
@@paulwoaert Yes, that is about right, and generally the JDS Stack would sound a bit better, but be less conevnient since it needs two power sockets, more cables, and has two devices running instead of one. So Zen DAc v3 would be a simpler, more convenient solution, while JDS Stack Atom would be a better sounding, but less convenient solution
Thank you for the great review!
Always happy to help!
Nice stack! I wonder... what would you choose if AUNE S9C Pro cost the same as this stack sound quality wise?
If Aune S9c PRO was this cheap, i would pick it. Even at it's current price, it is above the stack, and above Element III Mk2 Boosted, in clarity and resolution!
@@AudiophileHeaven Thanks for the asnwer! I'm rocking HD 650 with K5 Pro atm and I'm considering different options :D AUNE sounds like a great upgrade path but I also wonder if some tube amp wouldn't be a better pair for this can. Anyway.. your content is very nice! Nice reviews, camera shots and quality of your videos in general... I hope you will get even more viewers in the near future :) You 100% deserve it!
Thank you so much for all your kind words! Tube devices are in a class of their own, I recommend checking out some videos and info about them, they have increased distortion but most people enjoy their sound a lot. I personally like S9C a loit, but this one stack kills it for the price paid
I wish more reviewers would take a look at the Aune M1p dap. It has phenomenal sound at an inexpensive price. It has some quirks and is just a basic player but it's still pretty great. I can't understand why it gets so little attention paid to it.
I tried contacting Aune about getting one, M1p is a limited product, they made only a few and it is generally intended for a Chinese market, they said that they don't really want to push it to the other markets.
salut ,spune mi te rog ce sample rate sa folosesc in windows ptr muzica ,filme ..spotify cu Jds atom stack 2
Maxim cat poate PC-ul este reomandat, iar daca ai intreruperi de semnal, 44100Hz / 16Bit
@@AudiophileHeaven 32bit 384000hz este maximum ..sa l setez pe maximum ?multumesc frumos
Daca nu are erori, da. Uneori, daca este prea mult pentru portul USB, o sa interupa sau o sa auzi noise sau alte chestii dubioase.
i have this stack and its great!
That's nice!
What sounds better? Atom stack 2 or Element 3?
Element 3 for sure sounds better
@@AudiophileHeaven Thanks
@@AudiophileHeaven last question, what are the differences in sound between the E3 and the Atom stack?
Great review again, the only real issue I have is the requirement for two power sockets as I constantly struggling to find available power socket. I would have much preferred the two units could be linked by a short cable so as to provide power to both units via one power socket. Btw, I had no issue understanding your accent this time, I think it may relate to expectation of words. For example I understand when you're talking about features as I can anticipate them but when you mention brands and product names I'm not expecting such as ifi or recognise, then my brain finds it more difficult to translate your accent.
Thank you for your input! Jds labs makes the element iii MK2 for those who want to use just one power socket . As for the accent, I think I generally never heard the names of most products spoken in English so I pronounce them in Romanian which sounds unnatural
Mulțumesc! ❤
Încerc sa te ajut cu algoritmul, ai nevoie de mai multe laude!
Multumesc mult!!
how does it compares with similarly priced dongle dacs in term of sound quality alone( for iems exclusively)
It has a lower noise floor than most dongles, but also lower driving power. While you could argue most IEMs don't need that much power, it helps with giving them a fuller , deeper sound. This being said, I generally would comapre it to 100 USD dongles, because for around 250 USD, you can get a dongle which is similar in sound and resolution, if you don't have headphones. Let's say Shanling UA5, Lotoo PAW S2, iFi Go Bar or Aune Yuki,
@@AudiophileHeaven so for iems exclusively the cheapest dongle dac you mentionned (yuki at $160) is very close in sound quality to this $260 jds lab stack except for this fuller/deeper sound ? is this fullness coming from the bass or the mids or the placebo from big black stack visual aspect vs tiny tinny dongly dongle ? can you set it appart from any dongle you mentionned in a blind test to rule out placebo ?
Absolutely can tell them apart, each one of those dongles has a signature of its own, and Yuki arguably sounds the most polarizing, extremely wide but also very loud, dynamically compressed. Try a few of them for yourself if you believe they are even similar, you'll be amazed. The tuning and sonic signature differences can be huge.
I’m surprised they went with a less clinical sound than the OG atom dac amp combo that was kinda bright
This is how I felt as well!
the DAC is supposed to be reference its not supposed to have a sound.
@@thegreatfisher Well, they all do in practice so it's better to know , there are some reference sounding ones like fiio k9pro ess , but most of them have a specific tuning and sound
Has anyone ever done the comparison test BY EAR (so not based on technical specifications and graphics but rather on personal impression by ear)
BETWEEN
1: an headset 250 ohms plugged into the 3.5 mm headphone jack of a RECENT MacBook Air or Pro (equipped therefore, not with the Intel chip, but with the Apple chip, at least M2)
and 2: the same headset plugged into the Atom 2 stack ?
Maybe someone who has a mac can answer, i only use a PC computer, and here sound of the headphone output differs from motherboard to motherboard
Fiio k9 akm or atom 2 stack?
Hm... Good question. For the most part, atom2 stack is cheaper, and a bit more ergonomic. It has slihgtly less function, but sonically it is a bit better, so I would get the stack and enjoy it, lower background noise.
@AudiophileHeaven Very intestesting you find the stack sonically better. That's the most important thing for me
I love the original one. They sound so good, a slight bass boost compared to the schiit dac amp I have
Really happy to hear!
♥
Happy you still like my videos!