Over the past five years, we’ve resisted the temptation to dramatically change Atom Amp(+) due to its strong reputation and reliability–no need to change what works well. However, we believe there is always room for improvement, and we’re excited to introduce Atom Amp 2 and Atom DAC 2. Atom Amp 2 is the best Atom […]
Element III MK2 = New Knob and EQ Firmware
Today we’re pleased to present Element III MK2! Before diving into what has changed, let’s clarify what MK2 means. This suffix distinguishes the “knob feel” of the original Element III from our latest hardware. The original Element III knob was designed for a loose and free spinning feel. Feedback from thousands of customers led us […]
Ear Gear Staff Picks: Austin
Updated July 5, 2024 About Me My journey into headphones began in 2014 with the purchase of my first “audiophile-grade” headphones, the HiFiMan HE-400i. While the initial curiosity was satisfied, I quickly wanted to dive deeper into the hobby and explore what else was out there. In the decade since, I’ve been very fortunate […]
On Amplifier Gain
We believe good audio should not be a mystery. Building your knowledge of audio fundamentals helps to avoid the common traps of audio foolery. Amplifier gain remains one of the more common points of confusion, despite the apparent simplicity: press the button and the amp gets louder. Newcomers tend to misunderstand the basics, leading to […]
More Custom Engravings – 2024
JDS Labs has offered free custom engravings on our aluminum based amps and DACs for over a decade now! Below we’ll share what has changed over time, along with our latest guidelines, and exhibit some of our recent favorites. From 2014 through 2022, we used a Trotec (CO2 based) laser engraver. The laser tube had […]
Introducing Atom Amp+ Hevi: Aluminum Knob, Rugged, Engravable
We’re pleased to present Atom Amp+ Hevi ! With around 40,000 Atom Amps and DACs shipped since 2018, we’ve been thrilled with its continued success. We’ve received more positive feedback than we ever could’ve expected, but we’ve also received some valid suggestions. That’s where the Atom Amp+ Hevi comes in. Many have asked for an […]
We Boosted Element III’s Output Power
We’ve long maintained that most headphones on the market need below 1W of power for normal listening. This is why all of our recent amplifiers have been designed around this figure–until now. Element III Boosted is for those of you with an appetite for ill-advised volumes from the world’s most power-hungry headphones. No, we still […]
On EL3 Manufacturing
Element III manufacturing has been challenging, to say the least. We were ecstatic to release Element III and pleased to see a strong reception from customers all over the world. Thank you! Then a few things went frustratingly wrong. Like knobs which arrived wobbly or broken, or DACs which threw error codes upon arrival (yes, […]
Introducing EL DAC II+ Balanced
EL DAC II+ Balanced pairs with EL Amp II+ Balanced, running on our latest XMOS based UAC2 engine with ASIO support for both PCM and DSD. Its balanced outputs are in addition to single-ended RCA outputs, giving you the flexibility to connect to any amplifier. Firmware EL DAC II+ Balanced arrives loaded with our latest […]
Element III Firmware Updates & Menu Options
Thank you to all first adopters of Element III! We’re glad so many of you are enjoying Element III as much as we are. While EL3 is temporarily sold out, we’ve been listening to all feedback to improve firmware features and overall quality (more coming in a separate post). Most notably, Firmware v2.2.0 or newer […]