A number of requests for EL DAC benchmarks have popped up lately. Below you’ll find our usual set of tests, conducted in each digital input mode. Test Setup EL DAC v1.01, no DIP switches (filters: SD High, SLOW Low, SSLOW Low) JDS Labs 16VAC, 1000mA US transformer 3ft USB cable with TDK ZCAT2035-0930 ferrite, connected […]
Author: John Seaber
How to Connect a Headphone Amplifier to an Audio Interface
2023 Update: Check out EL Amp II+ Balanced, which is built for connecting to audio interfaces. The article below was originally composed in 2018 and explains how to connect audio interfaces to headphone amplifiers with other types of input jacks. We often hear from musicians and recording engineers who need to boost listening volume of […]
Welcome Subjective3: A Three-Band EQ
Normally this is where I explain our design ethos and motivation for an announcement. Not today. Don’t get me wrong–Jude and I are certainly excited about Subjective3. But this is an oddball release. A False Start It all began two years ago, when our mechanical engineer, Nick, needed an equalizer for a side project. Our […]
Announcing OL DAC – USB Edition
With the growing success of OL DAC, JDS Labs presents OL DAC – USB Edition: As we doubled the size of our most recent OL DAC production run, we acknowledged that only some of you add TOSLINK cables to your cart. Most only want USB input and never touch the optical jack. So, we removed the unnecessary […]
DACs: External Power vs USB Power
This question originally appeared on reddit/headphones. I’m re-posting a longer response below, as the discussion commonly arises. “Is an external power supply . . . an inherently easier design?” Designing a sufficiently low noise supply from a USB +5V rail is economical and easy. Most manufacturers build entry-level DACs with this approach, relying on 3.3V […]
Element vs Objective2
Recent discussions reminded me that misconceptions also surround Element, such as: ‘Element is an O2+ODAC in a nicer box / Element has an ODAC inside’ False: While both are designed for transparency, performance and features differ: 1.5W vs 0.6W output power is substantial. ‘Element clips’ False: Of course not! Like any good design, gain is […]
ODAC vs OL DAC
“Hey, I was just wondering what the major differences were between the ODAC and the OL DAC.” This fine question continues to pop up in emails, on the phone, on reddit, on Head-Fi, etc. I was excited to push OL DAC into the wild last November for a number of reasons. I’ve always placed great […]
Announcing EL DAC, EL Amp, OL DAC, and OL Switcher by JDS Labs
Today’s announcement of the Element Line and Objective Line makes most sense when viewed alongside our mission: JDS Labs enables exceptional listening experiences, with underlying objectivity in our designs and transparency in our interactions. JDS Labs is strongly associated with audio measurements these days–perhaps to an excessive degree. Still, the subjective experience certainly matters. Each […]
Power is Volume
Edit (8/24/2023): Check out Sterling’s summary: Announcement of The Element has reminded us that output power is widely misunderstood. Most confusion can be resolved by understanding that Volume sets Power. In the world of audio, Power is the amount of energy that an amplifier can deliver into a specific load (ohms), at a specific frequency (Hz), […]
Introducing The Element by JDS Labs
JDS Labs has worked tirelessly to share this day with fellow headphone enthusiasts. We are proud to introduce The Element: We designed The Element to enjoy our headphones without compromise. Its amplifier renders shocking power, driven by an ultra clean DAC, all housed in a precision machined chassis with a comfortable knob. The Element beautifully drives […]