Audioengine D1 DAC - System Introduction

In our review of the Devialet D-Premier, we compared the experience of auditioning music in Hi-Fi to the experience of the Sunday Drive. Listening to the Devialet, we wished only that it would amplify Stax electrostatic Headphones, rather than speakers.


Audioengine, as many of you know, is one of the premier manufacturers of home audio loudspeakers.
Their powered A2+ speaker, you will see retailing in many outlets in the computer section, like London Drugs, here in Vancouver, Canada, going for just $249.00, about the price of a small silver man's ring.

The Keefer Bar

They are the typical enjoyable type (like Totem's Element Earth)  that is equally comfortable playing Robert Silverman's classical transcriptions of Bach as they are playing Pink Floyd's ground-breaking adventures in electronica. The bass may not be ground-breaking, but it will be both enjoyable and quite audible in tonality. Very listenable.

We like Audioengine very much.What's more, you will see models such as the Audioengine A5 featured in $5,000,000 CDN penthouses such as that at the Keefer, here in Vancouver. Perfect for the wet-bar, or the translucent pool, shown below.

That's pretty plucky for a $399.00 loudspeaker, about the same price David Yurman's take on an Irish Silver Band.

The Keefer Penthouse Balcony

So, whether it's the Irish Rovers or a Robbie Burns poem you are listening to, say, while sampling  a Glenfiddich or what have you, your Audioengine equipped room will be up to the party.As we already had a pair of Teac loudspeakers on the way, and a pair of KEF's in the stable, we opted for Audioengine's D1 Digital to Analogue (DAC) converter ($169.00) for a review.

http://www.thekeefer.com/video/videos/thismeanswar.mp4

Connected to our HP Pavillion, the Audioengine D1 replaced our Calyx Coffee DAC as the preferred interface to our Stax 007t tube amplifier. We had had an issue with the FiiO D3 previously, which resulted in some amplifier repair, and the Calynx was a bit woody for the tubed headphone output stage of the 007t. Very nice.


James Blunt, "Face the Sun". Guest Artist on Top Gear. Season 21, Episode 3.
★


With the Audioengine D1 in the interface chain, we have the option of quickly auditioning dynamic headphones, while duly protecting our beloved retro headphone amp. Even with the original Stax RCA cable, it's a cool system. Cardas Clear or AudioQuest could kick it up a 'notch, or perhaps our HiFiMan based cables, but we're fine for today.

It's Tuesday, early in the week, and we already enjoyed a nice Sunday drive, courtesy of James May and Top Gear. Just for kicks, we threw in an episode ad tested the Audioengine D1's headphone amp with WestJet of Canada's in-flight, and over-the-ear headphones. Season 21, Episode 3.

What a combo! One really notices the audio this season (21). Top Flight, BBC.
★

AudioEngine

Season's 1-20, we mostly noticed the video compositing and editing talent. This season, we particularly noticed the quality of audio selection and composition. Give yourself a chance and check out this wonderful program.

Ideally, we would wish to introduce to the system an iFi iPower USB power-supply ($199.00) and an iFi Gemeni II USB 2-headed cable ($199.00, $567.00 total), or perhaps the Light Harmonic (www.lightharmonic.com) varietals to the chain. This is USB.

On it's own, we are quite pleased with Audioengine's D1 DC. It protects our primary headphone ampliifery and NOS tubs.

Product: AudioEngine D1 DAC
Producer: www.audioengineusa.com
Price: $169.00

★

Audioengine D1 DAC with A2+ and MacBook Pro

Rating: 10/100 (Sound quality vs. perfection.)
Value: 70/100 ($200.00 value).
Total Points: 80/200

John / JP
www.hifiart.ca
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=audio+engine+d1