Gotten my Compass few days ago with Earth/Moon/Sun Opamp. Surprise it is so big size & its built quality is top notch.

Now burning with Earth Opamp with Soft-1 jumper mode.

Setup:
Macbook Pro>Toslink>Compass DAC>Silveramp or AMB Mini3>UM Quaddie or Panasonic HTX7

*HTX7 is waken up by Compass! It never sound so good before via all my portable amp/dac.

Comparing Alien DAC+Silveramp or Mini3 VS Compass DAC/AMP:
>Alien DAC+Silveramp win (i think Silveramp itself is much better than Compass amp, to my surprise Silveramp only take like level 1 volume knob or 7 o'clock able to drive my Quaddie & 9 o'clock to drive my HTX7, it is sure damn powerful portable amp!)
>Using Compass DAC+Silveramp or Mini3 is so much better than Alien DAC (yeah Compass price wise is much more than Alien DAC).

Right now i am able to enjoy AMB Mini3 fullest via Compass DAC for the 1st time. Mini3 suppose to be Neutral, but the i feel it is quite warm, bass impact is superb. Good transparency & clean SQ. Comparing to Silveramp it is sure more warm than Mini3.

Conclusion:
I am fully satisfied with Compass so far, with 3 OPAMP changeable, 4 jumpers mode, combo with silveramp,mini3, fiio E5 are excellent so far.

Now i am admit that i am Audio-GD fanz, eyeing for DAC19MK3, C2C & PANTHER in the future.

hehe with that price i will get Audio GD Phoniex+REF1 with additional some top up
I had play around with 3 OPAMP so far i like Earth more. So i burn Earth opamp 1st. For jumper, i like Soft1 mode.
at this moment i like Compass DAC+AMB Mini3+UM Quaddie combo, much cleaner sound i can hear some extra sound again from some of my fave tracks, although it is faint but with Compass DAC i still can hear it. Last time with Alien DAC it is not noticeable at all.

Silveramp is twin 9V power. so it is darn powerful! but battery life is like 20hrs. So u not using it so much for traveling, i using it as desktop amp at home
Mostly for me, Alien DAC+Fiio E5 is good enough for traveling

yup already using compass dac out now. now using crap cable planning for better 1.
HP output isn't good at all thanks for the tips.

u got me wrong,
Compass HP output to Silveramp is no good sound. But when Compass DAC output to Silveramp is good.
But Compass DAC/Amp is good either but Silveramp is better than Compass Amp IMO.
Anyway i cant make conclusion 1st. Still in burning process.

Today i try Compass DAC>Fiio E5>UM Quaddie.
WOW superb too! man this small amp turn into a beast. beware the volume too need to tune to the lowest 1st.
I found E5 cant produce good treble compare to Mini3/Silveramp,

This post has been edited by jkleejk: Aug 30 2009, 07:37 PM

I just like the sound Compass DAC+Mini3 (more cleaner SQ).
Compass DAC/AMP (Earth) still under burning process.
So right now i can't made conclusion.

hehe, i consider Compass isn't a budget dac/amp (as price has gone up after promotional period)>there is many more similar DAC gadgets available in china. There is good Matrix DAC, Yulong DAH1, Xindak DAC5 & etc (for DAC alone), but if come to DAC/AMP wise Compass maybe the best bang for the bucks. Overall i am still satisfied with it overall as i like the rollable HDAM & jumper things.

I agree it is double amp that is why it is sound like crap.

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Added on August 31, 2009, 8:45 ami tried the setting i prefer bright setting with Earth compare with neutral.
Both Neutral+Earth is very close with Mini3, I slightly side towards Mini3 for slightly more clearer sound, Compass bass is a bit heavier sunken some treble.
Later i will try other Opamp like Moon/Sun again to judge further. thanks for the tips

This post has been edited by jkleejk: Aug 31 2009, 08:45 AM

cost me arm & leg

something i found out strange today.
using Compass DAC/AMP>built in amp speakers.
when i tune my compass volume more, the sound seems to be more clearer & nicer.
but when i tune my speaker volume more, the bass is start overwhelming & muffled.
but this is like fun to know, but i am not sure what is going on here, maybe some sifu can explain more...

speaker cap ayam, planning on Hivi T200B next mth.

this is so fun! haha so many config can be done....