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Audinst: HUD-Mini - review

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quadpatch
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Joined: 28 Mar 2011
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Hi All Smile

I just finished my review of the relatively new Audinst USB DAC & headphone amplifier. If you are considering the Fiio E17 you might want to check this out. The HUD-Mini is a bit cheaper than the last model (HUD-MX1) - between £80-100. I tried a couple of different op-amps here and even include some pics of the circuit board and chips.

http://noblehifi.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/audinst-hud-mini-review.html

Enjoy and have a great rest of the weekend everyone!

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PC>JRiver> DAC/amps: FiioAudinstYulongArcamFostex, Audiolab, SchiitOppoIfi ● 

Headphones: D7000Q701M80M100, DT770, DT880HP100HP200Mad Dog, HD650 ●

MajorFubar
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RE: Audinst: HUD-Mini - review

Wow that was a really interesting read, I particularly like how you gave your opinions on the couple of op-amp upgrades.  Thank you for sharing.  Looks like the MX1 is the one to go for though: by the time you've spent money upgrading the Mini with new on the op-amps, which you say still don't sound as good as the MX1, you've not saved enough to warrant not buying the MX1.

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Main gear: Mac Mini > HRT Streamer II+ > Cyrus 2 + PSX  > Cyrus tuner > Mission 794

Also cluttering-up the place:

Thorens TD160 no cartridge; Technics SL-P777; Marantz CD63 mkII KI; Marantz PM66 KI; Nakamichi DR-1

quadpatch
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Joined: 28 Mar 2011
Posts: 737
RE: Audinst: HUD-Mini - review

Hey thanks very much MajorFubar! I'm really glad you liked it Smile.

Yeah that's how I felt about the conclusions, I guess if you find the op-amp cheap somewhere you could do it all for less than £90, saving £25 off the price of the MX1, that's not to be sniffed at. Because I know how much better the sound gets @ around £150 I would advise stretching to this if possible. The Arcam rPAC and Yulong u100 are amazing! I will writing one for the rPAC soon.

__________________

PC>JRiver> DAC/amps: FiioAudinstYulongArcamFostex, Audiolab, SchiitOppoIfi ● 

Headphones: D7000Q701M80M100, DT770, DT880HP100HP200Mad Dog, HD650 ●