The modern development of IT has led to the fact that the majority of "IT" professions have become very mobile. You can work without reference to a desktop computer, to a dull office, and even to a specific city or country. Laptops are now fast and inexpensive, and the mobile Internet is available almost worldwide. Technological advances make even technology areas such as HiFi sound mobile. Today I will talk about an amazing device that changed my understanding of mobility in sound - the DAC .
Herus belongs to the recently popular “overportable” DACs that only lazy people have already released: Audioquest Dragonfly, HRT MicroStreamer, Audioengine D3, Meridian Explorer, CEntrance DACport, LH Labs Geek Out, HiFiMeDIY U2 - and this is not a complete list. All these devices are small in size, USB is most often their only interface, and the 3.5 mm jack for connecting headphones is used as an output, it can also be used as a line output.
I have already written about Concero HP in the past review of the glorious company Resonessence Labs and its contribution to the global “CAPostroenie”, I recommend rereading its introduction (or even the entire review). The recently introduced DAC with a slightly unflattering name for a Russian-speaking person called Herus surprised at once with several parameters, but first of all with a small size. Herus is an extremely miniature device built on the basis of the ESS 9010-2M chip, which made it possible to achieve outstanding characteristics for a small device.
As always in Resonessence devices, in addition to the elementary base, the company's software developments play an important role. Herus uses a proprietary code for asynchronous work with USB “on top” of the Cypress chip and its own firmware, which can be updated to support new functions.
The device supports the maximum operating modes currently used: the sampling rate can reach 352.8 kHz, and the bit depth is 24 bits. Also supported are DxD and DSD 64/128 formats (DSD over PCM version 1.1 is supported).
Another interesting feature is that Herus can be used with iOS or Android devices, including even the ability to play DSD files. For iPhone, you need a third-party player and an adapter for USB, but still the support for playing even this format is impressive.
Herus uses a special USB power scheme, which, firstly, protects against interference and interference, which 5 volts the computer gives out to, and secondly, provides power to the output amplifier, which provides the maximum voltage at maximum volume level 4 VRMS.
Specifications
- Connection: USB 2.0, asynchronous
- Bit depth: 16/24
- Supported sample rates (KHz): 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 and 352.8
- Supported formats: PCM, DXD and DSD64 / 128 (using DoP protocol 1.1 via USB)
- Operating systems: MS Windows, MAC OS, Linux, iOS, Android
- Output level: 2.4 VRMS (at maximum volume)
- General harmonic distortion: > 85 dB (<0.005%), usually at least 90 dB
- Signal to noise ratio: > 100 dB, usually at least 108 dB
- Output power : 126 mW @ 32Ω, 95 mW @ 60Ω, 19 mW @ 300Ω, 9.5 mW @ 600Ω
- Dimensions: 63.5 mm x 31.7 mm x 19 mm
- Input: USB type B
- Output: TRS 6.3 mm
Packaging and Design
The box in size almost coincides with the packaging of the much larger Concero HP, which can be considered a wasteful waste of resources, but since recycled cardboard is used, the claims of the fighters for the salvation of the planet are clearly removed. The packaging is a masterpiece of minimalism, like Herus itself, it is completely black, the only thing that is applied to it is the blue logo of the company above. Inside there is a small fabric bag on the puffs containing the DAC itself. There is nothing more in the kit, not counting a few pieces of paper.
In my opinion, the packaging is quite consistent with the level of the device and the price of $ 350.
Herus himself makes a very pleasant impression. Small aluminum parallelepiped, surprisingly weighty for its size, absolutely monolithic. The form is slightly diluted with small symmetrical recesses on both sides. On the top panel there is a glowing logo and the extruded name of the model, on the bottom - a layer of rubber that protects against slipping. At the opposite ends there is a USB input and a 6.3 mm output, to which you can connect headphones or, via an adapter, an amplifier.
The main thing that is surprising in design is the lack of volume controls. The fact is that in Herus the volume control is carried out from a computer: players supporting this function send commands to control the volume of the DAC, and it already controls the volume of the signal at the hardware level. It turns out that, ideally, the owner of this DAC will need to attend to a player with support for adjusting the volume of the external device, fortunately, there are not so few of them. Otherwise, the player will adjust the volume, and this usually gives not such a good result. In addition, you should be careful when you first connect the Herus, by default it turns on at full volume, which can damage headphones or hearing (although I accidentally turned on my AM6 once at full volume, the experience is unpleasant, but not critical). I think this is a reasonable compromise, because for a good analog volume control there is still no space inside, and putting something “to be” is not in the tradition of Resonessence Labs.
Sound
The following equipment was used to listen to the DAC:
- MacBook Pro Retina Late 2013 as a source;
- iPad Air as a source;
- Audirvana Pro and ONKYO HF Player as a player;
- Headphones Philips Fidelio X1, Dunu DN-2000, Lear BD-4.2;
- Records in lossless formats, including DSD.
Immediately it should be understood that Herus is not designed for headphones with very high impedance and / or low sensitivity, no one cancels physics, and in such a small volume to achieve a large output power will not work. Fortunately, solutions that are really tough to build up are not as common and are usually purchased for stationary use, so this young-DAC handles well with the overwhelming majority of headphones, including even loose orthodynamic models. Of course, on orthodynamics, he will miss the accentuation of bass a little, but not critical for listening.
As in the case of the Concero HP, this DAC pleases with the support of all conceivable audio formats, implemented with a margin, you will not need to recode your files or configure oversampling in the player. I even indulged in playing DSD-files from iOS, and although this, in my opinion, is obvious self-indulgence, such omnivorousness is very pleasing. Suddenly, Apple will delight us in the future support of high-resolution formats right in the iTunes Store? It is clear that not, but you can also dream.
By connecting a device of such dimensions as the Herus, you expect to hear a lot of compromise in sound. Well, you know, like: “yes, it doesn’t sound very much, but it’s so small.” So: not in this case. During the audition, I switched from Herus to Concero HP several times (more than 2 times more expensive and much larger in size) to compare them, and the difference was not immediately apparent. Herus is also very neutral, but not to dull boredom, just as good throughout the frequency range, also has good speed characteristics and plays with a pleasant ear enthusiasm. He feels great even with very expensive high-end headphones, revealing their potential.
Given the size and price, Herus copes with the transfer of volume, the only thing that he can blame is the separation of tools and the transfer of their characters, here he lacks micro details. But DACs that do not have this problem usually cost much more expensive and certainly larger.
DAC is genre versatile and plays well any genre with any headphones (taking into account, of course, power). Connected via an adapter to an amplifier, it can also become a component of a stationary system for a user who does not suffer from terminal audiophilia. I connected it to the Maverick Audio A1 and Yulong A28, and I was quite pleased with the results. Until Yulong DA8, he, of course, does not reach, but the sound is very, very dynamic and transparent.
findings
If you want easy and simple, and also very mobile to solve the problem with high-quality sound near your computer, Herus is what you need. Wonderful sound, attractive design, reliable assembly, support for all possible formats are all very pleased. And the opportunity to take a source of such high-quality sound with me in a small bag - still seems incredible to me. Obviously, the development of technology does not bypass the personal audio industry.
The article is based on materials .
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