Overdrive DAC Reviews
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http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=105049.msg1200553#msg1200553
"I have not experienced sound that is so free of digital artifacts since I reluctantly made the transition from vinyl to digital for the sake of convenience and access to a wider range of titles. It is phenomenal and a revelation about how good the humble redbook CD format can sound."
John.l.wong
April 2013
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=105049.msg1159717#msg1159717
“When listening to the overdrive [se] you simply abandon PLANET DIGITAL and arrive at PLANET MUSIC. And yes it has this vinyl like quality , but I would say Vinyl Plus, as it has a very pleasant silky yet realistic sound, pretty much like live opera or chansons also have in my experience.”
Geithainpsaudio
Nov. 2012
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?icomp&1351958193&openusid&zzErndog&4&5#Erndog
“I recently upgraded my dac to an Empirical Audio Overdrive SE and it is a game changer for sure. … I never thought PC audio could sound this good. Better than SACD!”
Erndog Nov.
2012.
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=97269.0
“If you have an Overdrive I would highly recommend the upgrade to the Turbo Clocks, if you have an Offramp I would go that route as well, it is just so much better. I can't stop tapping my foot…”
BCRich1
Aug. 2011
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=95464#msg960567
“…the Overdrive actually exceeds my vinyl playback system”
Jason Burchett
Jun. 2011
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?icomp&1301776154&&&/Empirical-Audio-Overdrive-DAC:-King-of-t
“Overdrive front-end is one of the best I have ever heard; digital or analog.”
Dallasjustice
Apr. 2011
Dagogo Review
“Not only was it the best USB DAC I’ve heard, it was better than the vast majority of DACs I’ve heard of any type. In all cases the Overdrive showed no weaknesses, having great extension, resolution, body, speed and coherence.”
“There are some components about which people say things like: “the treble is great, but it’s a bit weak in the bass” or “incredible midrange, but not the most extended” or “great extension, but the treble is a bit brittle,” etc. None of that applies to the basic Overdrive – it has no weaknesses, only strengths. That is the basic requirement for a component to be exceptional.”
“I can definitively say that the Overdrive/Pace-Car with Monolith is easily among the elite digital front ends available today. Moreover, it achieves this at a much lower cost than most of its competitors.”
Ed Momkus
Dagogo
Mar. 2011
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Just-Finished-Auditioning-Steve-Nugents-New-DAC-Empirical-Audio
“We have had the Weiss, Antelope, several Apogees, the Ayre, Tranquility, the PS Audio DLIII and PWD, and Benchmark. None of these were even close to what your DAC [Overdrive] presented.”
“This is the first DAC I have heard that rivals good vinyl as far as soundstaging and detail. It gives an organic quality to the music that one rarely hears on digital devices.”
ggraff
Dec. 2010
The Absolute Sound Review
“Not only did the Overdrive have better low-level resolution when used alone, but it also delivered a slightly bigger soundstage, subtler micro-dynamics, and more macro-dynamic slam.”
“the Overdrive’s preamp doesn’t detract from its sonics. In fact, the Overdrive sounds better when used without an additional external preamp!”
Steven Stone
The Absolute Sound
Feb. 2010
http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/pcaudio/messages/6/61784.html
“In my many years of playing this audio game, this DAC produces the cleanest, most musically honest sound I have heard.”
Thomas James
Oct. 2009
http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=65385.0
“Beautiful gorgeous mids, silky pristine highs that must go all the way to to heaven, and the bass, my God the BASS. I have never heard bass like this outside the concert hall!”
Paul M
Feb. 2009