[ NEW! # COS D1 DAC and H1 Headdac/amp comparative review on InEarSpace !]

This is review which we had been waiting for a long time. Also due to it is such a specific subject we didn’t want to give it just to any one to do so. Hence we chosen InEarSpace tandem for the reason.  I knew it is going to take time as they are not working for the commercial markets needs but are driven by passion . Just like us. But for all this reasons we also knew that they are going to make it right. Approach the subject with all their knowledge and a hunger for learning. And there is a lot to learn about those two products. So this is just right attitude to have. Follow the link to read it now then or click more bellow to go stright to the verdict if the patience is not your greatest strength ;-]

COS D -1

” …I was expecting to be impressed by its sonic performance. Having started to trudge through a section of the high-end DACs on offer I have started to get a feel for the things manufacturers try (or do) achieve and while each to their own they have unique characters, nothing has stood quite as considerably away from the rest as the COS. More importantly, I am absolutely swept away by its sound.

This is a DAC of the highest performance without a doubt but does so very much in its own fashion. It is the most tranquil component I have ever used in an audio system. Its calmness never exerts itself and this directly effects the nature of you’re following audio chain. I bet you could have some abruptly shouty single driver speakers at the end and still maintain a snippet of calmness in the sound. The way it outputs analogue is in the upmost state of liquidity. Not that syrupy thick sort either, the light, grainless stuff. Music comes through seamlessly.

The D1 also excels when it comes to maintaining composure in its dynamic range. While it doesn’t have a hint of forwardness, this DAC can snap in full blown life from any simple passage in a way that surely will leave your hairs standing on end. Listening to Jeff Buckley’s 24/192 recording of the classic Hallelujah you consciously notice how he becomes more emotionally involved with the lyrics, his voice gaining power throughout. It is also how this power and rawness can contrast with how this manages just one or two instruments playing, surrounded by complete silence. No DAC I put up in comparison quite compared when it come to how silence and space were used.

COS H -1

” … I loved that I was able to plug my Sennheiser HD800s and ZMF Blackwoods directly into the amp via my dual 3 pin XLR Double Helix Cables Complement 4 in opposed to having to find some adapter like most of these all in one solution limited to a single ended output or even the more common 4 pin XLR. What was immediately apparent was that it had no problem powering headphones. That is both the demanding planar from ZMF and the high impedance Sennheiser.

One area they do have quite sporadic differences would be in power supply and that could be a reason as to why the D1s dead silent background, makes the H1 feel a little less blank. Oddly enough I found the H1 DAC section to have a much more weighty mid bass than when I was using my cans with it leading me to question whether they missed a trick there but it was still apparent that the D1 had the much fuller bass overall. The H1 also has a more tinny vibe to its high end, not to the level of Yulong’s DA8 or North Star Design’s Incanto but it didn’t have that complete honesty in the notes. Perhaps un-surprisingly though there was, for the most part, some nice similarities. However, I am sad to report that the H1 doesn’t possess that amazing fluidity and lack of grain the D1 does nor does it have the same individuality. What this means is that the H1 is a very good DAC, performing very admirably for two and a half grand but some of the differences it has between the D1 really do show the price and the component differences. Not that you should expect any less. “.

Conclusion

As complete products, I have two conclusions, each to their own. For craftsmanship and design, I only have one thought for them both. That is that COS are perhaps making the finest chassis I have had in my home. It is flawless in its finish and it has no ugly screws or bolts littering its chiselled aesthetic. Whats more I can confidently say these aren’t just lookers, they are the real deal inside and out, a true beauty on every plane.

That being said the D1 is a straight up amazing product. It has a very special presentation that makes it really stand out from the crown of top tier DACs and while it may not boast quite the feature set of some of its foes, it still heralds a great pre amp ability on top of being a great line level DAC. I am so impressed by this product in absolutely every area of it that I can’t not give it our Good Buy award. There would be an injustice if I was to overlook doing that.

H1 is a nice idea, with extra appeal to the lesser budgets and headphone crowd. However, it just lacks some versatility without line balanced outputs and even analogue inputs. On top of that beyond workmanship, it doesn’t have anything to really separate it from the rest, even the design is not as out there as D1. The DAC is very nice while the amp is a bit weaker than competitive models. It still will do justice with a lot of headphones and I am sure you will really enjoy its performance, but it is not the last say in this domain and in my opinion, is just another option to be considered.