Apogee GROOVE is a portable USB DAC and headphone amp that takes the same high quality audio technology found in the world’s most prestigious recording studios and delivers it to your Mac or PC, providing an incredible music listening experience. Featuring ESS Sabre technology, 24-bit/192kHz resolution, constant current drive and quad sum DAC, GROOVE will impress both discerning audiophiles and music professionals.
Product Features
- USB 2. 0 connection to Mac and PC with up to 24 bit/ 192kHz audio
- Enhances your iTunes, Tidal, Spotify, Pandora or other music listening experience
- Constant Current Drive technology provides smooth frequency response with any headphones
- Quad sum DAC, 4 DACs per channel for highest dynamic range and lowest distortion
- Premium aluminum build quality, built in the USA
- Connects with USB-C iPad Pro Models
Made for Sennheiser HD 598 Headphones This thing is amazing when paired with the Sennheiser HD 598 headphones. I’ve tried at least a dozen other amps with the HD 598’s and none of them even come close to maximizing the potential of these headphones as the Groove does. This thing really makes these headphones shine at a completely different level as if it was made just for these cans. I was never wowed with the HD 598’s but this amp brings the wow out for them. Whatever constant current this thing is using is absolutely perfect for these!This amp also did great with the HD 650’s, leaving just a little bit more to be desired when driving these. Other cans such as the Sony MDR-V6’s and some Klipsch earbuds don’t really need much power and don’t get much benefit here but if you have the HD 598’s and want them to sound like some $300-$500 cans then you have to try this thing, I am sure there is some science to why it pairs so incredibly with these headphones but for me it is a strange and interesting wonder…
piece of crap – touchy drivers and fragile hardware This product is a nice idea – a small D/A converter by a reputable company.The reality I’ve had is that mine stopped working after a couple years and I’ve now returned it out of warranty for a replacement ($100) twice only to be told that the unit works fine on their end. I tried multiple different Windows and Mac machines and am not an idiot, feels like I’m being gaslit by their support folks. The replacement unit they sent me also rattles which is not reassuring. I’m out a total of $400 for a device that stopped working after less than 3 years. I’d recommend buying a Schiit Fulla headphone amp for $100 instead. Better constructed, better warranty and their support isnt terrible.
Price-Performance Sweetspot. Plays great both soft and loud. Inflight sound transformed. I think Apogee really got the price/performance right. If you care about sound, but aren’t a crazy person about it, your will probably really, really enjoy this. I do.1) First, I do not listen to high-res files through this. I know I should be, but I just don’t have the time to fuss with that. I have a huge library in iTunes, all ripped as lossless ALAC, but when I’m listening to headphones it’s at work, and the tunes are coming from Apple Music, as 256KB AAC streams.2) Guess what. Even this setup, which would make many died-in-the-wool audiophiles cringe, sounds GREAT.3) The sound is detailed, great spatial resolution, Bass that goes as deep as my IEMs will go (which is deep, for my RHA MA750i’s). And it doesn’t excentuate the negatives of compressed music (not sure how it does that, but I think the benefits of superior amplification outweigh the less-than-ideal source material). I’ve listened to my full-res ALAC rips, and yes they do sound…