If this still works this is the only way and simply because this fellow was nice enough to do the legwork. I’ve not stumbled across anything else.
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I solved the problem with the DC connector and after using it for a while, I have formed my opinion.
My previous impressions were a bit sloppy and left everything to chance, so I’ll write it here again.
This is an impression summarizing the change from 2541 to comet+ in the chain SU-2>DAC>v280>HD800s.
・Separation is clearly improved.
・Improved depth and layering.
These two things make it easier to search for sounds and easier to track notes.
・Imaging feels more accurate with comet, perhaps due to depth and separation.
・The 2541 has a smaller sound image, so it’s easier to find the center point, and the comet sometimes makes it easier to find the center point, and sometimes it doesn’t.
I feel that the comet has a more realistic sound image, but since I am used to the 2541, I have not been able to express the good points of the comet in words yet.
・The background became black, just as I remembered when I listened to it a few years ago.
I feel that this is what makes the above spatial expression possible.
・The bass is tighter, yet has a more vivid presence.
This DAC taught me that I like this kind of high-quality bass.
(I rarely use IEMs in a desktop chain, but in that case I feel that there is too much bass.)
・Vocals have taken a step back (or maybe everything except the vocals has taken a step forward, so maybe that’s why the soundstage feels a little narrower than the 2541?)
I treat vocals and instruments as equals, so this isn’t really a cons.
I think that by appearing more forward, it contributes to the searchability of the sound, but there were also songs where I felt that the sound was being forced on me. It was suppressed quite naturally with the “Plus” PSU, but it’s still further forward than the 2541 I’m used to.
The pairing of the 2541 and V280 that I’ve been using so far has a very good overall balance; it’s neither too aggressive nor too forward, and the reverberation decay is unique, with momentary peaks disappearing just before they become harsh. It has good separation and depth, although not as much as the comet combination. Imaging is sharp.
It’s the only system I’ve used in recent years (I forgot about W2+IEM portable lol), it’s a central reference for me, so my thoughts inevitably gravitate towards it. My starting point.
However, comet may take that position away from 2541.
(Furthermore, I have to look for an AMP that has synergy with comet that will take away the position of v280 lol)
Over time, my understanding of comet will come closer to the level of understanding of this pair.
Even now, it’s an amazing DAC that makes me feel like it has exactly what I’m looking for, and I’m going to enjoy it.
Thank you for your attention.
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I’m currently enjoying a pair of comets, the v280, so I don’t think it would be a big mistake to choose either of the v281 and v222, which have the same tendency to sound.
I would also like to know about ideas for solid state that have even better synergy.
I hope you find it!
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Hi There! I got an Exogal Comet and Ion, but want to upgrade the firmware, so I can use it. Where can I get: Comet_Version_2.25e.jar?
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If it’s even possible, try here…
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Exogal Comet DAC USB Issue
When connected to a system running macOS Monterey, the Exogal Comet DAC stops playing audio via USB. The device is still recognized by the system, but both the Headphones and Line Out outputs remain silent.
I’ve tried multiple troubleshooting steps: changing the USB cable, using different USB ports, and fully powering down the computer. None of these helped.
Switching to Linux (Fedora) or an older macOS version (Catalina) didn’t solve the issue either — the DAC is detected by the operating system, but there’s no sound output.
Interestingly, when using the analog input (connected to a PS5), audio works perfectly fine. I suspect that Toslink and SPDIF inputs would also work without issues.
After exhausting all options, I performed a factory reset on the Comet, which is now running firmware version 1.36. Unfortunately, that didn’t resolve the problem either.
Eventually, I discovered a workaround. After many experiments, I found that I can get audio through Roon by using HQPlayer Desktop configured to output to the Exogal Comet. However, this doesn’t fully solve the problem because system-wide audio (e.g., watching movies, Spotify, YouTube) still doesn’t work.
Later, I discovered that if I add the Exogal Comet as a new audio device into Roon, not only does music play through Roon, but system audio also starts working again!
Does anyone have any idea what’s going on with the USB connection and why Roon affects it this way? Why does the setup with HQPlayer Desktop work at all? And most importantly, is there any other way to fix this issue properly?
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Not a Mac guy, but IMO you’re looking at USB driver issues.
If you love your Mac, a “workaround” may be to install a 3rd party USB DDC that is more common or known to work with a Mac without issues and then go from teh DDC to the Exogal. You’ll likely get a noticeable bump in audio quality while you’re at it moving further from the noisy USB out of a computer.
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The Comet is old enough it could use one of the USB boards that required different firmware for Windows and Mac/Linux.
The older Lampizators used the Amanero USB boards and those required they were flashed for one or the other, and the comet could be the same.
It’s hard to know without knowing specifics of the comet USB implementation, the manual sugests it should just work with a Mac, but who knows what apple has done to it’s USB drivers over the last few years.
Hard to know what Roon is doing to “fix” it, it could have it’s own USB driver I guess.
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Welcome to the forum!
I’d echo what DB said, it’d be good to solve this USB problem, but if you hook your Comet up to a DDC, or a streamer, or a DDC as well as a streamer, you will solve your problem and get better performance out of your DAC.
You don’t have to spend the earth either. I thought that having a cheap DDC may be a bottleneck between my Comet and streamer, but even a cheaper DDC added sonic performance to my chain. I A/B’d it and heard the opposite of what I expected.
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