Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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The Synapse Max was a channel purchase.

Buy from JDS Labs: jdslabs.com/product/synapse-max

My review of the standard Synapse: youtu.be/m3stCPEl3Q8

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Test Gear...

All music was digital in lossless or hi-rez FLAC or DSD formats either played locally or streamed from Qobuz (FLAC only), all through Roon.

Chain 1:

MacMini running HQP (youtu.be/T3Kqgh0NdvM) oversampling all to DSD128, SincL filter, USB output through JDS Labs Synapse OG or Max (youtu.be/m3stCPEl3Q8) then into Lampizator Baltic 3 DAC (youtu.be/QShvh2rqETc) then XLR output into either LTA Z10e (youtu.be/Bft6HUsYDhE) or Mass Kobo 465 (youtu.be/Ns9uIMhv-zE)

Chain 2:

NZXT Player Three PC USB output through Synapse (Max) into Schiit Vestri (youtu.be/8zNzE_zHJzE)

Headphones used...

Audeze LCD-5s: youtu.be/3P0G4TxEvQ8
Audio Technica ATH-ADX7000: youtu.be/d7yjTA584go
Focal Utopia (OG) (1): youtu.be/sqHjnH6EdM4
(2): youtu.be/tb3le-TwGnQ
HiFiMan HE1000 Unveiled: youtu.be/pSXKdoYg0Tc
HiFiMan Susvara OG (1): youtu.be/mZJ78eXWkt0
(2): youtu.be/oUrJx173P5M
HiFiMan Susvara Unveiled: youtu.be/WI1gnx2tD7s

My FiiO SR11 review: youtu.be/YuagbK8p0FA
My Weiss INT-204 review: youtu.be/94AvDeeRjHA

Timestamps...

00:00 Intro, Pricing, Disclaimer
01:24 Shameless Self Promotion
01:56 What It Is & Why You May Need It
06:53 Sound
13:59 Get This or a Streamer or a DDC?
15:50 Final Thoughts