Got a Cowon Q5W last week and have put a system together.
Cowon Q5W>SPDIF>iBasso D1>DT770-Pro
I took the supplied multi-cable and wrapped it up tightly, only leaving the RCA SPDIF plug free. Shrinkwrap was then used to seal the cable bundle to the iBasso D1. The two were then stacked and held together with two large thick rubber bands. This is a quick fix until I make a custom SPDIF cable and case. Total system is about the size of a coke can.
Cowon Q5 vs iBasso D1 vs Drinks Can
Even though this setup is a little large I can't stop taking it around everywhere I go. This is because the sound just keeps blowing me away again and again. I just can't stop listening to my music. I had to throw away about 40% of the mp3s in my collection because it revealed flaws that were too glaring to stand (<190br). Hearing a high quality digital recording is like listening to pure heaven. It is just that clear and revealing (source and amp are under clean battery power). Soundstage is as wide and clear as your top of line headphones will permit, with the limiting factor being the quality of the DAC/AMP used. The SPDIF signal out of the Q5 must have a really clean and low jitter clock.
This system is a dream come true and the convergence of a lot of technology. I would rate the sound quality as the best I have ever heard from a portable system. Even without an external amp the sq is really good from the Q5. I would rate it better than the Cowon D2. I did an A/B with the headphone out from an iTouch. Well, the iTouch did sound really good, but after getting the eq on the Q5 to sound more like the iTouch, I realized the iTouch may be trying to stack the deck as it seems to inflate the mids a bit. This may be to help it better match the supplied headphones that come with the device. The Q5 had a better low range and controlled bass punch with very clear highs. The soundstage sounded larger from the Q5. The iTouch sounded more tuned for pop with a musical smaller compressed dynamic range. Going back to the iBasso put the headphone out from both to shame. To get the full benefit of this, good headphones are a must.
With a 60gb capacity I have put on about 2600 songs and about 40 feature length movies. However, I will have to go back and remux the movies with soundtracks at a 190 bit rate or better, since the sound is just that good now. Watching a movie with big booming sound effects and the DT770s is incredible. Every person I let try has that classic “Wow” reaction. They are all saying the same thing, "That sounds just like a real theater!"
This whole set up cost me about $1025 so far. I want to roll opamps and try modding the DT770s to make it sound even better
