MP3P digital out + DAC/AMP <<OR>> MP3P analog out + AMP?
For Example:
-Iriver PMP-H120 w/digital out
-Ibasso D1 using DAC and AMP
<<OR>>
-Zune w/analog out
-Ibasso D1 using only AMP
My question only concerns sound quality.
Is ANY MP3P digital out w/DAC better sounding than ALL MP3P (with analog outs) on the market?
If so, how signicant is the SQ difference? Substantial? The MP3P I'm looking at has different features than any that have digital outs. Am I really losing that much SQ?
I know this type of question has been answered to some degree in previous threads but nothing really definitive.
I don't think there is a universal rule of thumb. You have to look for a specific combination. There are few threads that D1 is much better as DAC-AMP, compared to standalone AMP. H120 is the only mp3p which has optical out that I know off and D1 is the only portable DAC/AMP which has optical in, so it may be the only option for such a combo. That said, there are amps exceeding D1 and sources better than H120, which are better SQ wise. For example, iMod/GS Voayger using analog connection to me is cleary better than H120/D1 combo using digital.
I don't think there is a universal rule of thumb. You have to look for a specific combination. There are few threads that D1 is much better as DAC-AMP, compared to standalone AMP. H120 is the only mp3p which has optical out that I know off and D1 is the only portable DAC/AMP which has optical in, so it may be the only option for such a combo. That said, there are amps exceeding D1 and sources better than H120, which are better SQ wise. For example, iMod/GS Voayger using analog connection to me is cleary better than H120/D1 combo using digital.
Thanks for the response.
I'll rephrase: is the (analog) line out, of say, an ipod vastly inferior to the sound of a digital source plus a DAC assuming the same headphones and file types (MP3)?
hey guys sorry to hijack this,but where can you buy an abasso d1? by the sounds of it , its exactly what im looking for
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there are 2 types of headphones... one which you dont want to listen to too loud because they already sound good enough, and one which you dont want to listen to too loud because how bad they sound
imho, the best principle is to keep the signal digital for as long as possible... if you have an analog path which stretches all the way through the d1 , across the cable between that and your mp3 player, and who knows what quality the DAC is inside the mp3 player itself, you will be risking the sound quality more with each analog component along the way
unless , the zune's DAC outperforms the DAC in the d1 , but i doubt that an mp3 player can outmatch a dedicated audio device like the d1
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there are 2 types of headphones... one which you dont want to listen to too loud because they already sound good enough, and one which you dont want to listen to too loud because how bad they sound
MP3P digital out + DAC/AMP <<OR>> MP3P analog out + AMP?
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