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iRiver H1xx H3xx(optical out)

post #1 of 4
8/18/09 at 12:33am
Thread Starter 
ok so i got , Minibox E, Etymotic ER4s. Looking for a new dap for school, audio only, with line out. already got cowon d2.

Ive heard people using DACs(ibasso d10) with their irivers, how is that possible? i thought only through pc??
How do i use optical out with my setup?
what are the differences between the h1xx and h3xx?
Im leaning towards the h120 but it maybe a tad bit more expensive then the ladder. convince me as i will try and save for the hifiman
thanks !
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post #2 of 4
8/18/09 at 12:38am
H320/H340 have bigger color screens, no digital output, and are a little chubbier.
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post #3 of 4
8/18/09 at 12:56am
Thread Starter 
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f15/ir...37/index2.html
I found my answer through some long reads. thanks
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post #4 of 4
8/18/09 at 12:58am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
The line-out and optical-out may use the same port, but they're COMPLETELY different ways of playing music.

The line-out uses the player's own DAC chip, which is a modest Philips chip. It's OK, but not great (the Wolfson DAC chips on my Cowon A2 or on most iPods are better, though the default iPod amp section kinda stinks, thus the iMod).

The optical-out completely bypasses the H1x0's internal DAC chip, sending the digital information to an external DAC. At this point, the analog source becomes the external DAC rather than the H1x0. The output *IS* bitperfect, and I've really never had problems with jitter (It's worth mentioning that ReplayGain in Rockbox does effect the volume level of the files, but the H1x0's volume control does nothing when using an external DAC). The H1x0 just becomes a transport, really. It's great!

It's also worth noting that the H1x0 also has both line and optical INPUT as well. I've never tried the optical in, but line-in recording is pretty nice (again, provided you use Rockbox, though you'd be foolish not to with an H1x0). I recorded a concert from the sound board once using the line in, and the auto-gain adjustment worked like a charm. I'm still kicking myself for losing that file! It was a great show!

So yeah, don't confuse the outputs. Very very different animals. And while the line-out and headphone-out are just OK, the optical out into a good DAC is phenomenal! I've never regretted owning my H1x0!
-Packgrog
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