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iBasso D2 & Sony S639F

post #1 of 6
9/22/09 at 10:24pm
Thread Starter 
Just got my iBasso D2 from another head-fier.

Plugging it into my laptop, there is an appreciable improvement of the sound. I can tune up the volume while the sound remains very clear. I am very much satisfied with this. (Although there are still broken sounds sometimes, which I believe cannot be resolved as long as I use my laptop as the sound source)

However, linking it with my Sony Walkman doesn't seem work that well. Maybe I expected too much - I even feel better if I use my walkman alone. Also I have to tune up the amp to a really high level to get the same volume as the DAP standing alone.

Or maybe amp doesn't work well from phone-out port?

Still a newbie, hope to get suggestions from all
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post #2 of 6
9/26/09 at 12:24pm
Well are you using USB? Without USB there wouldn't be a point of buying the D2 BOA over the T4. The D2 is a DAC/amp, and the point of it is to improve the DAC and then amp your headphones a little. It cant dac them through a headphone out, as that provides an amped analog signal. USB doesn't, iut provides didital that can be coded to analog (sound) and a D2 boa will convert it better than your laptop. The USB isnt just for charging, it's for DACing as well.
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post #3 of 6
9/26/09 at 12:25pm
AMPs generally work better with a line out. IDK if your sony has one, but that's why iPod is pretty much a good player if you're gonna amp it(as you can use a LOD, to get an unamped signal, but still analog, so you cant use the DAC on the D2). Your SONY X is probably dual amping your headphones, which is pretty much a no-no
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post #4 of 6
9/26/09 at 3:00pm
If you're getting distortion at high volume levels, could it be a source quality problem?

When using the D2 as an amp with a music player, turn the music player's volume up all the way, and use the amp as a volume control. My Clip doesn't have any problem feeding out to the D2, and I use the same position for the volume knob with my Clip as with my laptop. Input resistance on amplifiers, I believe, is very high, so current draw should be low (right?). My Clip gets a good 10 hours or so (1 hour bus rides, twice a day, 5 days a week) at max volume feeding an E5.
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post #5 of 6
9/26/09 at 5:58pm
There is a thread here re LODs for the Sony players (cable is the same for my NWZ738 and my X series), but it doesnt look promising:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f15/lo...28-yet-351331/

I guess we can always look at pages like this and dream:

ALO Audio

fwiw, my X series drives my SR325is without a problem - roughly 80% of my 45W per channel integrated amp - and my NWZ738 isnt far behind in the amp department. My Cowon had the most powerful amp, till it died - must try to resurrect that little guy and give it a shot with the Grados.....
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post #6 of 6
9/27/09 at 12:45am
Yes Sony players need to be increased to a 20/30 volume level (both hp out and line out) to get a decent loudness on my Pico. The LOD does make a few differences: Bass and Highs extension, distortion and resolution. Althought the components inside the LOD is not audiophile grade, it still makes a difference. And it is quite cheap also. Haha.
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