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Should I go portable or not? DAC/AMP

post #1 of 19
11/14/09 at 1:59am
Thread Starter 
So I have been planning on getting a DAC to go with my Little Dot 1+. (that I will have later) But I was looking at all of the chinese DAC's and thought why don't I get something portable since I need a new portable amp anyways and get it with a DAC built in. Is this a good idea? My budget is/would be less than $200. I was considering the following.

Ibasso D2+ Boa
Ibasso D4 (slightly out of my price range but I might could make it work)
EDIT: If I could find a used Corda Move I might could do that.

These are the only 3 in my price range I could find/think of. I am open to suggestions. But my main question is since I will be going to college next year and will be needing the space, would I lose a lot of quality by using a portable DAC/amp combo vs just a DAC. So if I do go this route I will be using it as a DAC sometimes and as an amp sometimes?
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post #2 of 19
11/14/09 at 3:04am
The D4 is a decent DAC based on the reviews out there. I'd say go for it
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post #3 of 19
11/14/09 at 1:07pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pekingduck View Post
The D4 is a decent DAC based on the reviews out there. I'd say go for it
Is/would the D4 be significantly better than the D2+?
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post #4 of 19
11/14/09 at 6:34pm
Thread Starter 
I found another to add to the list.

NuForce Icon Mobile

And I forgot to mention when used portable these will be used with my NE-8's. But I plan on about April getting either used IE8's, used Westone 3's, new Shure SE530's or Denon D1001's. (Most likely the Shure or D1001's) Maybe something other than those? And will be used with either a Ipod Video 30gig or Ipod Classic 160gig.
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post #5 of 19
11/14/09 at 9:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by unl3a5h3d View Post
I found another to add to the list.

NuForce Icon Mobile

And I forgot to mention when used portable these will be used with my NE-8's. But I plan on about April getting either used IE8's, used Westone 3's, new Shure SE530's or Denon D1001's. (Most likely the Shure or D1001's) Maybe something other than those? And will be used with either a Ipod Video 30gig or Ipod Classic 160gig.
The Icon Mobile cannot be used as a standalone DAC since it does not have a line out. You can only use it as an amp or DAC+amp.

Have you read this thread?

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f105/u...ce-xm5-306883/
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post #6 of 19
11/14/09 at 10:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pekingduck View Post
The Icon Mobile cannot be used as a standalone DAC since it does not have a line out. You can only use it as an amp or DAC+amp.

Have you read this thread?

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f105/u...ce-xm5-306883/
No I hadn't read that thread. I searched the best I could. So that tells me that in my price range I would be better off going with the D2+ for portable. But how does that compare to a full size DAC? Such as the Zero or some other chinese DAC.
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post #7 of 19
11/15/09 at 2:26am
My guess is that the difference won't be night and day between similarly priced DACs.
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post #8 of 19
11/15/09 at 3:04pm
I went through the D2 versus D4 dilemma recently. I chose the D2 since I had no interest in messing with the opamps (which is one of the benefits of the D4) and I liked the simplicity of the internal rechargeable battery.
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post #9 of 19
11/15/09 at 6:21pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah I really like the rechargeable battery. But I might would mess with the opamps later? Maybe not but I am mainly concerned as which would be better for both portable or used just as a DAC from my computer?
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post #10 of 19
11/15/09 at 11:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by unl3a5h3d View Post
Yeah I really like the rechargeable battery. But I might would mess with the opamps later? Maybe not but I am mainly concerned as which would be better for both portable or used just as a DAC from my computer?
I definitely recommend opamp rolling with ibasso's. as good as they are in stock, the opamp rolling does improve the amp alot. In my case, D10 was great in stock, but after opamp rolling I have no intentions to go back to the stock sound.
also, depending on your music taste and heaphones/earphones you can tailor the sound which is very handy. as an example, although there are major topkits, people vary in which they like due to their preference. just check out the ibasso threads and you can find what will suit you.
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post #11 of 19
11/16/09 at 12:11am
how about Corda 3Move?
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post #12 of 19
11/16/09 at 12:30am
Ever consider transportable units like this?



This one costs $160 IIRC.
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post #13 of 19
11/16/09 at 1:26am
And for the record I would strongly stand by the choice of a D2+ over a nuforce icon mobile. Don't know if it helps now but I liked the D2+ far more than the nuforce when I had it
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post #14 of 19
11/16/09 at 5:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by vic225 View Post
how about Corda 3Move?
The Corda is way out of my price range. I don't know if I mentioned it or not but I would like to say at or around $200.

Quote:
Originally Posted by K3cT View Post
Ever consider transportable units like this?

http://www.antoniominotti.it/images/DSC00964.JPG

This one costs $160 IIRC.
I looked at these but I am wanting something more portable, as in put it under my ipod for on the go.

I have pretty much narrowed it down to the D2+ and D4. Which is overall better. And I know the D4 is somewhat better because you can opamp roll. But any other reasons?
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post #15 of 19
11/16/09 at 6:01pm
9v battery, dual dacs, runs completely off usb power if u want...
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