REVIEW (more to come) - CEntrance DACport 24/96 USB DAC Amp - Page 12

The DACPort will always exceed the 100mA, but the LX lacks the amps, which suck the bulk of the power...

 

My iBasso D12 worked on the camera kit with a Dr. Bott T3 hub, but the D6 didn't, different receiver chip.  So it's clearly VERY sensitive. 

The marketing manager told me that even LX consumes the same power as they both have amp in. Now, I don't know if the dude has a clue, frankly. Now, I'm leaning toward PICO...

All I can tell you is they both get pretty much equally warm.  The LX does sound cleaner and more transparent.  

 

Trust them before me.  I'm *assuming* they don't have the amps in the LX, I mean why would they?  Waste of power, space and cost, no benefit, unless they're using those as line-level amps for output.  That's a scary powerful output stage if they are!  LOL.  

 

I would totally trust them before me, hope I didn't steer you wrong on that one.  

 

I do know that the second my DACPort connects to the iPad, the dock cuts off. 

Yup, he mentioned line out amp vs headphone amp in the original.

Have you tried that special dacport firmware from their website? Does it sound the same if you have tried?

Guys,

 

After reading the whole 12-pages review, since I don't own the DACport and I'd like to buy it, I haven't figured the answer at few of my questions:

-did someone dismantled piece by piece his DACport, in order to see what's inside and which are the components used? (uC, DAC, AMP etc). Some pictures would be greatly received.

-few of you said that they are using the DACport with an iPad, and I've noticed also that there is an update on CEntrance site, in order to modify the firmware for this. Does the same firmware works with iPhone? iPhone is compatible for using it as digital source via USB+iPad camera dock? Did anyone tried this?

-regarding my 2nd question, I've read that the DACport firmware update makes a downgrade of sample rate from 24-bit/96kHz to 48kHz in order to work with the iPad. But, can be switched back to 24-bit/96kHz after, or it's an irreversible update? Also, if I have the iPad version, DACport will it work at maximum performance (24-bit/96kHz) with Mac/PC?

 

Regards,

Andrei

The firmware reduces the max rate to 48kHz, and to go back requires a firmware change. For this reason I use the D12 for the iPad, as i don't like the idea of constant firmware changes, which sounds like a hassle and maybe a reliability issue over time.

I'll try iPad firmware one day because I don't like having to use USB hub. I've tried 24/96, and frankly it's not worth the extra space it takes up on my iPad to me. If there no other downgrade in sq, 48kHz ain't too bad for me.

 

 

Thank you for the answers, pekingduck!

 

Now, my only question remains only if someone knows what's inside the DACport in terms of hardware. I'm really curious about that.

Maybe someone from CEntrance can provide us few pictures here with the inside built-in of their product. Hope I'm not asking too much...

 

Here I remembered reading that it was a AKM DAC chip as per the following article:
 

 

 

 

 

Here you can see the inside of the DACmini with a close-up to the DAC chipset and the AKM4396 is well identified.

 

That's all I can do because I don't plan opening my DACport (or DACmini) just to see inside. I just know that they both sound amazing to me. That's all I care. Happy Listening 

Twinster, I think that, because of my curiosity, I will open my DACport at arrival and put some pictures here... It's fascinating how approx. 200 components are put inside that DAC+AMP body tube... Meanwhile, if someone has the pictures which I'm looking for, I would appreciate him if he could upload them here, not to open my DAC and broke something...

By the way, guys, I'm the happy owner of a CEntrance DACport: I've just bought it from pekingduck and I should have it in Romania in around 2 months, after I will return in my country. Greetings from UK to all of you, for now!

Here's two small pictures from the original Centrance Dacport Blog.