[sfwalcer]

Quote:

Ummm... It wouldnt function as a DAC then right? 3.5mm is an analog thing and USB is digital. If the ELE in fact has an amp inside of it, then 3.5mm could be used to run your PMP or source to the amp.

Wait so all the audio sources coming out of mp3 players' 3.5mm ports is already analog singles, then connecting it to another external DAC doesn't make any sense right?  Can a external dac enhance the audio quality of mp3 payers then, sorry kinda a noob to all this audio thing. Oh and the lil' Ele dac is a dac only no amp inside of it sadly it seems.

 

[kiteki]

The iBasso D-Zero is an example of a computer USB DAC, and a portable amplifier at the same time with 3.5mm in and 3.5mm out.  I haven't heard it since WM8740 isn't for me no longer, but if it used CS4398 I'd buy it in a flash.

 

[stozzer123]

what would be the point of putting a 3.5mm on that thing, completley against the point.

 

[Prakhar]

Quote:

Well they do make one like that it is called a E17. 

Uhh, the E17 does have a DAC but to use it you still need a digital signal. When you use the 3.5mm input with it you are solely using its amp section, if I am not mistaken.
(Not trying to be rude, so sorry if this is coming off that way. Its hard to convey emotions and meaning with just text)
 
 
EDIT: These devices you are mentioning are not just DACs but DAC/AMP combos. Unless you are using a digital input, you are NOT using its DAC. You are using only its amp (i.e with 3.5mm input)

 

[kiteki]

Wait so all the audio sources coming out of mp3 players' 3.5mm ports is already analog singles, then connecting it to another external DAC doesn't make any sense right?  Can a external dac enhance the audio quality of mp3 payers then, sorry kinda a noob to all this audio thing. Oh and the lil' Ele dac is a dac only no amp inside of it sadly it seems.

 
USB, HDMI, optical, COAX is digital.
 
RCA (red/white jacks), 6.5mm and 3.5mm is analog.  You can't listen directly to any of the digital ones, since optical is code via light and the rest are code sent in pulsating waves.  You can find optical and analog in the same 3.5mm jack sometimes, though, like in the new version of the Hifimediy.

 

[sfwalcer]

^ Oh ok, got it. All these different cables/ inputs can get confusing sometimes. Thanks' ya'll!

 

[Prakhar]

Quote:

 
USB, HDMI, optical, COAX is digital.
 
RCA (red/white jacks), 6.5mm and 3.5mm is analog.  You can't listen directly to any of the digital ones, since optical is code via light and the rest are code sent in pulsating waves.  You can find optical and analog in the same 3.5mm jack sometimes, though, like in the new version of the Hifimediy.

Yup!

 

[Dsnuts]

Once in a great while when I am scouring for stuff online to try out. I get lucky. I consider the return of my AUNE T1 as a lesson learned but the money I lost in shipping that unit back to China is more than made up for what I saved on this little unit I recently got.
 
Called a Ha-Info U2. Cost is around $70 for a new one sent from China on ebay. This is what it looks like,.

This one the specs are like this.
 
          [size=12pt]USB[/size][size=12pt]： PC2001 USB-B (Plug and Play) [/size]
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]TENOR TE[/size][size=12pt]7022L usb reciever chip, supporting native 24bit 32K to 96K    [/size]
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]AD1852 DAC [/size]
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]TPA[/size][size=12pt]6120A2 Headphone Amp chip [/size]
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]          [size=12pt]ALPS Volume. [/size]
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]Sampling[/size][size=12pt]： 24Bit 32K-96k [/size]
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]Line out : 1.5V RMS [/size]
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]Headphone out :  700mw [/size][size=12pt]（32Ω ）、200mw （120Ω [/size]）、100mw （250Ω ）
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]DC input : DC18V [/size]
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]Support OS : Windows XP, Win 7 and Mac [/size]
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]Dimension[/size][size=12pt]： 120mm x [/size][size=12pt]75mm x [/size]31mm   
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]Weight: 700g     [/size]
 
This one I checked here on headfi to see if anyone had one and indeed I found a few guys saying how good this sounds. It was on sale on Amazon for $43. So I thought why not.. I have been burning this unit in for the last 4 days or so..This unit is soundly in between my Fire Phoenix and the Ele dac in sound. All 3 being excellent. The bad news is they don't have any more at all at this price. The unit on ebay is the only way to get one however the one on ebay seems to be an upgraded version of this unit making them worth the extra to get one..The sound is very dynamic, clean and spacious, but is not overly forward sounding or bright like the AUNE T1.In fact this is another reason why I sent the AUNE T1 packing.This little unit has the better sound to my ears. Heck the Ele has a better proper stereo sound over the AUNE T1. I send stuff back when I have to take off my headphone after 15 minutes of use..Fatigue is not what I expect for $200.
 
The bass end is not as full or as punchy as the Fire phoenix. But detail in music is absolutely wonderful on this, you would never expect coming from a liquidated dac/amp..The Ele combo using the E11 as the amp portion comes really close to this unit both in dynamics and SQ. Using the E11 and Ele dac has a bit more warmth and even more bass end one can set to the bass presets on the E11.Over all I am very happy with this unit as well.. It is very interesting to me that these no name Made in China dac/amps sound so damn good and this is evidence that there is a hidden trove of great sound to be had for the adventurous music lover.. Sure there are risks involved with buying these from China but if you luck out. You end up with a gem of a source like this little unit and the Fire phoenix for not much money.. I think for guys venturing into their first external DAC. The ELE gets the big thumbs up from me. The sound quality is phenomenal coming out of that unit and all it takes for that to sound like this HA-Info unit is a small portable amp to go with it. But even without an amp just the sheer upgrade in SQ from onboard Realtek stuff is worth trying one out.
 
This HA-Info U2 unit with a change of Op amps I read can and does sound like a much more expensive unit is the word. Something I plan on doing here real soon thanks to Kiteki who pointed out some nice op amps to try out..
 
 
 
 

 

[killerweed]

Quote:

Once in a great while when I am scouring for stuff online to try out. I get lucky. I consider the return of my AUNE T1 as a lesson learned but the money I lost in shipping that unit back to China is more than made up for what I saved on this little unit I recently got.
 
Called a Ha-Info U2. Cost is around $70 for a new one sent from China on ebay. This is what it looks like,.

This one the specs are like this.
 
          [size=12pt]USB[/size][size=12pt]： PC2001 USB-B (Plug and Play) [/size]
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]TENOR TE[/size][size=12pt]7022L usb reciever chip, supporting native 24bit 32K to 96K    [/size]
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]AD1852 DAC [/size]
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]TPA[/size][size=12pt]6120A2 Headphone Amp chip [/size]
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]          [size=12pt]ALPS Volume. [/size]
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]Sampling[/size][size=12pt]： 24Bit 32K-96k [/size]
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]Line out : 1.5V RMS [/size]
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]Headphone out :  700mw [/size][size=12pt]（32Ω ）、200mw （120Ω [/size]）、100mw （250Ω ）
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]DC input : DC18V [/size]
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]Support OS : Windows XP, Win 7 and Mac [/size]
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]Dimension[/size][size=12pt]： 120mm x [/size][size=12pt]75mm x [/size]31mm   
[size=12pt]Ÿ[/size]           [size=12pt]Weight: 700g     [/size]
 
This one I checked here on headfi to see if anyone had one and indeed I found a few guys saying how good this sounds. It was on sale on Amazon for $43. So I thought why not.. I have been burning this unit in for the last 4 days or so..This unit is soundly in between my Fire Phoenix and the Ele dac in sound. All 3 being excellent. The bad news is they don't have any more at all at this price. The unit on ebay is the only way to get one however the one on ebay seems to be an upgraded version of this unit making them worth the extra to get one..The sound is very dynamic, clean and spacious, but is not overly forward sounding or bright like the AUNE T1.In fact this is another reason why I sent the AUNE T1 packing.This little unit has the better sound to my ears. Heck the Ele has a better proper stereo sound over the AUNE T1. I send stuff back when I have to take off my headphone after 15 minutes of use..Fatigue is not what I expect for $200.
 
The bass end is not as full or as punchy as the Fire phoenix. But detail in music is absolutely wonderful on this, you would never expect coming from a liquidated dac/amp..The Ele combo using the E11 as the amp portion comes really close to this unit both in dynamics and SQ. Using the E11 and Ele dac has a bit more warmth and even more bass end one can set to the bass presets on the E11.Over all I am very happy with this unit as well.. It is very interesting to me that these no name Made in China dac/amps sound so damn good and this is evidence that there is a hidden trove of great sound to be had for the adventurous music lover.. Sure there are risks involved with buying these from China but if you luck out. You end up with a gem of a source like this little unit and the Fire phoenix for not much money.. I think for guys venturing into their first external DAC. The ELE gets the big thumbs up from me. The sound quality is phenomenal coming out of that unit and all it takes for that to sound like this HA-Info unit is a small portable amp to go with it. But even without an amp just the sheer upgrade in SQ from onboard Realtek stuff is worth trying one out.
 
This HA-Info U2 unit with a change of Op amps I read can and does sound like a much more expensive unit is the word. Something I plan on doing here real soon thanks to Kiteki who pointed out some nice op amps to try out..
 
 
 
 

I've little doubt that this is a decent piece of gear, but to say the Aune T1 is overly forward sounding or harsh is not everyone's experience. I suggest it may be your phones or you got a bad unit, because I have been listening to the T1 for a week and it sounds smooth as silk, superb in fact. With phones like the Grado SR225i, excellent. Even with less expensive phones like the Creative Aurvana Live, also fantastic. I just want others to understand that because you didn't get along with the T1 that some of us do, and there are others if you read the T1 thread. In fact, you are the only person who bought it who didn't like it. Also, why return it when you could have sold it on HF for a decent price, since there are people who do really find it to be exceptional.
 
At $14.50, I decided to give the Ele a listen (its on the way, I got the non-case version), and I also own the HiFiMeDiy Sabre Dac, which is also very very good, and does 24/96 files. But just as to your ears the T1 was not worth the price of admission, to mine it is well worth that same price. I may not have purchased dozens of headphones as you have (most of them lower priced, but dozens nevertheless), but I would challenge anyone to listen to my desktop setup of JRiver Media Center, the Aune T1 and either of my two headphones (225i or CAL)  and say it was anything but sublime.
 
So we must agree to disagree here.

 

[Dsnuts]

I am glad that worked out for you. It is a nice unit for sure but to be honest. I like these cheaper dac/amps better with my headphones and earphones. I know I should have given them a better shake but I couldn't get over the shouty sound I was hearing from the unit. Something I never experienced through any gear mentioned on this thread. I think you are right. I might have gotten a bad unit as my Ele dac and Fiio E11 sounded better. My T1 was overly aggressive on the sound..I thought 2 days of solid burn in would cure that issue but it sounded the same after using it for 2 days. No change on the overly forwardness or aggressive nature of the sound. I didn't have to burn in my Ele dac for it to sound right so at this point I started packing the AUNE T1..Perhaps some QC issues with that unit.. In either case..I had to send it back..It did sound much better with warmer sounding headphones but still a bit too forward for my liking.
 
Oh and you could have saved some money by using one of these.

 
See this is yet another reason why I sent the Aune T1 packing.  This unit not only cost much less but the sound is warm and inviting.. This hooked up to the Ele dac sounds holographic..I had one of these before I got the AUNE T1..But this unit sounds amazing on everything I use it on. See I was expecting a clear upgrade to this Bravo Ocean. But my unit was not an upgrade to even the Ele Dac. Let alone to this Bravo Ocean.   

 

[koreanzombie]

Hey guys, for those who own the sony xb90ex, how long do they need to burn in to sound decent. Also do they change much from open box?

 

[killerweed]

Okay, makes sense. I really do think it was a bad unit.

 

[Alberto01]

Here is a list of popular DACs and their chips:
 
http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?62701-Are-DACs-a-lot-better-now-than-they-were-say-10-years-ago&p=1132062&viewfull=1#post1132062

 

[Dsnuts]

Quote:

Okay, makes sense. I really do think it was a bad unit.

I was experiencing peaky sound and that was using my Senheisser HD595. While not the most reference of cans it does a great job of letting me know what is wrong on a sound..On open box even some sibilance using the unit. That is what caught me off guard. A tube amp with sibilance?. I sensed how nice the sound could have been but my unit was very peaky in the sound. I kept taking my headphones off because I couldn't hear my music without getting fatigued. A first for me..So something in the unit was not jiving...But once I figured out the sound was not really changing after using the unit for more than 24 hours. AT this point was when I got a great sounding Ele dac that made me realize there is something not right about the T1. So while I would love to hear another unit. My choices were either get a new unit or just get my money back.. And believe me I was not too happy about spending $52 sending that unit back but you can understand how disgruntled I was at this point..But like I mentioned before. The discovery of a nice sounding Ele dac and this even newer HA-Info dac made up for that experience..

 

[149700]

Quote:

This one I checked here on headfi to see if anyone had one and indeed I found a few guys saying how good this sounds. It was on sale on Amazon for $43. So I thought why not.. I have been burning this unit in for the last 4 days or so..This unit is soundly in between my Fire Phoenix and the Ele dac in sound. All 3 being excellent. The bad news is they don't have any more at all at this price. The unit on ebay is the only way to get one however the one on ebay seems to be an upgraded version of this unit making them worth the extra to get one..The sound is very dynamic, clean and spacious, but is not overly forward sounding or bright like the AUNE T1.In fact this is another reason why I sent the AUNE T1 packing.This little unit has the better sound to my ears. Heck the Ele has a better proper stereo sound over the AUNE T1. I send stuff back when I have to take off my headphone after 15 minutes of use..Fatigue is not what I expect for $200.
 
The bass end is not as full or as punchy as the Fire phoenix. But detail in music is absolutely wonderful on this, you would never expect coming from a liquidated dac/amp..The Ele combo using the E11 as the amp portion comes really close to this unit both in dynamics and SQ. Using the E11 and Ele dac has a bit more warmth and even more bass end one can set to the bass presets on the E11.Over all I am very happy with this unit as well.. It is very interesting to me that these no name Made in China dac/amps sound so damn good and this is evidence that there is a hidden trove of great sound to be had for the adventurous music lover.. Sure there are risks involved with buying these from China but if you luck out. You end up with a gem of a source like this little unit and the Fire phoenix for not much money.. I think for guys venturing into their first external DAC. The ELE gets the big thumbs up from me. The sound quality is phenomenal coming out of that unit and all it takes for that to sound like this HA-Info unit is a small portable amp to go with it. But even without an amp just the sheer upgrade in SQ from onboard Realtek stuff is worth trying one out.
 
This HA-Info U2 unit with a change of Op amps I read can and does sound like a much more expensive unit is the word. Something I plan on doing here real soon thanks to Kiteki who pointed out some nice op amps to try out..
 
 
 
 

 
Not to be mean, but I have a few questions. 

 
How long did you burn in your AUNE T1 before sending it back? Was it bright using both the stock tube and the other one?
 
Have you compared any of your DAC and AMPs with the FiiO E10? Being in the same price range, is it safe to assume that these gems and value DACs are going to be much better than your standard $60 E10?
 
If not, wouldn't purchasing an E10 with warranty be safer than getting a larger and heavier DAC/AMP with from China, which has the possibility of being a dud like the fire phoenix? 
 
thanksss