iBasso DX100:24 bit for bit, PG 1> Reviews & Impressions, Downloads, VIDEO, NEW Firmware 1.4.2. - Page 612

Good point, hmm now I'm actually thinking about getting dx100 first before fitear 334 now hahah

you only have limited choices for sources, unlike headphones. if you have a great source, you most likely dont need to bother looking for another source. as for headphones, since there are alot, you can buy then resell if you dont like it and headphones are easier to sell based on my experience, compared when trying to sell a dx100 for example, which only has few people wanting for it because of its steep price, bulky, bad UI, yada yada crap, etc.

 

you can also own multiple headphones and use them if you want a "change" in its sound sig. but i feel like it is somewhat wierd to use different sources and one headphone if i want a "change" in its sound sig.

 

amp can be later since i still pretty much find a dx100 without an amp more efficient enough for portable usage. but as for transportable use, it might be better to use another amp for it.

 

as for my experience with the dx100, most headphones and iems that i plugged in it sounds great. even the 10usd akg k311 improved its overall sound quality haha

 

 

i might be able to try a tg334 with a dx100 sometime next week, along with the ie800 =)

Edited by Dyaems - 11/21/12 at 4:42pm

Interesting advice. Strangely I would have gone for headphones/earphones first. Choose a signature that you like. Then source/amp/cables later.

Personally to me the head/earphones define the primary signature & thereafter the other components merely enhance (or not if bad synergy!!) it.

Think about it this way: Source --> Amp --> Headphones.
1) If you have a pair of headphones below the level of your source/amp, you will be able to drive your headphones to their maximum potential disregarding synergy etc.
2) If your Amp is below the level of your source/headphones, you won't be able to drive your headphones efficiently, and you won't reach the maximum potential of your headphones.
3) If you have a source that is below the level of your amp/headphones, your source will limit the what you can output from your headphones.

So for the three options I would consider 1) neutral 2) negative 3) negative. This is just a weird little example I thought up for fun. I guess this little problem is suppose to illustrate that you want stronger components closer to the beginning of the chain as everything afterwards are affected by the beginning.

that would be true as well, but since im talking about the dx100, which IMO sounds great with most things that i matched with it. although the dx100 has its own sound signature, and i really wouldn't call it neutral either (again, dont throw flaming rocks at me people haha), it still has this characteristic which makes headphones, even some mediocre ones, to sound decent. one headphone that didnt really match with the dx100 is the hd700, although the hd700 also is picky with songs and i might have chosen wrong songs when i first tried it.

 

so using the dx100 as a source, portable source, or transportable source first is the best choice.

 

i would put the cables last-- i mean, really last specially if the cables cost the same as my headphone, even more!

 

yeah i post and post here although i dont own the dx100 anymore lol... but soon i might buy it again seeing the improvements we will be getting since figgie is helping now (thanks bro!). might pair this beast with a stax system the next time i buy it.

 

im still pissed with my unit suddenly dying (screen sensor not working, smells something burnt inside) while playing without doing anything on the dx100 though! >=(

 

Bro I feel sorry for your DX100...

I can actually follow the "source first" approach. It gives you a solid foundation for trying out all sorts of stuff. The DX100 will make almost anything sound its best and buying and selling used headphones can usually be done with little or no loss, while you're looking for just the right sound.

 

Now, if you want a cheap plastic-fantastic closed headphone that sounds great (not just great for the price, but great) with the DX100, pick up the Creative Aurvana Live. For half their price you can grab The Panacans, but they're semi-open so not as suitable for office use. Should be fine for the daily commute tho.

no worries bro, it got replaced immediately but i sold it afterwards since i received a brand new unit instead of a repaired unit. even the screen protector looks like the one being used in the HDP-R10 haha

You mean the pre gain switched on and the volume reduced a bit? ;)

 

That's to prevent clipping even when you push all the 7 EQ bands to the maximum

Edited by tupac0306 - 11/22/12 at 2:31am

 

You should have ended that sentence with "....if you are the Average Joe, but on Head-fi it is just one more interim step in the infinite process of finding the perfect source."

True - for me that search ended with the DX100. 

Some nice opinions, and others not so......

Edited by turokrocks - 11/22/12 at 7:50am

When I'm using my IEMs on my computer i can hear an annoying hiss, i can hear what my cpu or something else is doing, the noise freq changes depending on what i'm doing. Anyway, common issue with many computers as far as i know. So, here comes my question for you guys,

Is there any way to use the DX100 as USB DAC?

if not, any good USB DAC for high sensitive IEMs? budget max, $200

UHA4 from Leckerton. Or if you can expand it a little bit go for the UHA6 MKII which is a nice upgrade from the 4. No hiss at all on low gain with both amps. Black background.

The DX100 cannot be used as a DAC. It would be very nice  agree :).

usb dac? UD100 or the other one with casing from hifimediy. check ebay

 

can put the odac as well but im against it because the two offers similar sound at half the price =)