Android -> Fiio E17 -> Cambridge Audio Azur 350A

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhneHerren 

I'm looking to get an external DAC/amp combo which will both work to power my Vsonic GR07 directly and also bypass the internal DAC of my HTC Sensation for use in a stereo system. Will a small headphone amp such as the Fiio E17 work to power the Cambridge Audio Azur 350A (and a pair of B&W speakers) or do I need a more expensive DAC/receiver/other item? I plan to bypass the E17's amp with the Fiio L7 LOD.

 

At the moment Android 4.0 does not support external DACs but I plan to buy a DAC of some sort when CM9 Alpha is released or when Google fixes this.

 

Apologies if this is in the wrong section or indeed website. I've learned a little about headphone amplifiers and the like in my time here but nothing about stereo amplifiers, and I wasn't sure where else to post. Cheers.

you are right. as of right now. your phone can't use DAC in fiio. fiio E17 power a amplifier? what do you mean. why not get an fuly desktop DAC? do you need portability as well? do you need a dac for both portability, traviling and what not. and for your cambrdige?
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhneHerren 

Yes ideally I want to be able to use the DAC on the move also, but I'd be willing to get a desktop DAC if that is more cost-effective/necessary. So will skipping the amp in the phone and the DAC mean enough volume from the Cambridge? Currently there is not.

question. the B&W speakers you have.....are they passive. if they are. that is your problem. if they aren't..........how could the speakers not be loud enough? active speakers supply their own power so it doesn't depend on the external amp.

teh DAC and amp in your phone won't really contribute any extra power for the cambride which outputs 45W @ 8 ohms. 

in case your wondering the DAC in E17 is "superior" to the cambridges.....does this mean much....not really. many other things play into effect much much more than a slightly obsolte(not as superior, obsolete sounds too harsh) DAC

im just trying to answer general amp and DAC questions right now and not going too too too into cambridge and other stuff right now as i don't have the cambridge and don't know too much about it from experience. this post is serving as a little mini general info post and a BUMP for your thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhneHerren 

Thanks for the info. I believe the speakers are passive but I am not sure. They have no AC cable. This is the model I have: http://www.hifidatabase.com/Detailed/B_amp_W_2001_4569.php. I think the volume is the phone's fault, if I turn the volume up too loud on the phone it sounds a little distorted. Hence wanting the DAC.

 

I am a little confused about the superior DAC part. There is a DAC in the Cambridge also?

hmm since they have no AC cable i will believe theyare passive.

wait so going from phone straight to bookshelf gives you very low volume? if that is what you are doing...no duh. phones give out so little power it's not even funny

sorry no DAC. i clciked on the 350 SEREIS  link. one of the series has a DAC in it. not yours. sorry.

do you use your cambridge with bookshelf? is the volume then enough? if yes...then..it's the phone's fault. phone's can't hope to drive passive bookshelfes :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhneHerren 

Well for most listening the volume is fine, I don't often crank it. I don't think I need more power rather I just want to avoid the distortion at the upper levels. I'm just worried that bypassing the amp in the phone will mean less power, which the DAC won't be able to compensate for, but I don't know much about that.

 

The phone is not going straight the to speakers, at the moment it goes phone -> Cambridge -> speakers. 

the phone gives out an abysmall amoutn of power compared to the cambridge.  so...you have never cranked it. but when u do. it starts distorting? the only problem right now is.....you don't have other stuff to test this with. a DAC in this case with a good source. Have you tried this?

phone @ 60% volume and then using the cambridge's volume knob? does it still distort? try it with your computer. be sure to use good tracks and plz note...that it could also be your bookcases distorting here. i doubt your cambridge is distorting anything. so right now. it could either be ur bookcases or ur source. so yeah just try that right now. phone at 60% volume through 3.5 into the cambridge and use the cambridge. don't crank it or anything. but if you want to know if it distorts. try it...if you want. i seriously doubt anythhing will happen, but of course im not liable for any damages. just adding that out there. some people think that when i say test. means to just crank the heck out of everything.

for the E17 it is recommended to go like this

Computer-->(good files) USB or SPDIF-->E17--> L7--->Cambridge-->bookshelfes

in the near future if u get DAc support you could go

Phone->E17(through USB)-->L7--->Cambridge--->Bookshelves

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhneHerren 

There doesn't seem to be any distortion with the phone at 60% unless the Cambridge is turned up beyond 3 o'clock. I have used these speakers with another amplifier and CD player and they didn't have any issues at very loud volumes. The computer seems to perform better than the phone, so I don't think the speakers are the issue.

 

Would a desktop DAC be a better option than the E17? I would be happy to forgo portability if the desktop DAC is going to be a better product for the same sort of money I'd be spending on the E17.

your top paragraph more or less just stated. my phone's DAC and or amp in it is causing problems for me. simple as that. if your CD player is just perfect and computer is just slightly better..then we have a conclusion

Would a $200 desktop only DAC and amp(they more or less all come with an amp) be better than E17? umm duh. yes. the E17 is such a good deal bc you can travel with it and use it as a high qualtiy amp. when u are at a hotel or someone's house. just plug the E17 in and you have a portable Wolson WM8740 IN YOUR HANDS! (the more expensive cmabbrdige 350 series(than yours) with a DAC in it has a less higher quality DAC for comparisson, yes DAC isn't everything..but an WM8740 in your hands is amazing)

Can i give you suggestions? yes. recommendations? no. i can give you one's i have been looking at recently but have't heard or anything. i have been looking at these, Maverick Tbe Magic D1 ($200) ...and that's about it since i can't go too much higher

http://www.head-fi.org/products/category/amp-dacs

this list is not perfect. it is just how many own it and rated it and average of that. the Audinist MX1 was told to me by a contributor that it was not as superior to the E10...adn thus E17. the contributor said

he refers to mike from headfonia...just in case the audinist peaked your interest

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhneHerren 

Okay I will investigate that area. One last question, what sort of volume should I have each component on? The phone and DAC I mean.

when u say that.. do you mean

Phone-->Cambridge-->bookshelf?

like i said. phone at 60%. cambridge at whatever

if you get the E17 and the update comes out so you get to use DAC with phone. then...plz read this

http://www.head-fi.org/t/587912/fiio-e17-alpen-first-impression-final-thought/1095#post_8113428

u only need to read 3 posts. it will link to the correct one. since i don't have much exp in here and sub threads like the portable ones are forsaken by head fi'ers wtih super exp usually. i only have those two theoreis at the moment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhneHerren 

Alright that answers everything, thank you muchly for your sage advice. :)

SAGE.....you guys crack me up. im not a sage.. :D be sure to know exactly what you wnat before the purchase. it could be the e17. it could be something else who knows. but since you already have the cambridge. i guess the E17 is probably the best as it has a DAC and is portable and is an amp for headphones.