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Samsung Note 2 inbound. Looking for DAC / Amp to pair with it...

post #1 of 17
11/8/12 at 12:20pm
Thread Starter 

Ok I just received the email stating that my Note 2 is on the way, and I will be pairing it with my receintly purchased SE535 LTD IEM's.

 

My eyes are bleeding from reading so many posts on this and the AVS forums. The DAC / AMP I had my heart set on, FiiO E17, will not work properly with the Note 2. Bummer.

 

Would any of you have a suggestion for a great portable DAC / AMP combo that will pair well with my new phone and IEM's? There is a ton of information on these forums, and as stated, I have read a ton of it. However, I am looking for anyone with this phone to give some advise. Do I even need a DAC / AMP combo or is the DAC from the phone good enough?

 

Thanks in advance

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post #2 of 17
11/8/12 at 12:27pm

A list of standard USB DAC reportedly interworking with the Android-powered smartphone Samsung Galaxy Note II can be found at the following link:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-phones-and-usb-dacs/750#post_8845185

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post #3 of 17
11/8/12 at 12:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by theque View Post

Ok I just received the email stating that my Note 2 is on the way, and I will be pairing it with my receintly purchased SE535 LTD IEM's.

 

My eyes are bleeding from reading so many posts on this and the AVS forums. The DAC / AMP I had my heart set on, FiiO E17, will not work properly with the Note 2. Bummer.

 

Would any of you have a suggestion for a great portable DAC / AMP combo that will pair well with my new phone and IEM's? There is a ton of information on these forums, and as stated, I have read a ton of it. However, I am looking for anyone with this phone to give some advise. Do I even need a DAC / AMP combo or is the DAC from the phone good enough?

 

Thanks in advance

 

You should really look into the high-end part of this forum. This is a hard one to answer. Do you need the link? lol

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post #4 of 17
11/8/12 at 12:47pm
What is your budget?
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post #5 of 17
11/8/12 at 1:04pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by DanBa View Post

A list of standard USB DAC reportedly interworking with the Android-powered smartphone Samsung Galaxy Note II can be found at the following link:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-phones-and-usb-dacs/750#post_8845185

 

Read that already nice long list. Looking for some personal opinions. I know how to use the search and have done so. If you read my post I stated quite clearly that I have been reading a ton. Now, after not sufficiently finding my answer, I am posting for opinions. 

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post #6 of 17
11/8/12 at 1:04pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by metsat View Post

 

You should really look into the high-end part of this forum. This is a hard one to answer. Do you need the link? lol

 

I do not, thanks.

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post #7 of 17
11/8/12 at 1:06pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by NZtechfreak View Post

What is your budget?

 

I do not have a budget honestly. I am not looking for the most expensive, I am looking for quality to price balance. Thats where the E17 was. To bad it does not work with the Samsungs :(

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post #8 of 17
11/8/12 at 1:12pm

I think the Leckterton UHA-6S.MKII would be one of the better units for price:quality balance, and is one of the most suited to use with portable devices since charging over USB can be completely disabled and the device powered solely from its own internal battery. Obviously a step up from the E17 in terms of both quality and price, but less than many of the other options like the RSA Intruder. Since you're using it with IEMs something like the Stoner Acoustics tiny USB DAC will probably suffice to be perfectly honest, since you won't especially need the headphone amp side of things (unless you also plan to use this with a laptop/desktop, in which case an investment like the Leckteron starts to make more sense, but you didn't mention use with a PC as a use-case scenario you had in mind).

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post #9 of 17
11/8/12 at 1:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by NZtechfreak View Post

I think the Leckterton UHA-6S.MKII would be one of the better units for price:quality balance, and is one of the most suited to use with portable devices since charging over USB can be completely disabled and the device powered solely from its own internal battery. Obviously a step up from the E17 in terms of both quality and price, but less than many of the other options like the RSA Intruder. Since you're using it with IEMs something like the Stoner Acoustics tiny USB DAC will probably suffice to be perfectly honest, since you won't especially need the headphone amp side of things (unless you also plan to use this with a laptop/desktop, in which case an investment like the Leckteron starts to make more sense, but you didn't mention use with a PC as a use-case scenario you had in mind).

 

Thank you very much for the reply. I had not intended to use it with my PC, but that is a nice use case instead of just using my laptop output. I honestly had not thought of it until you mentioned it. I think the Leckterton is a good choice for me. 

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post #10 of 17
11/8/12 at 2:16pm
Thread Starter 

Someone said to look at the Go-DAP X from Venturecraft.

 

Any opinions on this, not a lot of reviews. I think it may not have a good price to value. hmmmm

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post #11 of 17
11/8/12 at 3:02pm

The Go-Dap looks like a nice option also, but I doubt you're getting much additional value from the extra cost there.

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post #12 of 17
11/8/12 at 3:20pm
Thread Starter 

From reviews I have read in the last hour, it seems like the only real benefit is aesthetics...

 

That's a big number for something that will be hiding under my phone...

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post #13 of 17
11/8/12 at 3:31pm

Yep, it has a superior form factor if you are going to use it held to the bottom of the phone as the Go-Dap has a flat footprint, but besides that I don't think it'll be adding a great deal of value.

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post #14 of 17
11/8/12 at 3:52pm
Thread Starter 

Well looks like I am getting the Leckerton UHA-6A MKII for Christmas.

 

My fiance insisted I upgrade the cables to my SE535 LTD's as the ones it comes with just look stupid, and she is extremely fashion conscious. Don't get me wrong, I don't like them either... But she told me she would not be seen dead near me with the stock 1980's computer mouse/keyboard cables... So I dropped far more than I should have for a custom cable from DHC. Again, don't get me wrong, I expect them to look fantastic; I just have my doubts about sound improvement.

 

But a DAP... Nooooo, I have to wait till Christmas for that. I wish it were the other way around, but it's not. I'll be posting my review after Christmas apparently. I really appreciate the help NZtechfreak.


Edited by theque - 11/8/12 at 3:53pm
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post #15 of 17
11/8/12 at 3:56pm

You're welcome. If you keep an eye out on thread for the Leckerton you'll see some thoughts from me about once I get mine next week, in particular confirming whether the Hakshop cable works with it (much tider cabling solution).

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