Latest Thread Images

lion.jpg
DP-X1 Jewel.jpg
IMG_0901.jpeg
IMG_0906.jpeg
IMG_0896.jpeg
IMG_0905.jpeg
R0017423.JPG 20200909_115847.jpg orginal battery.jpg 20200817_154528.jpg IMG_4222.jpg 20191228_131356.jpg asdf-1.jpg s-l160adf0.jpg 20190327_122615.jpg 20190327_122602.jpg 20190327_122522.jpg 20190327_122514.jpg 20190321_180811~2.jpg 20190321_180751.jpg
See full thread gallery...
ONKYO DP-X1 | Dual Sabre Dacs | Balanced | Sabre BTL Amp | MQA | DSD 256 | Android 5 |
Jun 21, 2016 at 3:08 AM Post #9,376 of 16,328
bettyn said:
Ordered a similar case without the flap. Now.....all I need is a good source for cables for my Nighthawks and HD800s so I can hear this player in balanced mode with these two headphones. (This is getting very expensive.) Are there any reasonably priced cables out there I can purchase?
Click to expand...


People have mentioned great aftermarket cable makers to you already, but I'll add to that and list makers of stellar cables, in random order, and at any price point (cheap or expensive):


I think Kimber Kable Axios line looks great, but I've not heard them.
Ditto with Nordost and WyWires headphone cables.

Personally, I would talk to Peter of DHC (scootermafia) as I believe he makes the best cables, but you must wait a long time for a cable to be built, and it might be expensive.
PETEREK is the next best but waiting time could be a concern.
Forza AudioWorks could be an answer of cheap, fast and good quality. May not be TOTL but certainly high quality regardless.

Just my opinions.
 
Jun 21, 2016 at 3:20 AM Post #9,377 of 16,328
talesofwhatever said:
Hi, I'm new to head-fi. I just received my DP-X1 from a local dealer few days ago. Upgraded from Ibasso DX90. Overall I am really happy with it. Love the bright crystal sound and it really matched with my T5p.

Though I just wondering, I find it sound better, brighter and have more soundstage if I plug to 3.5 mm compared to the 2.5 mm output and set on balanced mode. Does anyone feel the same? Or I made some mistake here?

But if I plugged on 2.5 mm and set on ACG mode it does sound better, but the single-ended 3.5 mm would sound louder, meaning that 2.5 mm ACG mode have lower power output?
Click to expand...


To explain that, let's explore some points.

In single-ended mode (unbalanced), I believe only 1x DAC and 1x Amp is used for both L & R channels.

Now, about the two balanced modes:

  • BTL:
    1x DAC/channel, 1x Amps/channel
    This will be the DP-X1 at its most powerful, very loud too.
  • Active Control Ground (ACG):
    1x DAC/channel, 1x Amp set to ground (0v), 1x Amp for both L & R channels.

So, yes ACG will be quieter and less powerful than BTL (and a tad louder than SE), but it is clearer because the noise floor has been massively reduced, by using one amp dedicated to grounding only.

Bear in mind, we in this audiophile industry love to reduce noise and noise floor. The more noise you can reduce, the clearer your music, and you don't have to compensate with higher volume to hear that clarity or detail.
 
Jun 21, 2016 at 3:21 AM Post #9,378 of 16,328
talesofwhatever said:
  Hi, I'm new to head-fi. I just received my DP-X1 from a local dealer few days ago. Upgraded from Ibasso DX90. Overall I am really happy with it. Love the bright crystal sound and it really matched with my T5p.
 
Though I just wondering, I find it sound better, brighter and have more soundstage if I plug to 3.5 mm compared to the 2.5 mm output and set on balanced mode. Does anyone feel the same? Or I made some mistake here?
 
But if I plugged on 2.5 mm and set on ACG mode it does sound better, but the single-ended 3.5 mm would sound louder, meaning that 2.5 mm ACG mode have lower power output?
Click to expand...

 
Welcome to Xmen club! I made loudness measure previously:
 
Some measurements of output volume on headphones with different output on the same track. Gain - High. Output level - dial at 120. Headphones - Audeze EL 8 with balanced and SE cable.  
SE gives - max 48db
Balanced - max 52db
ACG - max 46db  
 
It depends on amplification module working regime. SE - just one, balanced - two, ACG - one for left/right/ second for left/right ground.
 
Jun 21, 2016 at 3:31 AM Post #9,379 of 16,328
matrix petka said:
Welcome to Xmen club! I made loudness measure previously:

Some measurements of output volume on headphones with different output on the same track. Gain - High. Output level - dial at 120. Headphones - Audeze EL 8 with balanced and SE cable.  
SE gives - max 48db
Balanced - max 52db
ACG - max 46db  

It depends on amplification module working regime. SE - just one, balanced - two, ACG - one for left/right/ second for left/right ground.
Click to expand...

Thanks Matrix Petka for the extra input.

Just to add, though on specs ACG seems less powerful than SE in pure power output, the perceived loudness will be different; ACG will sound louder than SE.
Why?

Because ACG has a much lower noise floor, meaning greater detail and transparency, which leads to greater clarity.

So, yes, ACG maybe less powerful but it is also much richer and clearer in sonic terms. That can be perceived as louder than SE because of lower noise floor.
 
Jun 21, 2016 at 4:35 AM Post #9,383 of 16,328
hello at all
sorry for my english
i have buy the onlyo and now waiting the pack from japan
but i have a quest .. i use the hd 600 senneisher whit original cable , is possible or existe  one adpator for use the onkyo in balance mode whit both of jake hole?
 
thx ...
 
Jun 21, 2016 at 4:36 AM Post #9,384 of 16,328
loungecat said:
  Hey Guys.
 
Very interested in this DAP can someone confirm whether you can save albums in Tidal for offline use to the SD card ?
 
Sorry if it has been already asked
 
Regards Steve
Click to expand...

Just a mild warning when using tidal offline on micro SD card. I have had stutter problems during playback. I use hifi quality.  There have been a few users who say the issue has improved or even resolved since the latest tidal update. But I still have this problem. For more information, check from around post 8761.
 
Jun 21, 2016 at 4:43 AM Post #9,385 of 16,328
tonehk said:
  Just a mild warning when using tidal offline on micro SD card. I have had stutter problems during playback. I use hifi quality.  There have been a few users who say the issue has improved or even resolved since the latest tidal update. But I still have this problem. For more information, check from around post 8761.
Click to expand...

 
Thanks tonehk will have a gander, do you know if it's brand related?
 
Regards.
 
Jun 21, 2016 at 5:11 AM Post #9,387 of 16,328
simonecosta75 said:
hello at all
sorry for my english
i have buy the onlyo and now waiting the pack from japan
but i have a quest .. i use the hd 600 senneisher whit original cable , is possible or existe  one adpator for use the onkyo in balance mode whit both of jake hole?

thx ...
Click to expand...


You sent me a pm with the same question, and I replied, but as you posted here, I'll post my reply to, because others who don't know much about balanced audio needs to know what not to do.

My, slightly modified, reply from PM below:

---

DO NOT DO THAT!

You will short out the internal circuitry (amp section).
Balanced audio requires separate ground per channel in a cable, going separately into each earcup of a headphone.

Using an adapter will not change that.
If you use an adapter, you may cause serious danger to your equipment and yourself.

Most unbalanced cables are single-ended, a ground is shared in a cable between each earcup driver in a headphone.

You must buy a balanced cable proper.

Conversely, you can use a balanced cable into an adapter to use in single-ended devices (2.5 mm/XLR to 3.5 mm) without issue.
But NOT the other way round.

Please, please do NOT buy 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm adapter and use on your single-ended headphones.
Buy a true balanced cable.
 
Jun 21, 2016 at 5:11 AM Post #9,388 of 16,328
theoneinyellow said:
To explain that, let's explore some points.

In single-ended mode (unbalanced), I believe only 1x DAC and 1x Amp is used for both L & R channels.

Now, about the two balanced modes:
  1. BTL:
    1x DAC/channel, 1x Amps/channel
    This will be the DP-X1 at its most powerful, very loud too.
  2. Active Control Ground (ACG):
    1x DAC/channel, 1x Amp set to ground (0v), 1x Amp for both L & R channels.

So, yes ACG will be quieter and less powerful than BTL (and a tad louder than SE), but it is clearer because the noise floor has been massively reduced, by using on amp dedicated to grounding only.

Bear in mind, we in this audiophile industry love to reduce noise and noise floor. The more noise you can reduce, the clearer your music, and you don't have to compensate with higher volume to hear that clarity or detail.
Click to expand...


Thanks TOIY. I never fully understood how ACG was being configured until you laid it all out. The official Onkyo release makes quite a claim for ACG and I know it's the preference of many on this thread. For me, I still prefer BTL. When I was comparing the DPX1 to the Sony ZX2 the ACG reminded me of the ZX2s common ground mode but better. It wasn't until I switched to BTL that I found the full advantages I look for from a balanced drive. 
 
Jun 21, 2016 at 5:15 AM Post #9,389 of 16,328
edwardsean said:
Thanks TOIY. I never fully understood how ACG was being configured until you laid it all out. The official Onkyo release makes quite a claim for ACG and I know it's the preference of many on this thread. For me, I still prefer BTL. When I was comparing the DPX1 to the Sony ZX2 the ACG reminded me of the ZX2s common ground mode but better. It wasn't until I switched to BTL that I found the full advantages I look for from a balanced drive. 
Click to expand...


No problem dude, glad that it made sense.

Except I see a spelling error, grr, need to fix...damn...

I prefer the greater clarity, especially on bass and treble, via ACG, and I'm glad I'm not pushing the volume any higher too, keeping my ears sane.

BTL is traditional balanced and excellent anyway.

I love Onkyo giving three options for anyone to enjoy: SE, and two types of balanced modes ^^

Add digital lock and filters, and the DP-X1 becomes an amazing piece of audio gear!
 
Jun 21, 2016 at 5:24 AM Post #9,390 of 16,328
Heads up, Astell and Kern have announced AK70 on Facebook.

Game changer, AK70

- 2.5mm balanced out (also 3.5mm line & optical out)
- 64GB internal memory + 1 microSD slot
- DLNA based AK connect App (Wi-Fi)
- USB Audio digital out (Dop 2.8/5.6MHz, PCM Max 384 kHz)
- 29% lighter, 17% smaller, 1.9mm thinner compare to AK100ii
- Powerful, more than ever! (2.3Vrms output level which is 35% higher than AK100ii and same as AK380)
- No bundle case, but three different color accessory case available.
- US$599
- available in July 2016
Click to expand...


Some features are cool, like optical output, more power (I think) on balanced output, and cheaper.

However, doesn't beat DP-X1 spec wise. With Android, ACG, MQA, 2x MicroSD slots, OTG for outboard DAC's or storage devices, etc, DP-X1 is still extremely well priced and feature rich.

Comparing DX70 against Pioneer XDP-100R spec wise? Well, that's harder.
Yes much of what I said above is still true, but DX70 is balanced, XDP-100R is not.

Onkyo and Pioneer (O&P Innovations) really have shaken up the market place!


EDIT UPDAT:
Here are two more really interesting links:

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 10 (members: 0, guests: 10)
Back
Top