[DrSheep]

  I was trying to translate the Manual from Japanese and still can not understand if it has Line Output or not. I see Optical Out only combined with 3,5 mm phone out.

 
Do you know if the interface of VALOQ can be switched to English?
 

Yes, both Japanese and English interface are supported, with more Asian languages to follow via update.  The OPT.OUT is optical out, which is S/PDIF, with analog line out when volume set to max.

 

[qsk78]

  Yes, both Japanese and English interface are supported, with more Asian languages to follow via update.  The OPT.OUT is optical out, which is S/PDIF, with analog line out when volume set to max.

Will it be possible to connect a portable amplifier to bypass the internal VALOQ amp?

 

[DrSheep]

  Will it be possible to connect a portable amplifier to bypass the internal VALOQ amp?

With Opt out sure, as listed in the block diagram.

 

[qsk78]

  With Opt out sure, as listed in the block diagram.

I'm asking since Line out and Optical out in Vantam are different outputs
 

 
on the diagram you bypass DAC (optical out put), but Line out should bypass the internal amplifier and keep the DAC in the chain.
 

 

[DrSheep]

This is why the user replaceable amps is great. If you want to bypass them, just get 2x buffer chips and use your external analog amp. Go look up Practical Device XM6 and you will know what I mean.

 

[audionewbi]

We can bypass the LPF but not the headphone amp. I dont think there is a dedicated lineout 

 

[DrSheep]

Yes, but again I don't think the valoq was built for analog setup.

 

[audionewbi]

Yes, but again I don't think the valoq was built for analog setup.

I am researching on which opamp is best to be used. So far all the metal caps cannot be used unless one is willing to take out the 8 pin DIP board and permanently install them. Also not all opamp can be fitted. Those who are mounted on a separate board do not fit, only the one without any mounting board fit.
 
The supplied opamp 8820 (and the one which came free, muses8920, in Japan) provide a very thick sound, bass heavy and warm. That added with already natural sounding AKM DAC do not go well. Below is a summary of various opamp I have found that should work with similar sound result performance:
 
 
source: http://www.head-fi.org/products/asus-xonar-essence-stu/reviews/9307
 
LPF opamp rolling (I/V: LM49720)
LM4562 – stock, again: well balanced, clean, airy and open but slightly to the warm side.
LM49720 ‘Metal Can’ – Similar to stock, slightly less dense and more open in the mid.
OPA2604 – thick and slow, grainy.
OPA2209 – Full, similar to OPA2604 but without being overly thick and slow.
OP270 – Lean, slightly lacking in bass, slightly bright.
OP275 – Well balanced, though soundstage isn’t great.
AD8066 – Very airy and open, great soundstage but a little bright.
AD8620 – Like a tuned down version of AD8066, with better body and smoother presentation.
OPA2227 – warm and slightly dull, but sparkly on the top.
OPA2134 – similar to OPA2227, more mid centric and not as sparkly.
MUSES01 – Similar to stock, but slightly better dynamic and soundstage.
MUSES8920 – somewhere between OPA2227 and OPA2134.

 

[DrSheep]

I think both the LEM49860 and OPA627 from the SDT line should work.  The MUSE02 should work also, but did you say the metal caps won't work?

 

[audionewbi]

  I think both the LEM49860 and OPA627 from the SDT line should work.  The MUSE02 should work also, but did you say the metal caps won't work?

Yes too high unless you are willing to take the DIP board out and just solder it direct to the PCB board. 
 
LME are great at driving headphone it would be interesting to try it as LPF/preamp. OPA627AP/BP should fit however the variety that require fitting on an adapter board might not fit. 

 

[DrSheep]

This is why I will need to take it apart for you guys once I get mine.  Still no respond from SaleHiFi yet.

 

[audionewbi]

  This is why I will need to take it apart for you guys once I get mine.  Still no respond from SaleHiFi yet.

My unit is due to arrive this Wednesday, I am sort of excited and nervous as I have really high expectation from it.
 
I have tried many DAPS, own quiet a few and I honestly cant remember I was as excited about any dap as much as this. 

To me Lotoo PAW Gold is the reference portable DAP and I will be using that as my base. It sort of would not be fair for me to include hugo and mojo as they are not truly DAP however I will allude to them in my review/impression.
I think the strength of Valoq is the endless possibilities of opamp one has to use as LPF. I do like the OPA627 but it is too smooth and i like  abit of edge. I am happy the driving opamp is AD8397 as the general consensus is very positive if done properly. A poorly designed layout of PCB for AD8397 will result in bright and lack of bass (oscillation issue) so it shouldn't be hard to see how poorly VALOQ is designed. 

My first aim is to first find a neutral LPF, second to find a dynamic setup and lastly a smooth opamp setup. I am still reading and mostly educating myself, there are a lot of content and I have no background in electrical engineering. 

 

[DrSheep]

As far as I know the Valoq is the first DAP that up-converts almost everything to DSD128 first for decode (unlike almost everyone else to PCM.)  The exception being PCM at 384/32 or DSD256, which just get throw to the DAC directly.  The software worries me a little, but I can forgive VC as this is their very first DAP.

 

[audionewbi]

  As far as I know the Valoq is the first DAP that up-converts almost everything to DSD128 first for decode (unlike almost everyone else to PCM.)  The exception being PCM at 384/32 or DSD256, which just get throw to the DAC directly.  The software worries me a little, but I can forgive VC as this is their very first DAP.

I think the software is kept simple so not to compromise on sound. Lets be fair even the big boys struggle to get it right with their considerably larger banks. What is interesting about their dap design is they are putting sound first. There are groups who believe having onboard memory impacts sound, similarly goes to touch screen.
 
So what they did is reserve on microSD slot for OS and the other for storage. (refer to the first picture there are two microSD card). They use a simple non-touch screen disply to minimise any possible issue from touch screen. They used the shortest path between DAC to LPF to headphone amp. 

Ofcourse all this means nothing till it passes the test of time. If I can pick on one thing in the past VC product the battery discharge was the main issue, my DD socket 1 kept discharging. 

 

[DrSheep]

Very true, and the design for the Valoq is as basic as it can be (very 90s ish.)  Thank God I don't have that discharge problem with any of my VCs.