Hello Head-Fi

Right now my main source is my phone (Sony Z5 compact). I mainly listen to albums downloaded from Google Play, with some other mp3 and flac mixed in. I like video game and instrumental pieces during focused work (e.g., Williams, Guaraldi, Winston, and more recently Stirling, Shimabukuro, and Kohala), but a mix of genres at other times. My primary phones are UE7 IEMs (124 dB @ 1 kHz & 1mW; 17.5 Ohms @ 1 kHz).

Sometimes, when I need to be wireless, I'll listen through a Bluetooth adapter (to my phone or computer). With the BT adapter, I need an inline attenuator to get rid of the background hiss. I've also noticed the hiss in some files, even when connected directly to the headphone jack on my phone. So from what I can tell, this is a combination of the noise floor of the source and the quality of the file. For example, listening to the example comparisons here, I notice what is missing from the 24-bit FLAC files (hiss/noise) more than the "parts to listen for" that page gives. I'm willing to believe that the difference is due to something other than the bit-depth, or even that those specific examples are particularly bad cases, but they at least illustrate the point on my present setup.

I borrowed a 5th generation iPod shuffle and found that I don't notice a hiss using that as a source, so I'm thinking about getting a compact DAP. I was looking at the Fiio M3 and the xDuoo X2, but saw people commenting that both have fairly high noise floors:

• Amazon review on M3
• reddit on X2

It also looks like people really appreciate the old SanDisk Sansa Clip+, but I'm not thrilled about getting something that's been discontinued so long. I suppose I could be convinced. The review by NwAvGuy noted low noise into a 15 ohm load, but the iPod he compared to was lower. I'm not sure how that would compare to the 5th generation shuffle.

Since I am personally more bothered by a high noise floor than anything else, and I'd rather not use an inline attenuator all the time, I wonder whether I should just stick with the iPod shuffle…

Any input or suggestions are welcome, especially if you know of objective measurements on the noise floors for different sources, or can think of any tests I can do to narrow down the real source of the noise on my phone or BT setups.

thanks

Been a while, figured I should post an update.
 
So far:
 
- I found and then ruled out the Tera-Player (because it's >30x my max price right now). I'll keep that on my far-off wishlist.
 
- I've lost several eBay auctions for Sansa Clip+ (probably because I don't sit and refresh at the last minute). I figure this will still be a good reference even if I go with something else for the long term, so I'll keep bidding.
 
- Briefly considered the FiiO X1, since it seems to be another gateway DAP, but it is bigger than what I had in mind for this purchase.
 
- Found the Shozy Alien. At $180, it is more expensive than I was planning, but still looked good.
It is intended for sinks with impedance 8-32 Ohms, which should be fine for my UE7s, and the SNR is advertised at 98 dB. Unfortunately, people have mentioned a hiss when paired with IEMs, both on Head-Fi and Headfonics. I'll keep an eye out for when they update it.
 
- DBaldock9 pointed me toward the Shanling M1 in a reply on the new member introductions thread. I take it as a good sign that they specify the SNR (105 dB), and nobody in the thread on the M1 has mentioned a problem with noise or background hiss (at least as far as I've seen). At $150, I'm leaning toward ordering one and testing it out. If it doesn't work for me, maybe I can sell or trade to someone who uses bigger headphones.
 
- Also still considering a simple iPod shuffle. I should probably see if I can borrow one again and load it up with my typical tracks to hear what I'd normally be listening to.
 
Hopefully this information will be useful to someone else. I'll keep filling in as I learn & decide.

bluesquall said:

  Been a while, figured I should post an update.
 
So far:
 
- I found and then ruled out the Tera-Player (because it's >30x my max price right now). I'll keep that on my far-off wishlist.
 
- I've lost several eBay auctions for Sansa Clip+ (probably because I don't sit and refresh at the last minute). I figure this will still be a good reference even if I go with something else for the long term, so I'll keep bidding.
 
- Briefly considered the FiiO X1, since it seems to be another gateway DAP, but it is bigger than what I had in mind for this purchase.
 
- Found the Shozy Alien. At $180, it is more expensive than I was planning, but still looked good.
It is intended for sinks with impedance 8-32 Ohms, which should be fine for my UE7s, and the SNR is advertised at 98 dB. Unfortunately, people have mentioned a hiss when paired with IEMs, both on Head-Fi and Headfonics. I'll keep an eye out for when they update it.
 
- DBaldock9 pointed me toward the Shanling M1 in a reply on the new member introductions thread. I take it as a good sign that they specify the SNR (105 dB), and nobody in the thread on the M1 has mentioned a problem with noise or background hiss (at least as far as I've seen). At $150, I'm leaning toward ordering one and testing it out. If it doesn't work for me, maybe I can sell or trade to someone who uses bigger headphones.
 
- Also still considering a simple iPod shuffle. I should probably see if I can borrow one again and load it up with my typical tracks to hear what I'd normally be listening to.
 
Hopefully this information will be useful to someone else. I'll keep filling in as I learn & decide.

Click to expand...

I have never used an ipod, iphone, or Sony phone, so I can't comment on those. I have never had a problem with hiss from a player,
although I have been using Sandisk and Fiio players. I guess some of the expensive IEMs are very prone to hiss. The sound quality of the Fiio M3 is so much better than that of the Clip+. Of course the Fiio X1 is even better. I see the UE7 is listed as being 124 db/mw, so it is extremely efficient. My Fiio X1 stays at home since it isn't that convenient to carry around. The Fiio M3 has a bug in its firmware, and it doesn't properly play songs in order by track number. as for hiss though, the M3 might cause less hiss than the X1, as the M3 has lower output impedance.