[Lamby90]

Hi everybody, need help to decide how to use as a portable setup.
I work at home but not on my pc, in my basement so I can't use my desktop setup (sundara E30 / L30 and IEMs).
So when I work I can listen music all day if I want so I'm thinking to create a good setup to use when I'm working.
I started this hobby last year due to covid (I listen music since I was very young, but with good equipment from last year) and I bought since then I think just random things with no sense at all.
I have a: fiio e10k, a Sony nwa55 as a dap and fiio btr5 (bought because my nwa55 hasn't enough power to drive my iems).
So the point is, what's the best setup? What should I sell and what should I keep? Sell everything and buy something different?
My IEMs are the BElieve (which is power demanding), blon 03 and 01 (which need power too), starfield (not so power demanding?), and kz dq6 (not power demanding I guess).
I was eyeing the ifi xdsd, is it much better than the btr5? In term of power? Maybe another portable dac/amp? Or should I sell the nwa55 and use just the phone with the btr5? I don't know if that's any difference between the nwa55 with btr5 and phone with btr5. Or maybe sell everything and buy a good dap? I don't know if the daps have enough power to drive my iems.
Sorry for the long post, there's too much choice I'm really overwhelmed and don't know what to choose

 

[pbui44]

Hi,

I think that you should just use your Sony NWA-55 DAP and FiiO BTR5, so that you can buy the Moondrop Cable Kit to use your Moondrop Starfield for the 2.5mm balanced out on your BTR5:

https://shenzhenaudio.com/collectio...tal-copper-professional-interchangeable-cable

 

[Lamby90]

Hi, thanks for the reply.
I have a 2.5 trn cable to use with all my Iems (they're all 2 pin) with btr5.
But I don't know if it's a good match with my IEMs (especially the BElieve).
I was looking the XDuuo XD 05 plus which has lots of power instead of the btr5?

 

[pbui44]

Sell the BTR5 and get the iFi XCan:

https://www.amazon.it/dp/B07FTFZ8WF...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

 

[Lamby90]

Yes, it's one of the option.
But isn't the XDuuo XD 05 plus better? To pair with the sony

 

[pbui44]

Yes, it's one of the option.
But isn't the XDuuo XD 05 plus better? To pair with the sony

If you are using bluetooth, then no. Also, less weight in your pocket is better, especially while working.

 

[Lamby90]

Yes, bluetooth is more convenient. But soundwise? I always can use cable to plug the sony to the amp, with an adapter usb female to usb c? That's not a problem a little more weight, i work on a table I always can put it on the table near me.

 

[pbui44]

From what you've already told me, your main concern is whether or not the new amp will have enough power for the KBear BElieve. Well, the XDuoo XD 05 Basic has a power rating of up to 500mW (ohm rating unknown) from its SE amp section, according to its official product page. The iFi xCAN has a power rating of up to 1,000mW @ 32 ohms from its Balanced amp section, according to its official product page. In conclusion, the iFi xCAN will deliver more power to any IEM that you connect to it, including the 16 ohm KBear BElieve. I used these pages to find their power ratings and other specs:

https://www.xduoo.net/product/xd05-basic/

https://ifi-audio.com/products/xCAN/

https://www.amazon.com/Earphone-HIFIHEAR-Beryllium-Diaphragm-Detachable/dp/B08N5XHV85

 

[Lamby90]

The plus version of the xduoo xd 05 has 1.000 mW at 32 ohm too.
But I didn't know the xCan was 1.000 mW too, I read another number my mistake. That change the game, xCan with the Bluetooth could be a better choice.
Ifi xCan 299€
Xd 05 plus 239€
Plus of the xCan is the Bluetooth.
Ps
I know the BElieve is pretty low as a Ohms but they're really hard to drive. Even with the btr5 balanced they not shine at all, flappy bass and not so detailed.
With the L30 (2.300 mW at 32 ohm) in high gain they are a completely different IEMs, perfect bass and much more detailed, they shine with power

 

[iFi audio]

Plus of the xCan is the Bluetooth.

If in the future you'd like to move forward with xCAN, it'll work with a separate DAC and xDSD would be a nice upgrade route for it later on.

 

[Stevko]

If in the future you'd like to move forward with xCAN, it'll work with a separate DAC and xDSD would be a nice upgrade route for it later on.

We need an ifi portable dac.
A tiney usb powered and se and balanced out…

 

[iFi audio]

We need an ifi portable dac.
A tiney usb powered and se and balanced out…

We're aware, but DAPs aren't our thing

But then again who knows, maybe one day we'll make one.

 

[Stevko]

We're aware, but DAPs aren't our thing

But then again who knows, maybe one day we'll make one.

Don’t want a dap.
I need a sweet tiny DAC between my pc/iphone and my xcan(xcan on way)

 

[iFi audio]

I need a sweet tiny DAC between my pc/iphone and my xcan(xcan on way)

OK, now I understand. Thanks!