Lee this is helpful but it presents a new problem. CEntrance doesn't seem to care about supporting USB OTG, despite my bringing the issue to their attention nearly a year ago. I do have a Note 2. I guess I can just use UARP or the upcoming UAPP software and it over-rides the DACport ignorance. Or I can look into rooting and using a kernel mod on my Note 2.
The good news is I now realize I don't need a DAC/amp that both talks USB OTG and drives the SE5 load. I can decouple them and feel fine about driving my SE5 with the Tralucent T1. Thus I just need a good DAC (or possibly DAC with line out that bypasses its amp), be it portable or desktop. Unfortunately (maybe fortunate for my budget) the Anedio appear to not handle USB OTG either. I have been active here http://www.head-fi.org/t/689783/december-2013-mid-level-dac-comparison/ where they plan to evaluate mid-level DACs.
So my questions are now:
- When you were unhappy with your ODAC, isn't it possible that the O2 amp was to blame, not the ODAC DAC half. As average_joe states "Performance of the ODAC is exceptional for the price, besting the built-in DACs in the portable DAC/amps I have and performing closer than anticipated to the Anedio D1 DAC. The integrated ODAC + O2 combo I simulated is an excellent sounding and performing desktop only solution that can drive just about anything you throw at it. Even though the amp section hold the DAC back a bit, it is still a great value."
- What other DACs (or possibly DAC with line out that bypasses its amp) can do the SE5 justice (I'll then couple the line-out into the Tralucent T1 as the amp)
- Would you say the DAC or the amp is the more critical part of getting the all out of the SE5
- Isn't it fair to say that the challenge is simply that the SE5 is very accurate, so the DAC had better be accurate, or the SE5 will reveal any of its colorations