E1DA 9038D

littlenezt

100+ Head-Fier
IF ONLY..
Pros: +budget price
+exceptional technicalities
+sickeningly large soundstage
+micro detail retrieval
Cons: - picks up RF interference (2G,4G,5G)
-battery consumption
-tad bright and can be overly analytical
-not very forgiving to badly mixed recording
before I even start this review, let me first apologize for my weird english and grammatical mistakes.
I purchase the E1DA 9038D with my own money and this review is 100% my opinion

UNBOXING
Packaging.jpgUnbox.jpg

BUILD
it made of (i believe) from aluminum, not the most premium and precise built ever, stock cable looks generic and cheap
front 1.jpg
Unbox2.jpg
Sundara for size comparison.jpg
NOTABLE MENTION :
  • if you use 3pole 3.5mm jack, you need to use OMTP - CTIA adaptor to get correct signal
  • it picks up RF Interference (states on their own website)
  • it has its own apps called Tweak, most of the option are premium paid, the free option can be used for volume control
  • get warm when in use
APP
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SOUND IMPRESSIONS

tested using ddHifi OTG cable, source from Apple Music Lossless and local FLAC files
genre : J-POP, J-ROCK, EDM, Metal, Jazz
IEM : Moondrop S8, Kato, Stellaris
Headphone : Hifiman Sundara

overall character of the E1DA 9038D is precise, analytical, wide and tad bright

the bass of the 9038D if i need to describe it, its "precise" and have correct transient (both attack and decay), not having added coloration, pure

for the mids, i would describe it as very analytical, it makes you focused on what's being played on the tracks you listen, very lively, the mids if compared to other DAC, the 9038D sound a just very little... lean.

as for the treble, it didn't hide or trying to smooths out anything, full of micro detail and once again very analytical

TECHNICALITIES

STAGE :
sickeningly wide, even wider than my ZEN stack setup, wider than most dongle I've previously owned (9038s, Dragonfly Red, Cobalt, ddHifi, iBasso)
IMAGING : it images sounds realistically but in analytical way, it could brings out your IEMs / Headphones potential without any problem
DETAIL RETRIEVAL : A LOT OF MICRO DETAILS!! if you like you details being thrown at your face, this is the dongle for you.

POWER : it could power my Hifiman Sundara without any problem on -20 volume on E1DA Tweaks app

PAIRING
anything, if you like your sounds very detailed, just use this dongle, but warmer cans / IEMs i think it would creates more good synergies than brighter set.

BATTERY CONSUMPTION
not the most efficient dongle ever, i plugged this to my Redmi Note 9 Pro (5000mAh) and feels the battery draining quite quickly

COMPARISON :

E1DA 9038s G3 Susumu S3000

the older brother of the 9038D, use 2.5mm balanced connector, have more driving power, free from RF Interference, more neutral, 9038s soundstage is not as wide as the 9038D, and the detail retrieval is better on the 9038D, also the 9038s stays cool when in use

Moondrop DAWN 3.5
cheaper, more neutral, warmer, smoother, technicalities on all aspects better on the 9038D, if you need dongle with decent technicalities and safe for portable use(safe from RF interference) and on tight budget, the DAWN 3.5 is a decent option

other comparison? just ask on comment section

CONCLUSION / TLDR ;

if you need the most pure analytical dongle on tight budget, this is the one to get, though myself cannot recommend this if your purpose is for portability / plugged in to your smartphone (2G, 4G, 5G Interference), if you intend to use this with your laptop / PC then go ahead I 100% recommend this dongle

if only it didn't picks up interference (2G,4G,5G) I would 200% recommend this dongle to everyone
Last edited:

lllandline

New Head-Fier
Pros: 1) Power.
2) Weight.
3) Tight bass, upper treble sounds great.
4) Ability to tweak it with an andoid app or firmware.
Cons: 1) Some treble sibilance, doesn't go well with already sibilant in the 7kHz-9kHz range IEMs.
2) Picks up 4G, it really is a problem if you're commuting.
3) Lean, cold, analytical, all of that.
4) I couldn't hear any difference in sound while tweaking this DAC.
Zero audible difference in sound between filters.
No interesting filters like NOS simulation that alter the sound audibly.
For $100 you can buy much more universal iBasso DC03 Pro and a good $20-$30 IEM.
Though I have to say, 9038D has the best upper treble.
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darmanastartes

500+ Head-Fier
A Dongle for Destkops
Pros: transparent sound, great customer service, continued firmware improvements,
Cons: power draw is much higher than Apple dongle and probably requires a dedicated transport device for portable use
DSC08004.jpg

The E1DA 9038D is a compact digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and amplifier combination unit which connects to the source devices via USB-C. The 9038D follows in the footsteps of the 9038S, which I reviewed here:
E1DA 9038S Gen 3 Review
Unlike the 9038S and other E1DA products, the 9038D opts for an unbalanced 3.5mm audio jack instead of a 2.5mm balanced connection.
The 9038D was provided to me for review by HiFiGo, where it is available for purchase starting at $99.99 for the DAC/AMP only “Bundle 1.” If you do purchase the 9038D, I recommend opting for the slightly more expensive “Bundle 3” for reasons I will cover in this review.
This review is also available on my blog:
E1DA 9038D Impressions. A Dongle For Desktops

PACKAGING, ACCESSORIES, AND FUNCTIONALITY:
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The E1DA 9038D comes in a small rectangular white box featuring a diagram of the device on the lid. The review unit I received did not include any additional cables. However, the 9038D proved compatible with every USB C-C cable I have used it with as well as the Y-split USB OTG cable included in some 9038S bundles. This cable features one male USB-C connector, one male USB-A connector, and one female USB-A connector. The USB-C connector plugs into the transport device, the male USB-A connector plugs into a power source such as a portable power bank, and the female USB-A connector plugs to the 9038D via a male USB-A to male USB-C cable.
I noted in my 9038S review that I experienced signal dropouts and stuttering using the 9038S with certain USB 3.0 Type-A ports. E1DA rectified this issue with a firmware update by the time I received the 9038D. It is possible the issue existed with the default firmware on the 9038D, but I updated the firmware to the most current version available upon receiving the device. E1DA is one of a small number of manufacturers in the audiophile source device space that consistently works to address problems and concerns for existing owners without requiring them to purchase new hardware. The quality of their aftermarket support and the responsiveness of E1DA’s employees through their official Discord server is notable and praiseworthy.

SOUND:
DSC07991.jpg DSC07995.jpg

Despite being an unbalanced source, the 9038D is more than powerful enough to drive any of the portable headphones I have in my inventory to dangerous volumes. I have not heard hiss with the 9038D even with multi-balanced armature in-ear monitors.
Despite my long-held skepticism of audible differentiation between competently designed source devices, I learned during my review of the E1DA 9038S that, at a minimum, I can hear the difference between a minimum phase digital filter and a linear phase filter in a sighted, volume-matched, non-instantaneous switching comparison. The E1DA 9038S, with its default linear phase filter, offered a minute sense of improved clarity and detail retrieval over my JDS Labs Element’s minimum phase filter. E1DA offers a variety of different flashable firmware options with different digital filters, and I encourage owners of the 9038D and 9038S to experiment with them. I have been completely satisfied with the default digital filter on the 9038D, which is a linear phase, slow roll-off filter. I do not think I would be able to tell the 9038D and the 9038S apart in a blind test with their default digital filters. Both devices are transparent.
A NOTE ON TWEAK:
E1DA offers an Android app called Tweak that works with the 9038D and 9038S. The primary benefit offered by the free version of this app is the ability to limit the device’s maximum output level. This is useful for preventing accidental hearing damage using IEMs with the 9038 lineup given the tremendous power of these devices. I have not purchased the Pro version of the Tweak app, which offers a variety of on-the-fly parameter adjustments, including digital filter selection. If I purchase the Pro version in the future I will update this section.
POWER CONSUMPTION:
The following power consumption measurement was taken while the E1DA 9038D was in use:
9038D PC.jpg

I measured power consumption on several different source devices, including my desktop PC and two different Android smartphones, and the power draw readings were consistent across all of them. They are also broadly similar to that of the E1DA 9038S Gen 3:
9038S.jpeg

The power draw for both devices is far higher than that of the gold standard for USB-C audio devices, the Apple dongle:
Apple Dongle.png

For this reason, I recommend using the 9038D either with a dedicated music transport device, preferably with a large battery or with a PC.

CLOSING WORDS:
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For those who primarily listen to IEMs or efficient over-ear headphones, the E1DA 9038D is a capable alternative to a desktop stack, and I give it my unqualified recommendation for this purpose. It is less-suited for use as a dongle replacement given its high power draw but is usable in a portable context with a dedicated audio transport device.
The E1DA 9038D can be purchased below:
E1DA 9038D USB Headphone Amp 3.5mm jack unbalanced output DAC+HPA — HiFiGo
Last edited:
ddmareo
ddmareo
what happens if I use this thing on my phone? and why should i use a dedicated audio transport device when I have my phone
darmanastartes
darmanastartes
@ddmareo you can use it with your phone just fine, it's just that the battery draw is quite high.

holicst

Head-Fier
Almost a desktop DAC+amp in your pocket
Pros: - exceptionally clean, transparent but still full bodied sound
- very high output power for a dongle
- amazing measurements (SINAD/THD+N, jitter, output power etc.)
- small, compact, great build quality
- quality USB cable included
- works without installing drivers (Win10/Android)
- Tweak App allows customization of sound signature (2nd and 3rd harmonics and DAC filter)
- excellent price
- unless you want to drive a Susvara, this can replace a kilobuck desktop DAC/Amp
- lightning fast and professional support
Cons: - None at this (or actually any) price
About myself

I'm 38, so my hearing is possibly not the same as in my 20s. I like various music genres, mainly prog rock/metal, blues and some classical music. I'm not into rap/hiphop/EDM so I don't have a strong preference regarding excessive bass quantity.

Some background

I've purchased this item myself, it was new. I have no affiliation with the manufacturer nor was this a sponsored review of part of a loan tour.

Unboxing

This was the simplest box I've ever received. A paper box, with the dongle in it and an USB cable. Nothing else. I love this as we don't need to further pollute the planet and put papers in the box that everybody throws to the trash in a minute.

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Usability

Everything worked on my Android phone and two Windows 10 PCs without installing any driver. As I flashed the latest firmware, I had to install a driver. No surprise, everything worked fine.

You can use an Android app called Tweak9038 to manipulate the settings of the 9038D. This includes selecting the DAC filter, limit hardware volume, and also you can tweak the 2nd and 3rd harmonic distortion. This allows you to simulate "tube sound". This is absolutely unique on the market.

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Sound

Simply excellent. Very linear, transparent, clean. No noise or hiss, no distortion even at very high volume.

It can provide a lot of power. My Shure SRH840 becomes painfully loud above 50/100 in Windows 10 and Moondrop Starfield hurts above 45/100.

Comparisons

Much better than any DAPs I've had or tried. I found no audible difference between the Topping DX3 Pro and this USB dongle.

Compared to the Tempotec Sonata HD Pro, there are a lot of advantages. Much better output power, even cleaner sound, far better build quality, and a unique Android app.

Conclusion

Considering that -116 dB SINAD is about the limit of of audible transparency, depending on the power requirements of your headphone/IEM, you can turn your phone or PC into an audibly transparent source of music. All this at such an affordable price and small form factor.

If someone told me two years ago that I'll replace a desktop DAC/amp with an USB dongle to have better sound quality... well I would have started laughing... Now I'm laughing because this is true in 2020.

Now the only reason for having an expensive desktop amp or a DAP is if you have a very demanding headphone or if you want to please your ego with luxury items.
holicst
holicst
@sebek It does not drain battery too fast, but I cannot compare to 9038S as I don't have one.

@Lohb it worked for me flawless no matter into what I have plugged it in.
yawg
yawg
How about the Tweak app? Is it 3rd party and do you have to buy it? Or is it made by the original designer of the EIDA dongles? Thank you.

OK, found it. It's 10 bucks on Google Play.
xxAMAROKxx
xxAMAROKxx
Interesting think:. This dongle is good for demanding (ear)phones (with powerbank), because they can draw as much energy from powerbank as they need. Which cannot be said of most Daps.
But this E1DA is also good for very sensitive earphones - while they hiss when connected straight to E1DA, they don't when they are powered with powerbank. Surprising but logical.
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