Apex Glacier amp/dac review and appreciation thread

[Decreate]

In my case the music actually stutters when a whatsapp message comes through...so I'll like to know whether it is the same with the Apex Glacier.  I tried the ibasso d-zero a while ago and it didn't seem to have the same problem. 

 

[fuzzy1969]

I havn't had it happen mainly because I avoid apps which have push notifications (they get on my nerves) and airplane mode turns the wi-fi off, when I used it without airplane mode when the phone handshakes the mobile network it would beep and all sorts of weird stuff (so I guess the apex does suffer) but from reviews its a common problem with amps and mobile phones, the only amp (no dac) I know which has built in RF suppression is Jan Meiers Quickstep.

 

[Decreate]

Thanks, guess I'll just have to stick with what I have...

 

[daniel_hokkaido]

What audio playback ap for s3/glacier is the best for sound quality with gapless? Power amp? 

 

[Theogenes]

Quote:

What audio playback ap for s3/glacier is the best for sound quality with gapless? Power amp? 

 
I prefer Neutron myself, although it is admittedly a pretty unattractive interface. Plays FLAC, handles high bitrates, does gapless, has pretty decent sound modification options (parametric EQ, crossfeed, upsampling, etc). Listening to Revocation's latest EP from my S3 into my Glacier via Hakshop cable now and on into my IE8. Pretty satisfied for a mobile setup . 
 
App costs $5, or approximately 1/283638929th of what an unobtanium-core power cable costs. Worth the dough EyeEmmOh. 

 

[Dark Helmet]

Quote:

 
I prefer Neutron myself, although it is admittedly a pretty unattractive interface. Plays FLAC, handles high bitrates, does gapless, has pretty decent sound modification options (parametric EQ, crossfeed, upsampling, etc). Listening to Revocation's latest EP from my S3 into my Glacier via Hakshop cable now and on into my IE8. Pretty satisfied for a mobile setup . 
 
App costs $5, or approximately 1/283638929th of what an unobtanium-core power cable costs. Worth the dough EyeEmmOh. 

+1

 

[taz23]

Quote:

In my case the music actually stutters when a whatsapp message comes through...so I'll like to know whether it is the same with the Apex Glacier.  I tried the ibasso d-zero a while ago and it didn't seem to have the same problem. 

I find RF interference only when I am on the GSM network mode (i.e., "G" shows on the reception section on the top of the screen).  The RFI goes away when I am on WCDMA mode (i.e., "3G" or "H+" is shown).  Thus, I keep my S3 on WCDMA only mode. 
 
Presuming that the stuttering you experienced is RFI, I hope this helps. 
 
Given the processing power of smartphones nowadays, I am thinking that it is unlikely that the phone is overloaded in terms of CPU load when a Whatsapp message comes in and thus causing the stutter.

 

[taz23]

Quote:

What audio playback ap for s3/glacier is the best for sound quality with gapless? Power amp? 

From what I understand, USB Audio Recorder Pro app allows higher quality recordings to be played in their true hi-res quality because it bypasses a 16-bit/48kHz limitation in Android kernel.  (The DX100 also does that with the iBasso software.)  All other apps downsample to 16/48 before passing the signal to the external DAC like the Apex Glacier. 
 
Besides that, I also find the app to output very natural sound.  So I used the app quite a bit when I am in the mood for the best quality.  But the app does not do gapless and has very limited playback features.  At least it works with the Apex Glacier and you can try the app for free.
 
Otherwise, I use PowerAmp with no EQ and with Direct Volume Control disabled.  I have not tried or compared with Neutron because I am satisfied with my two current options, but I have heard great stuff about Neutron.
 
Cheers!

 

[turokrocks]

Quote:

I find RF interference only when I am on the GSM network mode (i.e., "G" shows on the reception section on the top of the screen).  The RFI goes away when I am on WCDMA mode (i.e., "3G" or "H+" is shown).  Thus, I keep my S3 on WCDMA only mode. 
 
Presuming that the stuttering you experienced is RFI, I hope this helps. 
 
Given the processing power of smartphones nowadays, I am thinking that it is unlikely that the phone is overloaded in terms of CPU load when a Whatsapp message comes in and thus causing the stutter.

Nice finding, I will try it, thank you.

 

[zenpunk]

I used to think Direct Volume Control has to be enable for best sound as it bypasses the Android OS mixer and directly control the DAC's volume ? 

 

[korebrent]

how about: http://hakshop.myshopify.com/products/micro-to-micro-otg

did I miss something??? So the glacier only works on a international gs3 ???

 

[taz23]

You're most welcome.
One more finding: having the WiFi on introduces minor screeching noise in the background, but it is not as obvious as the RFI from the GSM network.

Nice finding, I will try it, thank you.

 

[taz23]

Frankly, I have no idea what does DVC do. But based on my own hearing, I prefer the sound when DVC is disabled - it seems more dynamic, intimate, and natural. Sorry, but I can't describe the difference better in words.

The wonderful thing is that we can test the difference with a click (or touch) and it's free.

I used to think Direct Volume Control has to be enable for best sound as it bypasses the Android OS mixer and directly control the DAC's volume ? 

 

[taz23]

Yes, I think the Glacier only works with the international version of the S3 when using normal music apps like Neutron and Poweramp, and not the US version. But the latter may work when used with the USB Audio Recorder Pro app. There may be more information on this on the Android phones and USB DACs thread.

did I miss something??? So the glacier only works on a international gs3 ???

 

[Dark Helmet]

Quote:

Yes, I think the Glacier only works with the international version of the S3 when using normal music apps like Neutron and Poweramp, and not the US version. But the latter may work when used with the USB Audio Recorder Pro app. There may be more information on this on the Android phones and USB DACs thread.

No true, I had the Glacier hooked up to my U.S. Note 2 and it worked like a champ.