[ShakeThoseCans]

Chi-fi has come a looooooooooooong way since I got into this hobby. The CCA CST and Fiio X3III combo is aural bliss. So good, and i spent less that i did buying the NM2+. Brilliant!

I knew I should have bought the CST when it was like $11 CDN on 11.11.

I get picky about those low-cost IEMs that have 'thinner' sound and lesser soundstage, but it seems like CCA got the tuning right for something that cheap.

Now I got a question for people - I see someone using the iBasso DC03 with the BLON BL-01 [something that needs real amping.]

Is this a good amp for Chi-Fi? Will it power at TFZ King Pro? Or should I go with that E9038 thing?

 

[RikudouGoku]

I knew I should have bought the CST when it was like $11 CDN on 11.11.

I get picky about those low-cost IEMs that have 'thinner' sound and lesser soundstage, but it seems like CCA got the tuning right for something that cheap.

Now I got a question for people - I see someone using the iBasso DC03 with the BLON BL-01 [something that needs real amping.]

Is this a good amp for Chi-Fi? Will it power at TFZ King Pro? Or should I go with that E9038 thing?

The E1DA 9038D is probably the most powerful dongle amp out there. The DC03 is pretty weak with only 80mw output power.

 

[LoryWiv]

The E1DA 9038D is probably the most powerful dongle amp out there. The DC03 is pretty weak with only 80mw output power.

Or FiiO BTR5 if you have a balanced IEM cable.

 

[furyossa]

Or FiiO BTR5 if you have a balanced IEM cable.

Or Audirect Beam 2 if you are looking power (SE+Balanced out) and MQA support

 

[RikudouGoku]

Or FiiO BTR5 if you have a balanced IEM cable.

Thats not a dongle though and you need a balanced 2.5mm cable on the 9038D too

 

[trellus]

The E1DA 9038D is probably the most powerful dongle amp out there. The DC03 is pretty weak with only 80mw output power.

it's small, but can we call it a "dongle" when it doesn't have a "dangle?" and boy, does that icon kind of remind me of the Atari logo...

 

[RikudouGoku]

it's small, but can we call it a "dongle" when it doesn't have a "dangle?" and boy, does that icon kind of remind me of the Atari logo...

Looks like it, but upside down lol and with a pacman

 

[furyossa]

Looks like it, but upside down lol and with a pacman

Hmmm... maybe like badminton shuttlecock

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I knew I should have bought the CST when it was like $11 CDN on 11.11.

I get picky about those low-cost IEMs that have 'thinner' sound and lesser soundstage, but it seems like CCA got the tuning right for something that cheap.

Now I got a question for people - I see someone using the iBasso DC03 with the BLON BL-01 [something that needs real amping.]

Is this a good amp for Chi-Fi? Will it power at TFZ King Pro? Or should I go with that E9038 thing?

I'm the same way with cheapos, but with the discounts and coupons on 11.11, it was almost a freebie, and i like some of my CCA's, so i took a flier, and boy was i rewarded with a great cheapo set in the CST, plus the stage is fantastic. it just needs a little bass boost to be as good as my $100 'phones.

 

[PhonoPhi]

Thats not a dongle though and you need a balanced 2.5mm cable on the 9038D too

I got BTR5 as a dongle after comparing different ones, needed a balanced 2.5 to use with my Tempotec V1A as a transport; the other main candidates were ibasso dc01, hidisz s9, and sonata bhd.

BTR5 is fairly small, and then bluetooth and its own battery are nice bonuses to me.
I also have BTR3K - really love how well it is made, so it helped the BTR5 decision.

Now I am all set, no more rabbit holes, as they often say

 

[ehjie]

The E1DA 9038D is probably the most powerful dongle amp out there. The DC03 is pretty weak with only 80mw output power.

What about SQ?

 

[tgx78]

What about SQ?

E1DA 9038S here. Both Gen 2 and 3. They sound incredibly clean and clear. Leaning bit towards analytical side but really good punch and dynamics. I believe on 2.5mm balanced it outputs 300+mw @32Ohms

 

[LoryWiv]

BTR5 outputs 240 mW into 32 ohms balanced, thus a bit less. It's sound can be adjusted with a setting I like for adding 2nd order harmonics to add some tube-like character. Ultimately, it's all preference but I enjoy mine.

 

[Nimweth]

I got BTR5 as a dongle after comparing different ones, needed a balanced 2.5 to use with my Tempotec V1A as a transport; the other main candidates were ibasso dc01, hidisz s9, and sonata bhd.

BTR5 is fairly small, and then bluetooth and its own battery are nice bonuses to me.
I also have BTR3K - really love how well it is made, so it helped the BTR5 decision.

Now I am all set, no more rabbit holes, as they often say

That reminds me of my brother who said: "It's easy to give up smoking, I've done it 100 times!" Lol.

 

[Barusu Lamperouge]

I got BTR5 as a dongle after comparing different ones, needed a balanced 2.5 to use with my Tempotec V1A as a transport; the other main candidates were ibasso dc01, hidisz s9, and sonata bhd.

BTR5 is fairly small, and then bluetooth and its own battery are nice bonuses to me.
I also have BTR3K - really love how well it is made, so it helped the BTR5 decision.

Now I am all set, no more rabbit holes, as they often say

BTR5 is really good. I've been enjoying them for last 6 months. Only major drawback is lack of power via 3.5mm jack. For those who can't/don't have balanced cables will think that folks who love BTR5 are out of their minds. Lol.