CLOSED

[michaelsk]

I though I was the only Crazy One!

 

[slex]

I though I was the only Crazy One!

Buying dongles is like collecting iems now!

 

[michaelsk]

Has anyone been using the Astell&Kern Pee51 dongle dac with their Mac? There’s a channel volume imbalance every time you insert the dac, I have to go into midi settings to balance the volume.

 

[OspreyAndy]

I though I was the only Crazy One!

No worries, you will be the undisputed Crazy One after I am done with this #donglemadness as I will only keep 3 out of the 40 over dongles. Lol

 

[Otto Motor]

@OspreyAndy I only know the Hidizs S9 PRO of your upper tier...and recommend the $129 EarMen Eagle for comparison.

Very ambitious undertaking...I am presently totally confused by all the market offerings.

 

[Otto Motor]

@OspreyAndy What have you learnt from this exercise so far?

My own subjective impression is that, the more expensive the dongles, the richer and smoother and more natural they sound. Cheaper dongles sound leaner and sharper, on average. My selection is, of course, limited.

Some of your recs we can't get in the west, but co-blogger KopiOkaya in Singapore ordered that $13 fave of yours.

And most of the ones I tested sound better with a USB "decrappifier" such as the Jitterbug. I have tons of fun experimenting with these [bought the original Jitterbug in 2016] and just ordered the ifi Audio iSilencer on the rec of KopiOkaya.

In general, I prefer phone with dongle over dap...I don't like carrying two devices and can use the dongle with other devices.

 

[OspreyAndy]

 

[Ace Bee]

@OspreyAndy please try to get an Earmen Sparrow to complete the mix...I am really dying to know how high it will be in your scale.

 

[OspreyAndy]

UPDATE: 24 June 2021. 5 more dongles completed.
- ES-PRO Audio
- JSAUX Type-C
- TANCHJIM STARGATE iOS
- xDuoo Link2
- hiliDAC BEAM 2S
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/40-...d-subjective-impressions.958216/post-16405184

 

[artpiggo]

@OspreyAndy What have you learnt from this exercise so far?

My own subjective impression is that, the more expensive the dongles, the richer and smoother and more natural they sound. Cheaper dongles sound leaner and sharper, on average. My selection is, of course, limited.

Some of your recs we can't get in the west, but co-blogger KopiOkaya in Singapore ordered that $13 fave of yours.

And most of the ones I tested sound better with a USB "decrappifier" such as the Jitterbug. I have tons of fun experimenting with these [bought the original Jitterbug in 2016] and just ordered the ifi Audio iSilencer on the rec of KopiOkaya.

In general, I prefer phone with dongle over dap...I don't like carrying two devices and can use the dongle with other devices.

Isilencer is real. I can say.

 

[Vladimir 198]

Thanks Andy. Great job. Great benefit for everyone. I doubt the need for a rating. Perhaps it was worth more clearly defining the criteria by which the stars were put. But for portable sound lovers, this is a huge help. Specially registered to say THANKS!
And express admiration for your work for everyone.



p.s.
I bought myself XDuoo Link2 - for use. Your words about him helped me.

And cx13993 - out of curiosity, and to have in its collection a device with five stars and above eminent competitors. And because it was not expensive and fun. )))

 

[Otto Motor]

Isilencer is real. I can say.

And apparently sold out in your region...actually, wrong, the new Jitterbug is sold out.

 

[OspreyAndy]

Thanks Andy. Great job. Great benefit for everyone. I doubt the need for a rating. Perhaps it was worth more clearly defining the criteria by which the stars were put. But for portable sound lovers, this is a huge help. Specially registered to say THANKS!
And express admiration for your work for everyone.



p.s.
I bought myself XDuoo Link2 - for use. Your words about him helped me.

And cx13993 - out of curiosity, and to have in its collection a device with five stars and above eminent competitors. And because it was not expensive and fun. )))

Спасибо

 

[artpiggo]

And apparently sold out in your region...actually, wrong, the new Jitterbug is sold out.

Sadly, jitterbug is usb A only. This would be hard for usbc dongle. ;(

 

[Otto Motor]

Somebody had a really great idea: USB-A. iPhone users will appreciate it.