DAC with chromebook?

[Capri302]

I'm looking to upgrade the sound from my asus c100p chromebook. It's only listenable[barely] with my Koss Portapros. It's OK using my grado sr60's and topping nx1 amp, but noticeably worse than the same setup on the hp dv6 it is replacing. This leads me to believe the onboard sound is the problem. Would a portable DAC/AMP like the fiio q1 make a noticeable improvement? Would it even work? The chromebook has USB outs, but I have no idea if it outputs a digital audio signal or not.

Ideally I'd like to get something under $150 that improves the sound while not losing volume compared to the nx1

The headphones I'm using are grado sr60, koss portapro, samson sr850, and sony mdr v6 Thanks.

 

[PurpleAngel]

USB only passes a digital (zero & ones) signal, no analog (wave).
Chrome books uses the Android OS (operating system) like the OS used on a lot of smart phones.
So you need to get a USB DAC/amp that listed as compatable with the Android OS or smartphones.
Also unless the DAC/amp you get comes with a built in battery (or a comes with an AC adapter), the DAC/amp will draw power from the Chromebook's battery.

 

[Capri302]

Thanks, I'm unsure what will actually work with this thing as I'm new to it. My phone is also android so would be nice to use with both, but I do have the nx1 as well, and my phone sounds fine with that. Drawing from the chromebook or AC for power isn't an issue as I use this at home 95% of the time.

I've found the topping nx4 and fii0 q1 say they are android compatible. The topping is pricier, but the battery life is long, and I've been happy with my nx1 for several years. Would I be better off getting a desktop dac/amp in this price range being that I don't NEED a portable already having the nx1? Like say the fii0 e10k?

 

[PurpleAngel]

I know nothing about Topping products.
But i'm a big fan of FiiO products.
The FiiO Q1 Mk II is a newer design and comes with a better DAC chip, then the E10K, so I vote Q1 MK II.
For the headphones you currently have, can't see any good reason for spend more then the $100 the Q1 MK II costs.
There may not be as much software (Android OS) driver support for desktop DAC/amp, but I'm not the expert.

 

[Capri302]

I like fii0 as well, my first amp was an e5, but my gf commandeered it for the gym so I upgraded to the topping. She's still using it so I trust their products. I hadn't looked into q1mk II as I assumed it was just pricier because of "apple reasons". Is it worth the extra $30 over the q1 if you're not an apple user? Looking at it now you are right about the upgraded dac.

I don't need anything crazy, but I would like something that can power some good cans if I get the urge to drop a couple hundo on a pair. My mdr v6 are 17 years old, and my other closed cans just screwed the pooch[monoprice 8323]. So I see an upgrade in my near future.

 

[PurpleAngel]

I would spend the extra $30, if you used the Q1 MK II for a year, that comes out to around 9 cents a day.