[joefig44]

Currently driving my Kaiser Encore straight from my iPhone X.

In my pursuit of higher sound fidelity, would I do better to just get a DAP (e.g. Astell&Kern AK70 mkII); or should I get some open-ear headphones (e.g. Audeze LCD-X) with a portable amp?

I know the two solutions are vastly different in regards to their purposes, but if we focused only on sound fidelity, which one would be best for sound?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Currently driving my Kaiser Encore straight from my iPhone X.

In my pursuit of higher sound fidelity, would I do better to just get a DAP (e.g. Astell&Kern AK70 mkII); or should I get some open-ear headphones (e.g. Audeze LCD-X) with a portable amp?

I know the two solutions are vastly different in regards to their purposes, but if we focused only on sound fidelity, which one would be best for sound?

Regarding amplification, very generally, either way you'd have some room to improve. Maybe more on the LCD-X with a portable amp.

The thing is though can you really move around with the LCD-X on your head? You might as well just get a wall-powered amp. Otherwise if you want to move around maybe try a relatively compact portable amp to use on the Encores, even if you won't actually walk around using it and just be able to move it from one location to another.

Another thing to consider and part of the reason why getting more power to the LCD-X is preferable is that you'd have to play headphones louder than IEMs. The tight seal on the latter limits how loud you can go before hearing damage and pain levels, but on the upside, the high level of isolation means you don't need to. With an open back headphone, even if it measures similarly to an IEM, your perception isn't affected just by the response differences but also because the open back lets in more ambient noise that gets in the way of how much of the low end bass you can perceive. What seems like a quiet room can have as high as 40dB of ambient noise, there just isn't any distinct sound source that sticks out.

Unless you want a desktop system for longer listening sessions for example it might be wiser to stick with the IEMs.

 

[joefig44]

Regarding amplification, very generally, either way you'd have some room to improve. Maybe more on the LCD-X with a portable amp.

The thing is though can you really move around with the LCD-X on your head? You might as well just get a wall-powered amp. Otherwise if you want to move around maybe try a relatively compact portable amp to use on the Encores, even if you won't actually walk around using it and just be able to move it from one location to another.

Another thing to consider and part of the reason why getting more power to the LCD-X is preferable is that you'd have to play headphones louder than IEMs. The tight seal on the latter limits how loud you can go before hearing damage and pain levels, but on the upside, the high level of isolation means you don't need to. With an open back headphone, even if it measures similarly to an IEM, your perception isn't affected just by the response differences but also because the open back lets in more ambient noise that gets in the way of how much of the low end bass you can perceive. What seems like a quiet room can have as high as 40dB of ambient noise, there just isn't any distinct sound source that sticks out.

Unless you want a desktop system for longer listening sessions for example it might be wiser to stick with the IEMs.

Yeah, if I went with the LCD-X I likely wouldn't plan to move around - so I'd get a desktop amp with it (the amp I tried with them at a store was the Arcam RHead - sounded really good).

But alas, I believe you are right in that it is probably wiser to stick with my Noble Kaisers. So focusing on those then, and knowing I'm currently playing them direct from my iPhone X, what would you recommend I get where I'd likely hear a big improvement in sound quality?

My sources are currently ALAC files on my iPhone X, but I'm almost out of space which is why I was considering a DAP. I also stream Spotify, but I know that I should likely switch to Tidal as my CIEMs I would think can likely pick up on the difference....not sure.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Yeah, if I went with the LCD-X I likely wouldn't plan to move around - so I'd get a desktop amp with it (the amp I tried with them at a store was the Arcam RHead - sounded really good).

If it's me I'd just sit at my desk with my feet up listening through the LCD-X and RHead. Just add a DAC that works off your computer or any source you'd use.

But alas, I believe you are right in that it is probably wiser to stick with my Noble Kaisers. So focusing on those then, and knowing I'm currently playing them direct from my iPhone X, what would you recommend I get where I'd likely hear a big improvement in sound quality?

For what I'd recommend, I'd probably just stop at the Q1 MkII. That's an IEM anyway, it won't need a lot of power, you just need a slightly better THD+N performance over the iPhone plus very low output impedance.

Although if money wasn't a problem chances are I'd get the RSA Intruder, though that doesn't mean I'd strongly recommended others to do the same.

My sources are currently ALAC files on my iPhone X, but I'm almost out of space which is why I was considering a DAP. I also stream Spotify, but I know that I should likely switch to Tidal as my CIEMs I would think can likely pick up on the difference....not sure.

Your main problem with a DAP is that if you like how iOS and iTunes works, you might not enjoy how DAPs work. Just file transfers back on the iPod and later on the iPad made me want to tear my hair out as to why I can't just drag and drop, then right click and delete when I want to remove something. I know a guy who filled up iPods and just bought new ones, then at some point to properly organize them, cleaned all three older iPods, then loaded each of the four (ie he got to a fourth iPod) just to arrange them by genre. I could just do all that on Windows Explorer but there are people who get baffled why I hate iTunes.

 

[joefig44]

If it's me I'd just sit at my desk with my feet up listening through the LCD-X and RHead. Just add a DAC that works off your computer or any source you'd use.

So would you say that likely the LCD-X+desktop amp provides a far improved sound than what my Encores + Q1 mkII would provide?

For what I'd recommend, I'd probably just stop at the Q1 MkII. That's an IEM anyway, it won't need a lot of power, you just need a slightly better THD+N performance over the iPhone plus very low output impedance.

Although if money wasn't a problem chances are I'd get the RSA Intruder, though that doesn't mean I'd strongly recommended others to do the same.

I had tried the Dragonfly Red with my CIEMs and they made virtually no difference in sound, but that's only a DAC not an amp. Do you think the Q1 would be different?

Your main problem with a DAP is that if you like how iOS and iTunes works, you might not enjoy how DAPs work. Just file transfers back on the iPod and later on the iPad made me want to tear my hair out as to why I can't just drag and drop, then right click and delete when I want to remove something. I know a guy who filled up iPods and just bought new ones, then at some point to properly organize them, cleaned all three older iPods, then loaded each of the four (ie he got to a fourth iPod) just to arrange them by genre. I could just do all that on Windows Explorer but there are people who get baffled why I hate iTunes.

I can't stand the way itunes works, but I've learned to cope with it. One thing though, as mentioned I'm almost out of space with all my ALAC files on my iPhone. S o if I didn't get a DAP, and isntead just went with a Q1 or amp/DAC for use with it, I'd have to migrate all my music to 320kbps mp3 format to fit more on the phone. Then I wonder if that's not better than just streaming off of Spotify so why even bother doing the conversion. If I went with a DAP, then I'd be able to keep the files lossless and store them locally. Thoughts?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

So would you say that likely the LCD-X+desktop amp provides a far improved sound than what my Encores + Q1 mkII would provide

Probably. But of course no guarantees as to your subjective preferences.

I had tried the Dragonfly Red with my CIEMs and they made virtually no difference in sound, but that's only a DAC not an amp. Do you think the Q1 would be different?

It has an amp circuit in there. It just uses USB power instead of A/C power with fat ~5000uF capacitors, or a battery with smaller caps.

I can't stand the way itunes works, but I've learned to cope with it. One thing though, as mentioned I'm almost out of space with all my ALAC files on my iPhone. S o if I didn't get a DAP, and isntead just went with a Q1 or amp/DAC for use with it, I'd have to migrate all my music to 320kbps mp3 format to fit more on the phone. Then I wonder if that's not better than just streaming off of Spotify so why even bother doing the conversion. If I went with a DAP, then I'd be able to keep the files lossless and store them locally. Thoughts?

Get a DAP with a line out (preferably on the bottom like the Fiio X-series so you can use the DK1 dock) that way if you decide to get the LCD-X later on you can use it on your desk.

 

[joefig44]

Probably. But of course no guarantees as to your subjective preferences.




It has an amp circuit in there. It just uses USB power instead of A/C power with fat ~5000uF capacitors, or a battery with smaller caps.




Get a DAP with a line out (preferably on the bottom like the Fiio X-series so you can use the DK1 dock) that way if you decide to get the LCD-X later on you can use it on your desk.

Well, I just pulled the trigger on the LCD-X. I deal up here in canada for $1199 canadian was just too hard to pass up. Next closest was a discounted price of $1700, so at $1200 I think this is a steal.

I had listened to them in the hifi store through an Arcam RHead and it sounded sublime; I'm wondering if a DAP or portable headphone amp would be the same or not.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Well, I just pulled the trigger on the LCD-X. I deal up here in canada for $1199 canadian was just too hard to pass up. Next closest was a discounted price of $1700, so at $1200 I think this is a steal.

I had listened to them in the hifi store through an Arcam RHead and it sounded sublime; I'm wondering if a DAP or portable headphone amp would be the same or not.

I'll put it this way.

I can tell the difference, mostly on how "snappy" the percussion pops out of the soundstage (even if it's a headphone that positions it at the rear, like on a K702).

There are of course people who come back here angry that somebody goaded them into buying something that doesn't sound any different compared from their phone.

This is why I can't tell you for sure if you will hear it, even if you've already heard those on the RHead.