DAP with best sounding line out

[matze76287]

Hi, I am looking for the TOTL DAP with the best sounding line out output. It will be used as a source for the Cayin C9. In addition to the line out output, good support for Qobuz and Tidal is important to me. I rarely listen directly via the DAP. Do you have any tips for me?

 

[lantian]

Not many options, as far as know, only Ibasso, Hiby and Cayin offer true line out on their daps. Expect Cayin to have best quality, stock out, of the box.

 

[Bengkia369]

I feel Ibasso MAX series have very good lineout namely Ibasso DX300Max & DX320Max.

 

[matze76287]

Doesn't A&K have a real line out?
I currently own the A&K SE300, but I would like a slightly more responsive UI and a more stable Qobuz.

SE300+C9 was already a big improvement over Fiio M17+C9 in terms of sound. I'm just wondering if there is a combination with the C9 that sounds at least as good as SE300+C9, but with a faster UI and stable Qobuz/Tidal.

Cayin N7 seems to be very interesting. But @asifur writes in his SE300 review that he sees the SE300+C9 ahead of the N7+C9 in terms of sound. So I'm a bit confused.

 

[lantian]

Doesn't A&K have a real line out?
I currently own the A&K SE300, but I would like a slightly more responsive UI and a more stable Qobuz.

SE300+C9 was already a big improvement over Fiio M17+C9 in terms of sound. I'm just wondering if there is a combination with the C9 that sounds at least as good as SE300+C9, but with a faster UI and stable Qobuz/Tidal.

Cayin N7 seems to be very interesting. But @asifur writes in his SE300 review that he sees the SE300+C9 ahead of the N7+C9 in terms of sound. So I'm a bit confused.

As far as im aware no they do not have it, only ak kann cube has line out. I could be wrong.

 

[matze76287]

What does "real line out" mean? The 3.5 and 4.4mm outputs of SE300 can be switched from "Power Out" to "Line Out". And the Line Out voltage can bei selected in the settings. Does having a shared PO / LO output mean that it cannot be a "real" line out?

 

[matze76287]

Hmm, no more answer?! I would really like to understand what exactly "true Line Out" means and how I can check if a DAP has one or not. Could anyone of you explain, please?

 

[2leftears]

What does "real line out" mean? The 3.5 and 4.4mm outputs of SE300 can be switched from "Power Out" to "Line Out". And the Line Out voltage can bei selected in the settings. Does having a shared PO / LO output mean that it cannot be a "real" line out?

I think that the distinction is a hangover from the days that a PO had a potentiometer-controlled variable output level. Those (in theory) had drawbacks re. channel matching linearity esp. at very low volume levels, and potentially channel separation wasn't as good as on the fixed line out.

Nowadays most PO have solid-state volume control and the difference between a dedicated line out and a solid-state-volume-controlled PO is minimal if any, hence many don't provide separate outputs.

You may find that dedicated line-outs have a passive short circuit protection in the form of some (lowish e.g. 200 Ohm) output impedance, but I would suspect most PO have active short circuit protection too these days.

The advantage of separate outputs is that you don't accidentally blow up some high sensitivity headphones (or your ears) if you forget to set the output back to "headphones" rather than "line out fixed".

 

[matze76287]

Thanks @2leftears for the detailed answer. Then the term "true line-out" from above probably refers more to "dedicated" or "separated" connectors for modern DAPs if I understood you right?!

 

[g4ndr1k]

Sony NW-WM1ZM2AMP doesn’t have a dedicated line out, but it sounds good on every headphone amp I’ve tried, including some tube amps.