Dethonray Dtr1 Prelude high resolution player

[twister6]

I'm somewhat baffled by all these daps on the market that bring so much power to the table. I keep circling back to a compact/handheld device being used 'primarily' for IEMs while on the go. I realize that's a really myopic view of a DAP, but hang with me. I have to think that more than 50% of the flagship or midfi level DAPs are being used with sensitive IEMs. So why does it seem that more than 50% of the DAPs result in hiss with many IEMs? Looking at the specs, you have more than half a watt from balanced usually. That's just insane for IEMs.

Instead of focusing on 'purpose-built' DAPs - some for cans and others for IEMs - DAP manufactueres are aiming to drive everything you can hook up to it (short of a few planars). This is great if you're using it with cans, sure. But detrimental to IEMs IMO. I've tried living with IEMatch and it's an eyesore and a hassle. Plus, it's another link in the audio chain adding resistance to the circuit and coloring the sound much like an analog potentiometer does. Now I don't claim to hear any loss of fidelity with IEMatch, but purists cringe at the mention of it.

In the end, I understand the allure to appeal to as many audio enthusiasts as you can with each device you make (for sales reasons). But, I argue that a manufacturer 'could' hit it out of the park and sell MORE of a DAP if it was purpose built for a specific use case.

Look at it the other way. There are multiple dozens of portable DAPs out there which pair up nicely with IEMs. Full size demanding headphones require serious desktop equipment, tying you down to sit at the "desk". Or to use your portable DAP stacked with an external amplifier which could be desktop bound or portable/transportable. Something like DTR1 gives you a pocket size device, literally almost the size of a deck of cards, which you can use to drive demanding headphones, and not just to drive them loud, but to their full potential. Not too many DAPs can do that. Yes, it's a niche market, and yes DTR1 is not a mainstream DAP. I think the problem is that we want one single device which can be a swiss army knife to handle everything from a low impedance sensitive IEM to a high impedance low sensitivity dynamic or planar magnetic drivers. With @iFi audio iematch and DTR1 you can get closer to that goal, as long as you don't need other bells'n'whistles.

 

[golov17]

As an example, the AR-M2 cannot be used with high sensitivity iems, since it does not have a gain switch...

 

[F700]

@F700 i am very interested. Please let me know how it works out with the iematch. I‘d use the exact same setup as you.

Yes, I will report. My dealer sold all the iEMatch he had. I have to wait 2 more weeks.

 

[thesheik137]

I have to admit I have a bit of noise floor with my Fearless S8F. Going LO to the FiiO A5 allowed to completly cancel that faint noise, without losing SQ. The DTR1 is a pure concentrate of power, remaining musical at the same time. Such an enjoyment

I've ordered an iEMatch to experience the benefit (or not) of it by myself... let's see...

Really, noise floor with S8F? What FW version are you on?

I have S8P and don't experience any hiss/noise floor in low gain mode. S8P has even less resistance than and identical sensitivity to S8F.

I have yet to experience hiss with any iems I have used on the DTR1. This is what makes the DTR unique imo. No hiss with sensitive iems and can also power 470ohm cans. Quite impressive.

 

[F700]

Really, noise floor with S8F? What FW version are you on?

I have S8P and don't experience any hiss/noise floor in low gain mode. S8P has even less resistance than and identical sensitivity to S8F.

I have yet to experience hiss with any iems iems have used on the DTR1. This is what makes the DTR unique imo. No hiss with sensitive iems and can also power 470ohm cans. Quite impressive.

Yes, really. And actually I am not the only one based on Twister6 review. There can be some hiss with some sensitive IEMs. As I wrote, it is a very faint hiss. I have the latest FW.

 

[jmills8]

If you believe theres hiss then you will hear it. If you dont believe then you will want to be correct.

 

[F700]

If you believe theres hiss then you will hear it. If you dont believe then you will want to be correct.

I have a dead silent background with E5000 and N3. Not with S8F. And it is very faint, once more.

 

[thesheik137]

Yes, really. And actually I am not the only one based on Twister6 review. There can be some hiss with some sensitive IEMs. As I wrote, it is a very faint hiss. I have the latest FW.

Went back and tested again, I guess my volume was too high to notice before
I had to turn down the volume below 15-10ish to hear the hiss during a quiet passage. And it is pretty obvious at lower volumes and/or quieter tracks.
Also there is zero output/no hiss when pressing pause, some DAPs hiss even when no music playing.

 

[F700]

Also there is zero output/no hiss when pressing pause, some DAPs hiss even when no music playing.

Same here.

 

[Palash]

Went back and tested again, I guess my volume was too high to notice before
I had to turn down the volume below 15-10ish to hear the hiss during a quiet passage. And it is pretty obvious at lower volumes and/or quieter tracks.
Also there is zero output/no hiss when pressing pause, some DAPs hiss even when no music playing.

When the screen is off, even less noise.

 

[twister6]

When the screen is off, even less noise.

Yes, I think it's part of optimization where it shuts off the output when idling.

Guys/gals, I don't want to turn this into "hissing" problem discussion There is no hissing problem. We are talking about low impedance/high sensitivity IEMs that hiss with dozens of other DAPs, though the king of overwhelming hissing still remains to be X5iii. And by "hissing", it could be just a faint waterfall background noise, which some might or might not even hear, depending on your ear sensitivity, listening volume, or the music you are playing. That's why in my review I was very specific, instead of making a general statement, I listed exactly which IEMs (Andromeda, Solaris, U18t) and which song I was using (first 15sec of Agnes Obel "the curse") where in the instrumental less-busy intro of the song I can hear a waterfall hissing. Playing my usual EDM tracks with layers of beats and synthesized instruments at higher volume - i'm not hearing any hissing with the same iems. And, btw, the only reason I brought this up because once I mentioned about reviewing DTR1, many asked me how it pairs up with Andro and Solaris, so I figured there is interest in that

 

[F700]

Yes, I think it's part of optimization where it shuts off the output when idling.

Guys/gals, I don't want to turn this into "hissing" problem discussion There is no hissing problem. We are talking about low impedance/high sensitivity IEMs that hiss with dozens of other DAPs, though the king of overwhelming hissing still remains to be X5iii. And by "hissing", it could be just a faint waterfall background noise, which some might or might not even hear, depending on your ear sensitivity, listening volume, or the music you are playing. That's why in my review I was very specific, instead of making a general statement, I listed exactly which IEMs (Andromeda, Solaris, U18t) and which song I was using (first 15sec of Agnes Obel "the curse") where in the instrumental less-busy intro of the song I can hear a waterfall hissing. Playing my usual EDM tracks with layers of beats and synthesized instruments at higher volume - i'm not hearing any hissing with the same iems. And, btw, the only reason I brought this up because once I mentioned about reviewing DTR1, many asked me how it pairs up with Andro and Solaris, so I figured there is interest in that

Easy, we just are exchanging experiences. No big deal. Hissing is very faint, but worth mentioning. The DTR1 is a fantastic "affordable" device that allows high-quality music playback with lots of power and clarity.
Will you keep it now that the review is done? How does the DTR1 against the N6II? Less warm I suppose, but what about pure musical enjoyment (your subjective take) ?

 

[thesheik137]

Yeah, there's hissing and then there's HISSING. The amount on DTR1 is a non-issue for me. Other DAPs I have had it was really too loud and became distracting. But there are those who find no amount acceptable, so maybe they would like to know.

 

[twister6]

Easy, we just are exchanging experiences. No big deal. Hissing is very faint, but worth mentioning. The DTR1 is a fantastic "affordable" device that allows high-quality music playback with lots of power and clarity.
Will you keep it now that the review is done? How does the DTR1 against the N6II? Less warm I suppose, but what about pure musical enjoyment (your subjective take) ?

As I mentioned in the review for transparency, it was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion which I have provided in the review I love the pair up with IE800S, it's permanently "attached" to it now. But I think I'm enjoying it a little more with full size cans like Empyrean and R70x. Tbh, between my full time job, family/kids, and reviews, I hardly get free time to just sit down to enjoy the music, only in the car to/from work. So, I'm not the right person to ask about music enjoyment lol!

 

[F700]

As I mentioned in the review for transparency, it was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion which I have provided in the review I love the pair up with IE800S, it's permanently "attached" to it now. But I think I'm enjoying it a little more with full size cans like Empyrean and R70x. Tbh, between my full time job, family/kids, and reviews, I hardly get free time to just sit down to enjoy the music, only in the car to/from work. So, I'm not the right person to ask about music enjoyment lol!

I was not questioning your integrity. Getting free stuff for reviews is not a debate we want to start here. It is all about music at the end, doesn't it? I have the same way of life as yours, excepting the intense time you are spending for your extended reviews. That gives more time to enjoy music, I guess. Don't get me wrong, your reviews are very helpful and they are informative. Thanks for that, I enjoy reading them. With so many great gears around you, it's almost a shame you cannot spend more time with your music.

I dare asking again: what about the N6II vs. DTR1?