[Flisker]

Hi,
 
I would like to ask if anybody knows how does it work when there are two DACs in audio chain.
 
For example : iPhone integrated DAC -> FiiO E07K DAC -> Headphones (ofc there would amp also in chain)
 
What does actually happen with signal in this case ? I mean when signal gets converted in iPhone from digital to analog and than it goes into another DAC isn't signal already "screwed up" by first low-end DAC, meaning it won't get better even if second one would be 5000$ one ? 

 

[stv014]

You cannot make use of the FiiO DAC (which is not even necessarily better than the built-in one in the iPhone, by the way) without a digital connection from the iPhone. In that case, the built-in DAC is bypassed, and only the FiiO DAC is used. Otherwise, you are using the FiiO as an amplifier only.

 

[Flisker]

Hah!
 
Thanks for great answer, it makes perfect sense.
 
Just ... iPhones have "decent" DAC ?
 
If it's like this I'll go for FiiO E12.

 

[stv014]

I do not know exactly what version of iPhone you have, but the one tested here looks decent.

 

[Flisker]

I have 4S, will do some googling

 

[PurpleAngel]

  I have 4S, will do some googling

Get the FiiO E11 or FiiO E12, also get a Fiio L (LOD)  cable.
You would connect the L cable to the 4S's LOD port and the other end to the line-input of the FiiO amplifier (E11 or E12).
The LOD cable will provide a slightly cleaner analog audio signal, to the FiiO amplifier.
Compared to just running an analog audio cable from the 4S's headphone output jack.

 

[Flisker]

Yep, I have L9 already Used to have E11, but sold it because it didn't have enough power and I was using headphones only at home anyway.
 
Now I waiting for HD700 and don't have any amp so I figured out E12 would be decent "cheap" option which should work "fine" with these cans. Also in future I'll be getting HD650 for sure again and would be awesome if E12 could power them. E11 failed perfectly at driving these even when everything was set to high.

 

[bigshot]

Why do people want to haul around a bunch of battery operated boxes? Get an iPod or iPhone and a pair of headphones that works well with it and save yourself money and hassle.

 

[Flisker]

Because I don't know anything that work well with just iPhone itself and has SQ of HD700. It's not like I'am going to be using these cans outside with E12 in pocket, just at home and at work.

 

[bigshot]

Just get a dock and a nice altoids tin cmoy amp then.

 

[Flisker]

*missclick

 

[Flisker]

That's really ugly thing With what headphones did you find it working well ?
 

 

[bigshot]

An amp that performs to spec is the same as any other amp. I have HD590 myself.

 

[Flisker]

Makes sense when you put it like this. But I don't understand specs of amps too much, also there are solid states, hybrids, tubes and whatnot this is all still so confusing to me. 
 
But I'am not sure if it's that easy, because I remember talking to 50 year old electrician (who is kind of local specialist here) few months ago about tube amps and he was like "That's ********, tube or solid state that's the same if it got same specs and it doesn't matter what tubes you use" , but from my personal experience it definitely does matter what tubes you use in temrs of output sound. So I think there is lot of opinions out there and at the end when I want to really know I just have to listed to the amp/dac/headphones.

 

[proton007]

 
But I'am not sure if it's that easy, because I remember talking to 50 year old electrician (who is kind of local specialist here) few months ago about tube amps and he was like "That's ********, tube or solid state that's the same if it got same specs and it doesn't matter what tubes you use" , but from my personal experience it definitely does matter what tubes you use in temrs of output sound. So I think there is lot of opinions out there and at the end when I want to really know I just have to listed to the amp/dac/headphones.

 
Your electrician friend is right.  Tubes and solid state should sound the same if they have the same specs, BUT, they don't. Tubes usually have worse specs speaking from a purely electrical perspective, and they can deteriorate over time, that's the reason they were replaced by solid state in the first place.