I'd like to get a monolith just for the dsp/eq system. I had a chance to get a like new one off monolith for 200 bucks, but I hesitated and it sold. So do you think the monolith sounds better than the xdsd ?
So you're feeding the btr5 BT and outputting the 3.5 to the monolith and just using the amp section?
To answer your first question, it's difficult. I honestly bought the Monolith JUST to use with my LCDi4, due to the DSP. Beautiful combination, and smacks around any cipher cable. Haven't used it as a wired DAC with other phones and compared to xdsd wired. BTR5 serving as LDAC Bluetooth to the line in of the Monolith. This is a beautiful combination. Best Bluetooth I've heard.
To answer your first question, it's difficult. I honestly bought the Monolith JUST to use with my LCDi4, due to the DSP. Beautiful combination, and smacks around any cipher cable. Haven't used it as a wired DAC with other phones and compared to xdsd wired. BTR5 serving as LDAC Bluetooth to the line in of the Monolith. This is a beautiful combination. Best Bluetooth I've heard.
Yes I even think the BT out of balanced on the btr5 sounds better than the xdsd bluetooth. I preferred the more neutral sig out of the btr5 USB too. I like the treble. Might have to check out the monolith soon.
Yes I even think the BT out of balanced on the btr5 sounds better than the xdsd bluetooth. I preferred the more neutral sig out of the btr5 USB too. I like the treble. Might have to check out the monolith soon.
So, I use to feel the same, as I felt the XDSD via Bluetooth was missing to much up top due the APTX lacking in the upper registers. Turning on the 3d which is essentially a treble boost changed that pretty dramatically for me. I like the staging and overall character of xdsd more. With 3d off, btr5 for sure as you get more sense of the who music because of the ability of LDAC to show more of the freq spectrum. As I stated earlier, btr5/Monolith combination is relegating my XDSD to Nintendo Switch or car duty.
So, I use to feel the same, as I felt the XDSD via Bluetooth was missing to much up top due the APTX lacking in the upper registers. Turning on the 3d which is essentially a treble boost changed that pretty dramatically for me. I like the staging and overall character of xdsd more. With 3d off, btr5 for sure as you get more sense of the who music because of the ability of LDAC to show more of the freq spectrum. As I stated earlier, btr5/Monolith combination is relegating my XDSD to Nintendo Switch or car duty.
Hello everyone!
Reading the thread I realized that the balanced output uses both Saber DACs and has more power than the 3.5 output.
At home I have K701 modified with balanced cable, but when I'm on the move I use more "portable" headphones (like the V-Monk or Koss KSC75).
I ask: is there an adapter from 2.5 balanced out to 3.5 SE out that allows you to take advantage of the balanced port even for SE headphones? Would you get an improvement in sound or not?
Or is it better to buy a pair of headphones with balanced cable?
Which model do you suggest that are NOT IEM and that they are "portable"?
I ask: is there an adapter from 2.5 balanced out to 3.5 SE out that allows you to take advantage of the balanced port even for SE headphones? Would you get an improvement in sound or not?
Or is it better to buy a pair of headphones with balanced cable?...
1. What do you want when asking about portable? Small folding mechanism for transport or a small headphone size for mobile use? Full size over ear or small on ear?
2. What is your max budget for the "portable" headphone?
Audeze LCD-1, campfire audio cascade, - grados, and audio technica, akg have some smaller models that can run balanced.
Like Chris above said, depends on how much you want to spend, and do you want closed or open back- usually more portable cans are closed etc. I have meze classics 99 and I consider them pretty light and comfy.
1. What do you want when asking about portable? Small folding mechanism for transport or a small headphone size for mobile use? Full size over ear or small on ear?
2. What is your max budget for the "portable" headphone?
Audeze LCD-1, campfire audio cascade, - grados, and audio technica, akg have some smaller models that can run balanced.
Like Chris above said, depends on how much you want to spend, and do you want closed or open back- usually more portable cans are closed etc. I have meze classics 99 and I consider them pretty light and comfy.
Thank you to both for your answer.
My favorite "portable" headphone are clips-on, as the KSC75.
A few years ago I bought the fantastic Yuin G2A, but they broke.
Unfortunately these days headphones of this type are no longer on the market, apart from the Koss.
Furthermore, it doesn't seem to me that there are balanced clips-on.
Yes, I'm looking for small on ear, no full size, for mobile use.
I like the V-Monks (good earbuds for the bucks!), but it seems to me that the version with balanced cable is no longer on sale.
Budget? Not so high: around 50€.
I think maybe it's not worth shopping just to take advantage of the balanced output of the BTR5.
Maybe it's better at this point to choose Shanling UP4 ...
Thank you to both for your answer.
My favorite "portable" headphone are clips-on, as the KSC75.
A few years ago I bought the fantastic Yuin G2A, but they broke.
Unfortunately these days headphones of this type are no longer on the market, apart from the Koss.
Furthermore, it doesn't seem to me that there are balanced clips-on.
Yes, I'm looking for small on ear, no full size, for mobile use.
I like the V-Monks (good earbuds for the bucks!), but it seems to me that the version with balanced cable is no longer on sale.
Budget? Not so high: around 50€.
I think maybe it's not worth shopping just to take advantage of the balanced output of the BTR5.
Maybe it's better at this point to choose Shanling UP4 ...
That budget limits you quite a bit. But they're are a lot of decent cans in the 150 dollar range, but most of those aren't portable. And headphones and iems are going to give you the best improvement overall.
There are a ton of iems in that price range and decent balanced cables can be had at a good price. I recommend inner fidelity and the 'headphone' list to check some stuff out.
Thank you for the answer.
The iems have two problems for me.
The first is that they isolate too much from external noise: using headphones when cycling, they are not very suitable!
The second is that ... I can't tolerate them! After a while, my ears get annoyed.
Here in Italy the Btr5 is out of stock on official reseller website. No info about new availability.
What's the situation in China? Here in Italy various region got school closed...
Thank you to both for your answer.
My favorite "portable" headphone are clips-on, as the KSC75.
A few years ago I bought the fantastic Yuin G2A, but they broke.
Unfortunately these days headphones of this type are no longer on the market, apart from the Koss.
Furthermore, it doesn't seem to me that there are balanced clips-on.
Yes, I'm looking for small on ear, no full size, for mobile use.
I like the V-Monks (good earbuds for the bucks!), but it seems to me that the version with balanced cable is no longer on sale.
Budget? Not so high: around 50€.
I think maybe it's not worth shopping just to take advantage of the balanced output of the BTR5.
Maybe it's better at this point to choose Shanling UP4 ...
The UP4 goes for $99 and has dual DAC mode for unbalanced 3.5mm connection. Balanced, however, is notably better on the BTR5. If you want the best SQ, then the BTR5 via balanced is the way to go. If you're OK with unbalanced 3.5mm, the Shanling UP4 for $50 - $60 less is a good alternative. It's also has a nice tactile volume wheel which also acts as a multi-function button, which I personally prefer.
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