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Yea you are, but i mean since e17 is still taking the sound output of your laptop and desktop and improving upon it. Its like adding whip cream on two pies. One pie is baked better than the other pie so even with whip cream improving the taste. The pie that was baked better will still have the better taste.
I know its a weird comparison. But try this remove the e17 from your desktop and laptop and check if the desktop sounds better. If not then like you mentioned before it could be a usb issue.
... you aren't ADDING upon what's already there. For most users of the E17, you are bypassing the dac and amp of your sound card/codec/processor etc completely and it's circuitry
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But i'm using the DAC in my e17 aren't I? I mean it's just plugged into the usb port.. I'm noticing more definition in the bass and more detailed soundstage. Maybe there's more interference near my laptop?
Do more testing, at least a week. Use the E17 with laptop for a whole day, use it with desktop the next for the whole day and then move around and try. It is highly that it may be psychological. But betting on the other circuits that send the pcm stream from your hard drive to usb port can also be a part of it. As in the path and parts the stream moves through to reach it's final desitnation of outputing through that USB port and into your device and cable.
If you still feel it's the same then I leave that to your own opinion but please note that updating audio codec and it's accompanying software may help. Be sure to make a system restore POINT(not system restore, make a point to restore TO) before you do your drivers and software. This whole sentence here is more advanced stuff and will and is going to be done at your own risk and I take no responsibility if you mess up at this part(some do)
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Just a question, do you guys have a recommended ipod LOD cable, and i have a feeling your going to name a FIIO LOD cable
but in my personal experience they don't last very well.
YEs we do. It bypasses the iPod's own internal amplifier (not DAC) and headphone circuitry and allows you to use your own. We often do name them as they are cheap but there are others..but they are about 4X as costly if you want. I don't suppose you have any DIY experience so that's also out. The L11, L3, L9 are all recommended. The L3 annd L9 use the same "high quality" cable from oyaide japan HPC 22W wiring. Which the other FiiO LOD's don't use(lower quality cable..although you may not be able to tell a difference, the price difference is like $2 so just get the higher quality ones) The only differnece between L3 and L9 is the cable shape. L9 is more for ipods as it folds into your amp for a small efficent combo pack and L3 is if the amp is weirdly shaped or has an input that can't work with the L9. The L11 is a new one that also allows you to plug and charge your iPod at the same time(something current fiio LOD's wont allow as you are using the Dock of the ipod already) but it also requires you to buy your own cable. So you could buy a nice $7 3.5mm to 3.5mm male transfer cable if you would like(the input female port on the L!1 should be high quality enough for most audiophile purposes) but if that is too much for you, sticking with the L3 or L9 is fine
Here's FiiOs own cable chart that THEY made(not me):
open in newtab to see it bigger
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It could be that your desktop has a good DAC compared to your laptop. Correct me if im wrong (haven't been on the forums for a while
) but even with the E17 it all depends on the sound card of you laptop and PC and what the E17 can improve on top of it.
No, when plugged in through USB. You are bypassing both the computer's DAC's and amplifiers. But the USB ports and SB you are using are variables.....that unless they have problems(not to often), you won't hear a difference in.
No..... the term soundcard generally means an audio "card" that you plug into PCIE or any other periphreal slots on your mobo. But even if you were to take it to mean audio codec and processor and basically anything your computer uses to output sound.... the E17 more or less bypasses it. It's not 1+1=2 as in you are adding stuff onto it. You are taking one out of the equation and using the other unless you are sending some "surround sound" laced pcm data to the E17.
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My e17 sounds much better out of my desktop than my laptop.. Is this just my imagination? Maybe my laptop's usb ports are underpowered?
It is probably your imagination unless your laptop has some problems in USB and getting a proper PCM stream out with fault parts.
