Until covid I was a digital naysayer I have a huge vinyl and CD collection and top grade hifi. As my family settled into being home all the time and my wife working from the Sofa in my listening/living room I moved into this hobby/rabbit hole. And what a journey it has been between IMR acoustics and Chifi iems and the aforementioned DAPS I have achieved audiophile/auditory revelations beyond my wildest dreams. No one needs a dap but my life would be far less convenient and enjoyable with out one.
End of the day - you really NEED to hear from budget to TOTL with your own ears so if/when possible I would think it very worthwhile to visit an audio store where you can demo DAPS. Often times I have reached a great place in terms of quality and have been really happy but then I hear something more 'high end' and the magic deepens. Its a lot of fun slowly growing ones experience, appreciation and understanding of what real quality highs, mids and low end actually are and the same learning what you personally like but...it can save a bit of money if you are lucky enough to find an 'end game' bit of kit for you
On the subject of DAPs, I have the standard FIIO M11 which I believe is mid-range or thereabouts. I have both the Semper and Rah and to be honest, I can't tell much of a difference with this source. Will upgrading to a better DAP eg iBasso DX300/DX240 make the Semper shine?
On the subject of DAPs, I have the standard FIIO M11 which I believe is mid-range or thereabouts. I have both the Semper and Rah and to be honest, I can't tell much of a difference with this source. Will upgrading to a better DAP eg iBasso DX300/DX240 make the Semper shine?
Well the DX 300 has quad CS43198 where as the DX240 ES9038 Pro Dac chips
They both have specific sound signatures
Roughly speaking the M11 has a warm soothing signature? (from memory)
The CS chips are similar but a bit cleaner maybe where as the ES Dac chips are more dynamic and aggressive. I find the CS chips to be easiest to listen to over all - Ive always liked the ES chips especially with IMR house sound.
TBH though I have always found AK chips to be very un-natural sounding in some ways and have not found one yet that I find natural enough sounding.
Whether one can clearly hear the difference - maybe depends on ones experience in terms of quantity and quality over time - The more different things you listen to with audio the more you learn the subtle differences between them
I wonder as well if it depends on how you listen.
Personally I listen a lot more to the audio to simply the over all music so Im [maybe?] a lot more aware of the subtleties of the instrument presentation and their properties in relation to how different Dac chips sound and so on
Personally I would say YES although in terms of how much better the Semper & Rah can sound by improving the quality of the source you would need to experience that for yourself.
I hear a fairly big improvement just by going balanced never mind using a higher quality DAP
I can only speak to my own experiences but until you hear for yourself the differences . . .
Over many years I have learnt what a 'better' quality actually is in terms of how instruments and vocals are presented but its taken a long time of slowly improving and upgrading equipment and the quality of listening
Well, in my opinion the Elysium isn't better than the Semper, even though it came out later. Heck, I like it the least of the four IMR sets that I have, but I somehow cannot let it go. It may not have the Semper's detail or the Aten's lively presentation, but I keep returning to it, because its analogue sound does something for me the others don't.
Well, in my opinion the Elysium isn't better than the Semper, even though it came out later. Heck, I like it the least of the four IMR sets that I have, but I somehow cannot let it go. It may not have the Semper's detail or the Aten's lively presentation, but I keep returning to it, because its analogue sound does something for me the others don't.
I wouldn't say it has "plenty" of detail, but there's just enough not to call it a dark-tuned earphone. Although, I expect that depends on how much detail one finds to be "plenty". To me, the Elysium isn't an iem I would reach for to listen to details in recordings. But, like you said, it is great for some chill listening.
Just got an email that I can place my order (NOT get on waiting list) for the EDP Ace ... but no mention of the 25% loyalty discount mentioned here previously.
Just got an email that I can place my order (NOT get on waiting list) for the EDP Ace ... but no mention of the 25% loyalty discount mentioned here previously.
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